The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1951-03-22
LEGISLATURE
DUE TO End
AT MIDNIGHT
BY JIM HUTCHINSON

its final 24-hour stretch today
The session ends legally at mid
night although there is good
chance clocks will be covered while
the early hours Friday are consum-
ed winding up the chores of getting
the last appropriation and revenue
measures in their final form.
The final day found these top
priority bills remaining for action:
In the Senate = Government Re-
organization and record $18,300,C00
General Appropriation Bills; both
passed the House.
In the House = Civilian Defense
Bills, SO per cent increase in the
canned salmon tax and a measure
for the control of roaming dogs,
which may be secondary in import
ance but draws first ranking in cor
respondence received by the legisla-
tors.
Behind the scenes is the ominous
shadow of the prospective new tax
bill.
Chairmen of budget-framing COM
mittees of both Houses say budget
deficit Of several million dollars is
loomi ,e.
Twice durr : debate on bills in
the Senate J .sterday the necessity
of voting fol new taxes, if appro-
priations were made, was empha-
sized by Democratic Floor Leader
Steve McCutcheon of Anchorage.
The possibility of raising the
Territorial income tax from 10 per
cent of the Federal income tax to
IL or possibly Is per cent has been
mentioned. The possibility of a sales
tax also was mentioned in the SEN
ate yesterday
The Senate last night approved
unanimously bill raising teachers
salaries 5000 yearly in the First Di-
vision. $500 in the Third, and $500
in the Second and Fourth Divisions.
Senators estimated the increase
would cost over $5O0000 additional
for the biennium aFs
The Senate also approved a House
bill for the care of sick and dis
abled fishermen. The measure pro-
vides that 80 per cent of fisher
mems license fees will go into a
fishermens fund.
The bill carried by a surprising
1874 vote after Fairbanks Senators
Dan Lhamon, Frank Barr and Joe
Coble contended it was class legis-
lation. Sen. John Butrovich joined
them to make a solid Fourth Di-
vision vote against the measure.
First Division senators carried the
ball for the fishermen.
Lhamon, Fairbanks Republican,
even offered an amendment to in
clude auto statesmen, contending
they were entitled to such benefits
as much as the fishermen. Barr sug-
gested the same for ailing pilots.
The Senate also approved Rep.
Vernon Metcalf's bill for creation
of a veterans service council COM
posed of veterans organizations
leaders to aid in pressing claims
with the Veterans Administration.
Also approved, unanimously, was
bill to provide $4,000 for advertis-
ing for tourists, if private interests
match it.
The Senate defeated 1874 bill
proposing that SO per cent of the
wolf bounty money be turned over
to the Federal Fish and Wildlife
Service.
The bill provided one of the live
Hest arguments of the night, with
the Senate arrayed into pro-trapper
and -wildlife service camps. Blu
trovich was the most outspoken
critic. He declared Federal agency
has a lot of nerve asking us for
a few dollars" for such a job.
The Senate failed to reach a vote
on the controversial Government
Reorganization Bill last night when
it could muster only 10 votes toward
the IL needed to suspend rules to
advance the bill to final passage.
1t was due to come up again to-
day but some senators expressed
the belief it might get lost in the
closing day and night confusing
(Continued IN page TWo)