The Daily Alaska empire., 1951-11-09
(ongressmen 5ii
 In on Chamber Commerce Meeiinq

Wnlle LIl6 JuIledu SlldiilDCl Ol Commerce entertained visiting Con- gressmen at its regular meeting, postponed from Thursday noon un- til evening. it conducted it's regular order of business.
 The Chamber met for a dinner meeting at the Baranof Hotel with members of a House of Represen- tatives subcommittee here on a native land claims hearing, wives of members and guests. Approxi- mately 100 were in attendance. In the regular order of business Jerry Mckinley, chairman of the road committee, gave an optimistic report on the prospects for the pro- ,,crsa T'.l'-s, rood rTe eaid thet +he Canadians were willing to construct a road from the Tulsequah mining camp to tidewater. He pointed out that this still left missing links be- fore Juneau could be connected with Atlin and the Alaska Highway.
 R. w. Bowling made progress report on the small boat harbors for Douglas and Juneau and said that the Forest Service would make l winter studies to furnish additional data on winds.
 Harold Foss gave brief sum- mary of his attendance at meet ing of the northwest committee of the U. s. Chamber of Commerce which he attended in Quebec City Que. He said that the Canadians were vitally interested in the de- velopment of their country and the U.I S. would do well to follow their example. Floss indicated that surface and air transportation prob lens were considered.
 Visitors Introduced
 Following the regular business the visiting Congressmen were intro duced by Delegate E. L. (CBob) Bartlett. Each spoke briefly.
 Wayne N. Aspinall (D-Colo0 spoke for statehood and declared that Alaska reminded him of the pioneer spirit of freedom in his home state of Colorado.
 Norris Poulson (R-Calif) hinted that Alaska could take leaf from the California notebook in the use of super, colossal, g.gantic" in 1';- cribing the Territory.
 Alaska's POtentialities Wesley A. D'Ewart R-Mont) frankly admitted that the commit tee made the trip now instead of next year because the Congressman would have to be home "mending their fences" He stressed the po- tentialities of Alaska in mining, oil, fish and timber in future develop ment. Said he, Alaska has oppor- tunities beyond anything I have ever imagined"
 Frank T. Bow (R-Ohio) announc- ed himself an advocate of Alaska statehood and humorously mention ed that "Ohio did have Indians The Cleveland Indians" He plugged his home state as "the cradle and mother of presidents and added, We're expecting again"
 Gov. Ernest Gruening spoke brief ly explaining democracy in action as expressed by the subcommittee taking the current hearings and | explained that it was helpful for Congressmen Ito know our prob- lems."
 Chester D. McMullen (D-Fla) chairman of the House Indian Af- fairs Committee, acknowledged the importance of the settlement of Native land claims and declared that the development of Alaska had only been scratched on the surface Preston Peden, attorney for the group, Mrs. w. Clark of Anchor age, recorder of the hearings, and Hugh J. Wade, area director for the Alaska Native Service, were intro duced as well as Maj. Steve Done gan and Capt. A. Grady, pilots ot