The frontiersman., 1952-07-10

The committee is unanimous in its recommendation that s. 2008 be approved by the Congress as expeditiously as possible in or der to alleviate the inequities pointed out in this report" stated the Senate Committee on Post Office and Civil Service in ap- proving legislation to lift the present 25 percent ceiling on cost-of-iving. allowances paid federal employees in Alaska.
 Although the measure would apply generally to all areas where cost-of-living payments are made, the report was directed entirely to the situation in Alaska which the bill seeks to correct by en- abling the President to authorize the payment of the additional compensation at a rate in excess of 25 percent of the basic com pensation of positions in areas where living costs are clearly and substantially more than 25 per cent above living costs in the District of Columbia.
 Testimony presented to the committee, the report stated, revealed that the present limita- ton of 25 percent is particularly burdensome to the military de- partments because of the effect that it has had on the recruitment and retention of civilian person. nel in Alaska theater.
 Alaska is one of the high est cost-of-iving areas for which substantial numbers of mainland employees must be continuously recruited. Experience has indicat- ed that it takes two or three times as long to fill jobs in Alaska as it does generally for overseas area. Many jobs have had to be be cancelled because of the inn possibility of recruiting sufficient personnel in time for the appro- priate work season. -.
 The employment problem in Alaska has been further compll- cated by the fact that consider able portion of work accomplish ed on behalf of the federal gov ernment in that area is performed by contract rather than direct hire. As a result, the federal government, in effect, pays a realistic wage to personnel em- ployed by contractors, while at tn same time it is unable under existing law to grant fair cost of-living allowance to its own employees.
 Mining Claims
 Congressional action was com pleted last week when the House passed the bill permitting owners or operators of gold mine or gold placer operations to seek recovery in the Court of Claims for losses sustained when mines were closed during World War II.
 Explosives
 In further consideration of leg is1ation which would have effect in Alaska. the House and Senate passed a bill last week establish ing new regulations for the ship ment of commercial explosives. Under the terms of this bill which will now go to the White House, q territory, state, or municipal government or any appropriate political subdivision would es- tablish what it would consider to be a safe maximum poundage for unloading at any particular port. The Coast Guard would have the authority to decrease the amount set if it was decided the limit was snot safe. Provision IS also contained in the legislation requiring that such shipments must be marked, labelled and packaged in accordance with regulations of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
 At the present time Coas' Guard regulations restrict to 5Ol pounds the amount of explosive: in any one shipment.
 Public Land Laws
 Congressman Lloyd Bentsen Chairman of the House Public Lands Subcommittee, has indi
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