Evening star., 1954-01-19
Alaska Added
ToHawaiii Bill
On Statehood
Issue Up in Air
As Interior Group
Combines Measures
By J. A. O'Leory

In surprise move, the Senate
Interior Committee voted today
to add Alaska to the Hawaiian
statehood bill.
The decision was a setback
for the administration, which
wanted statehood for each of the
territories considered separately.
The administration has been
pressing for action this year on
Hawaii alone.
Having tied the two bills to-
gether by a close vote, the COM
mittee then was unanimous on
a motion to delay sending the
bill to the Senate floor until de-
tailed conditions for the admis-
sion of Alaska can be worked
out.
The task of perfecting the
Alaskan bill was assigned to a
subcommittee headed by Senator
Gordon, Republican, of Oregon.
Others on the subcommittee are
Senators Watkins of Utah and
Kuchel of California, Repub-
licans, and Smathers of Florida
and Jackson of Washington,
Democrats.
Issue Is Confused.
Today's developments left the
entire issue of statehood up in
the air. Although Chairman
Butler. Republican, of Nebraska
said the committee has ordered
the combined bill reported as
soon as the Alaskan details are
worked out, he admitted the
committee could change both
portions of the bill before it
gets through.
Senator Butler also predicted
that if the bill goes to the SEN
ate with Alaska included as a
second title, the two titles will
be separated on the floor Of
the Senate.
Some observers fear that If
statehood for both territories
remains in one bill. it may never
pass the Senate. because it en-
courages a coalition of those
who oppose either territory.
Senator Anderson, Democrat,
of New Mexico, takes the oppo-
site view. holding that the two
bills must be combined to get
either of them through. When
the committee met this morn
ing it had completed the de-
tails relating to Hawaii, but had
never worked on the Alaskan
bill.
Butler Seeks Action.
The supporters of Alaska
gained majority for a motion
to add as title two of the Ha-
waiian bill an Alaskan bill which
has been approved by a House
committee.
Before this action was taken
Senator Butler informed the
committee that he was ready to
vote to send the Alaskan bill be-
fore the Senate separately with
out committing himself as to
how he would vote on final pass
age.
After Alaska had been added
Senator Butler suggested that
those who had voted for the
motion should also vote to re-
port the combined bill to the
Senate Immediately. He said
they finally decided, however, to
take a few days perfecting the
Alaskan title.
Political Angles Stressed.
Some Republicans say they
favor statehood for Alaska
eventually. but do not believe
that territory is ready for the
financial burdens of statehood
because so large a part of Alaska
is Federally-owned public land.
In political circles, however,
the belief is held that the Re-
publicans think Hawaii is likely
to fall in the G. o. P. column
while Alaska is inclined to be
Democratic. Some have even i'm
piled that the Republicans are
looking hopefully to Hawaii to
help them win an actual ma
jority in the Senate next fall.
These political arguments were
weakened somewhat in the 1852
elections. when the Republicans
made heavy gains in Alaska.
while the Democrats were pick
ing up strength in the Hawaiian
legislature