The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1950-05-01
IHR Symposium
OF Sen atofs
Says: Delay
Want TO N axe "Perfeci'
BiII-This Session Won't
Gel 10 HR 33f
BY ALICE FREIN JOHNSON
Special to The Empire

WASHINGTON, May - State
hood for Alaska soon, but not this
| session of Congress that is the
consensus among Senators who after
a weeks concentrated consideration
today closed hearings on the House
passed statehood measure.
Senators who attended the hear
| ing agreed Alaska deserves its long
sought place in the union without
protracted waiting. Furthermore
they agreed Congress should take
immediate steps to iron out plagu
ing questions and should not allow
administration p-priority mea-
sures to push into the limbo Of
after a while" the writing OF neces-
sary amendments.
Il think we can report out 2
measure, either this bill wiz
amendments or another bill be-
fore Congress adjourns,' Sen. Gin
ton Anderson (D-NM). acting chair
man, said. But If we do, l doubi
there will be time to debate TIE
bill as it deserves TO be debated
| because of its Importance. Time Is
getting short and controversial. and
must bills will have the right OF
way, I believe" OF the Is commit
tee members, three did not attend
any session of the hearing.
Senator Anderson said he pc
lieved the bill, as drawn, would have
very rocky road to get through ths
Senate. whereas better bill might
pass easily.
I'm going to take an awful lonf
time before I vote to do anythini
which would break up the Tongas
National Forest by giving section
to the state, because 1t would meat
conflicts between three agencies
the State, and the Departments o
Agriculture and Interior, and TIL
conflicts between the two govern
ment departments already are I'M
| fortunate without adding a thirf
party" Anderson declared.
In order to keep the Tongass for
est intact, Anderson suggested TIL
new state we'll might be given huge
tracts, such as the Tanana Valley
to use as it wishes regardless q
the fact that most of it remains I'M
surveyed. There must be some bet
ter mechanism for granting land
than this bill contains, he added.
Sen. Joseph c. O'Mahoney, Wyo.
chairman, was present only at Sat
urday's final session. He has beer
i'll.
Sens. Eugene d. Millikin, Colo
and George w. Malone, New, were
at two sessions for short periods. II
constant attendance were Sens An
derson, Hugh Butler, Nebr, Gle
Taylor, Ida, and zales Ecton, Mon
Questions which most troubl
Senators revolve around the nee'
for settling natives claims to LAM
In the Territory, the amount Q
land which should be given tn
proposed state and limitation 0
bureaucratic control.
The matter Of working out a bal
ance between federal and state con
troll OF North Pacific fisheries, i
considered capable OF an easier solu
ton than the other questions Whie'
have national implications. In mat
yer of policy and jurisdiction, foi
lowing are comments OF Senator
who participated in the hearings
Anderson: "As any Senator tror
the Far West knows all too wen, TIN
fact that that state has represen'
tatives in both Houses OF Congress
does not provide a cure~all 10
troubles with government depart
| ments and agencies. We know wha
| we're up against and we'd like T.
| spare Alaska some of the headache
we would have avoided II our Or
ganic Acts had contained safe
guards.
Were trying to give Alaska tn
benefit OF what we learned the har'
way"
Mcfarland: Il think this bi
! should be voted up or down at ono
so that Alaskans may learn what
ahead. However, the bill must con
tain-in black and white provi
sions which will prevent Alask
from bureaucratic domination an
unexpected DEGREES regarding Ian
Withdrawals for Indian reservation
Personally, I'd like to see Congress
appropriate a billion dollars TO
roads. airfield. port facilities, sun
veying and title clearance. Then tn
country up there would attract an
could support big population
That's the best kind OF insuranc
against the advance OF Communism
and any moves Of aggression acros
the Boring Straits"
Butler: IT'S going to take som
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