The Daily Alaska empire., 1951-03-10
DEMOCRATS
 OPEN FIRE
 ON PATROL.
Frank Meilaif TesiKies in House-PoIiee Dept.
 Bill Killed
By BOB DE RAYMOND


 evening put on one of the zanist performances of the present ses- sion, and a packed gallery enjoyed every moment of it. The spectators saw Highway En- gineer Frank Metcalf take the stand to talk about the bill to create a Territorial Department of Police.
 They saw Metcalf grilled by mem bers of his own Democratic party, who attacked ana tore to shreds his administration Of the Highway Pa trol.
 They also saw he Highway Pa trol and Metclaf's administration Of it defended by members of the Re- publican party
 And finally they saw Democratic Speaker Egan fail to recognize the efforts of Democratic Floor Leader McCutcheon to get the floor so he could give notice of his intention to reconsider his vote and instead recognize Rep. Stepovich's motion to adjourn, which carried and cut off McCutcheon's chance for reconsid- eration.
 Metcalf Called ! Called to the stand at the re- quest of Rep. Stepovich, the High way Engineer and ex-officio Chief of the Highway Patrol told how he built the patrol up from four men to the present 26 and said that he once had 30 members. Metcalf said he was ordered by National Defense Organization at Anchorage and Fairbanks to in crease the patrol force. I He said he does not believe Territorial Police Department should be built up at the expense of the Highway Patrol. 'If I had the $20,000 you propose to pay the Superintendent of Police during the next biennium could raise salaries Is per cent and keep some of the men whose pay is so low they can't make ends meet up in the Interior" Metcalf said.
 Salary Scale Metcalf said patrolmen start at S4oo a month and work up to $475, with sergeants receiving $500 a month.
 | All members of the Highway Pa trol force have had former police | experience, Metcalf said.
 Are these political appoint ments?" asked Rep. Gundersen. Not necessarily" Metcalf replied.
 Democrats Gundersen of Ketchi- kan and Kay of Anchorage hurled some of the sharpest barbs of the evening in Metcalf's direction. Appointments to the patrol. Met calf explained. are recommended to him from the field" He then goes over the list with the FBI and the Board of Road Commissioners and finally submits the list to the Demo- | cratic Divisional Commlttee- Isn't approval by the Divisional Committee one of the main consid- erations?' Kay asked. I You recently appointed a man at Ketchikan without even con- sulting the committee" Rep. Gun | dersen charged. l T understood he had been check ed by the committee" Metcalf said. T didn't think it of sufficient im- portance to find out" W Car Purchase Opening the attack in a new sec- tor, Rep Kay asked, Didn't you recently purchase 1942 Stakeholder | from Patrolman Jack Davis at An ehorage for $1200 when the bluebook price was less than $3O0?" T don't have bluebook," Met | calf retorted
 | In answer to questions, Metcalf i said he did not shop around to see if better bargains were available. He said he did not know that parts for the car purchased are no longer l available.
 1 T needed car right now and I bought it. Metcalf said. "The Army took three cars that were being shipped to me from Seattle and I needed a car."4
 Upon questioning by Rep. Mac Kinnon, he admitted he didn't know that the Army took them. T know that somebody got them and we didn't"
 Powers Outlined
 Several of the Republican mem