Seward seaport record., 1953-07-24
Washington Newsletter
COST-OF-LIVING ALLOWANCE

ALLOW ANOE
 The Civil Service Commission has joined Delegate Bartlett in the fight against elimination Of the 25 per cent cost-of-living allowance for Alaskans hired i'll the Territory to work for the federal government.
 In reply to an appeal to the Chairman of the Commission, Delegate Bartlett was informed by Commissioner George M. Moore that representations were to be made to the Senate Appro- priations Committee against the proposal.
 We believe" Commissioner Moore declared in a letter to Delegate Bartlett, Section GAO as approved by the House of Representative will result in in- equity among employees at ter ritorial posts, would be complex in administration and would add to the already difficult operat- ing problems of federal actiVl- ties in territorial areas. l might add that the Commission IS gravely concerned regarding the effect of this proposal on federal employees in Alaska. You may be assured of my continued in- terest in this matter and if l can be of further assistance 10 you please advise me"
 The proposal is contained in the Defense Department appro- 4 4priation bill for the Ie54 fiscal year upon which hearings have now been completed by the Senate Appropriations Commit tee. It is expected the committee will report the measure the end of this week.
 ASSESSMENT WORK
 The mining assessment work year would extend from October l of one year to October l of the next year through lesisla- tion reported to the Senate this week by the Senate Interior and Insular Affairs Committee.
 The legislation, sponsored by Senator Murray of Montana, would also extend the assess ment year in Alaska and the continental United States until October of this year Unaer pres ent law, the work on all un- patented mining claims is re- quired to be performed between July 1 of one year and July l of the next. In other words, if the legislation should be en- acted into law, those persons who failed to perform their as sessment work for the year end ing July l, 1853, would have three more months until Octo- Der to meet the requirements. WORLD WAR II
 CASUALTIES
 The Department of the Army has issued a final report on Army battle casualties and nom battle deaths in World War II extending from December ', 1941, through December 31, 1946, the date hostilities were declared terminated by presi- dential proclamation.
 World War II battle casual ties, which include pc rSOns killed in action, wounded and injured in action, captured and informed in action, totalled 936,259. Deaths among battle casualties numbered 234,87A. In the Alaskan Department there were 997 battle deaths, includ- ing 853 killed in action. In May, 1943, 536 were killed in action in the attack on Attu.
 ALASKA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
 Construction of living quar- ters, operational buildings and utilities of the Alaska Communi- cation System would be author ized under the terms of a mea- sure introduced this week by Senator Saltonstall of Mass.
 The legislation, similar to a companion bill introduced in the House by Chairman Short of the Armed Services Committee some time ago, would authorize S4,517,OO0 for facilities at 30 stations in the Territory includ- ing Seward.
 The bill would cancel existing appropriation authority in the amount of $1, ,403,255 for the ACS at Adak, Cape Fanshaw, Eielson, Mile B, Mitchell Point, Narrow Point, Point Agassiz and Thane.