The Wrangell sentinel., 1951-02-02
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE


 Activities of the goth Territor- ial Legislature during its second week were fairly well covered on the surface by that line in the Senate journal the journal for the preceding day was read and ap- proved" But behind the scenes and in committee there were things a. brewing.
 It began to be fairly evident that the tootsies of some Territorial de- partment heads were to be warmed by the legislative torch. Best evil dence of his may be found in House Bill No. [, tossed in the hopper by Rep. Glen Franklin of Fairbanks, chairman of the ways and means committee of the House. FranElin's bill would create a Legislative In Festigating Committee of ou r members to include himself. as chairman Of Ways and Means the chairman Of the Senate Finance committee, who happens to be Sen John Butroyich. Jr, also of Fair banks. and one member appointed by the Speaker of the House and one appointed by the President of the Senate. Franklin and Butro- Yich both were on the Investigating group two years ago.
 This committee, fl the act be- comes a law and it has better than an even chance of doing so, would be authorized to investigate into the conduct of any of the depart ments. boards or agencies of the Territory: arrange for prosecution or removal from office of anyone deemed guilty of malfeasance. mis- feasance or nonfeasance and be en- powered to subpoena witnesses, etc. The committee would function dur ing the biennium and have s7.5O0 for expense money.
 While it's already being labeled a "gestapo" measure by some who might feel the torch, the lawmak- CTS on the whole appeaE.determin ed to find out where the money
  two years ago went and for what2 Who went travelling here, thither and wonder. and for what purpose? And why do they want this much money this time. and what are they going to use it for? In the early workouts, it would seem the goth might turn out to be quite tough legislature
 #@*
 The man credited with handing the presidency of the Senate to the Republicans on silver platter Is Senator William Beltz of Nome. a Democrat. With the Senate divided, eight Republicans and eight Dem- ocrats, the G0Pers were holding the party line Ballot after ballot they were voting eight votes for Gunnard Engebreth while the De- mocrats were splitting for various candidates on their side. but com ing up with a total of eight. thus failing to give any one a majority. On the tenth ballot, seven Demo VI DIV h .-S lU OElGAOA dElh DAFT of Fairbanks with Senator Edward Anderson, first on the roll call. voting for Steve McCutcheon. Not ing the seven votes. Anderson i'm mediatelp moved for the 1Ith bal lot and started off the roll call by voting for Barr When it came to Beltz he was mot voting" When the roll call ended it was eight for Engebreth, seven for Barr and one mot voting" Operating under the Roberts Rules of Order which pro vides that a majority of those pre- sent and voting constitutes the majority, the Senators had nothing left to do except escort Senator Engebreth to the rostrum while mentally consigning the erring Senator Beltz to the Democratic dog house. After permanently or ganizing and adopting its own rules. nine becomes a majority in the Senate.
 As a result of the recent decen- nial census, the First Division will lose two seats in the House of Re-
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