The Wrangell sentinel., 1951-12-28
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE
OPS Troubles

VA 1 AeNAAAga
 As the old year comes to a close, the hullabaloo up in the OPS tOffice of Price Stabilization) in Juneau is ths subject of consider able speculation hereabouts, partie- ularly in view Of the fact that tho man who directs this OPS show ill a.4ska ls Fred G (maybs for Gov Ill mealJ Hanford, one of the stal- s.sfts ot this community, To, these many years.
 Il seems that Director Hanfofd has had on his staff for the past several months a young attorney named George Apostol who had something to do with the enforce Hsnt division Of OPS. George is 9 bright young man who fIrst -s1ae la Alaska last spring as an assist ant to Attorney General ]. te a. Williams, who, incidentally. prais- td him most highly and made gGif a fuss when ApoEtel joined the OPS.
 It seems, further, the way we set it. that things haven't been all eL q VI bEi sE1 anu VT EAlll AllitE &A DOo- tol joined the OPS staff There ap- pSarsd to have been a division of opinion as to who was who, and, en oeeasion. possibly why. At any rate, came the parting of the ways when, as Fred publicly stated, "I discharged him on Wednesday"
 Came the rspercussionS with 8 statement by Apostol that Director Hauford was guilty of mal-feasance a0d miE-fessance in office. which is what stirred people up who l"ow Fred Hanford.
 Mal-feasanes, according to our book is doing some illegal act in office. Mis-feasance. according to the same book ia doing an act il- legally which might have been done legally. Those of Us who know Fred Hanford will be hard to con vince on both counts
 A Move for Votes
 One of the latest moves of the left wlng politicos seeking office or holding one is to try and con- vince the fishermen they are look ing after their interests by be- logging the law This has got ten to be particularly favored cam paign fodder in the Third Division where the woods are full of lefty vote seekers. A typical example came up at the fisheries hearing in Anchorage this last fall Rep. Stanley McCutcheon of the Third Division, a witness largely for Me Cutchson, though portraying the role of "the fishermen's friend" charged the Fish and Wildlife Ser vice with seizing the gear of fish ermen found in violation of the law and returning it only when the lucklssE fishermen pleaded guilty and came up with his fine He fur1 thsr proposed that the i7iES sup port Legislation to permit Violators to take an appeal from a plea of guilty.
 As a lawyer, Stan should know full well that FWS acts under a law of Congress and that the Ter ritorial legislature, of which he is a member, cannot legally pass an dCL III COHLllcI Hlll leueIdl lhW anu expect it to have any effect what sosver on fisheries law enforce ms1t in Alaska. Stan also knows, but probably won't admit it, that his scheme is political applesaucs of q very early vintage. Secondly, he knows that fishing boats aren't seized and held until the owners plead guilty unless in extreme cas- es of persistent law violation or where other fslonious act is in- volVsd
 Representative MsCutshesG might lSok up the care of his fellow Re- prsSSntatiVs Andrew Hope If Sit ka last summer and also that of William Walton, then Chairman of the Territorial Board of Fisheries Both men were apprehendsd for fishing before the opening of the season. They didn't even have to 70 in ts Juneau tS plead but the plea of some enc representing them was permitted and they kept right on fishing, or, at any rate. they had their gear ts de Sc if they wished
 The going. we take it, nust be little tough for reelection Hp in the Third this year if Stan has to trv and make capital of this sort Of malarksy.