The Daily Alaska empire., 1951-03-12

services required for the maintenance, operation or upkeep of buildings and offices
 Sec r (b) says this: "The Commissioner may pur- chase authorize any Territorial agency to purchase directly any supplies materials, equipment, or services for immediate in emergencies WITHOUT CALL ING FOR BIDS" (Capitas ours). This section covers everything from the lead pencil to construction of buildings.
 Now. let's have look at Section 6 ob) of the bill It goes like this "In executing the powers and duties prescribed herein the Commissioner shall be subject to the executive direction of the Governor The Governor may in his discretion seek the advice of the Board of Administration but shall not be bound by it except as provided by law" By what lewt? The Governor Presidential appointee, is not bound by any laws providing for impeachment or his removal by the Territorys voting citizens.
 Section Co says, in part "No appropriation to any Territorial agency shall become available for ex- penditure until such Territorial agency shall have submitted to the Commissioner a request for alot- ment, such request for allotment to consist or an estimate of the amount required for each activity and each purpose for which money is to be expended dur ing the applicable allotment period, and until such estimate contained in the said request for allotment shall have been approved increased decreased by the Commissioner and funds allotted therefor as here matter provided . :" This seems all right, until we get down to Section (e) and here it s verbatim "The Commissioner shall also have authority at any time to modify or any allotment previously made by him."
 The effect of the above paragraphs is just this any department head who might disagree with the Commissioner Cor the Governor to whom he is sub iect) might well find his department activities ham strung by lack of operating funds We don't suggest that this will happen, but we hate to think of such broad powers in the hands of so few men.
 The Commissioner is empowered to make contracts and purchases according to Sections Is and 19, sell nronertv belonging to the Territory on bds of EXCEPT for the emergency clause in Section IT, In Section 28 the Board is empowered to borrow money. Under bad management this could put the Territory millions of dollars in debt.
 Section 2s abolshes the office of Territorial Treas urer and Section 32 creates new office Of Auditor elected by Legislature NOT by the voters at large The political implications here need no explanation
 The Board may employ or contract for such professional technical clerical assistance 1t deems necessary and appropriates S65, 100000 to pay for the above for the bennium. The new office ot Auditor gets 100000 for salaries and other operating costs under the bill which also appropriates $l10OoO0o to carry the Kingfsh bill until June 1852, then an- other s11ooooOO for the period from July 1852 to June 3O 1853 That's lot of money to put at the disposal of the Commissioner of Finance and his grbernatorial boss and fancy price to pay for taking the reins of government from the hands of the voters and their duly elected legislative repre- sentatives
 Where are the men who stumped long and loud for statehood and more sef-government for Alaska?
 While the Gruening cynbas clash for statehood and greater voting power for the people Of Alaska it looks as though the shade of Louisianas King fish" Huev Long is smiling approvinly at the man. sion the hill.