The Wrangell sentinel., 1954-12-17
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Clear t With Alex
* > "

Reminiscent of the FDR era when "Clear it with Sidney be- came something of a political gag line, Alaska Democrats, back in the political majority, were hardening back. They were about to have a line. too - clear it with Alex
 The old phrase referred to the late Sidney Hillman, a political power in the Roosevelt days. The re-vamped Alaska reference is to Alex Miller of Fairbanks, Demo- cratic Territorial Chairman, who appears to be becoming something of a political power.
 Young fellow, thinking of get ting a little varied experience with a long winter ahead, went to a veteran member of the Territorial Senate to inquire about possibilities
 of a job in the forthcoming ses- sion. He was advised that such matters would have to be taken up with the Democratic committee.
 Everything" reported the Sen ator, lis supposed to be set up for Us when we arrive in Juneau; em- ployees and things like that. All We have to do is answer roll call and start legislating." He mem toned that Alex is chairman of the Democratic Central Committee,
 Whether Fairbanks rising young political power was going to name the President of the Senate, Speak erof the House and members of the various committees was not learn ed, but there were strong indica- tiOns that the Democrats, true to tradition, were preparing to pick up machine politics" where they dropped it little over two years ago. There was a possibility, not at all remote, that direction of the machine" might be coming from the original source.
 At any rate, when the legislature convenes on the fourth Monday of January, or January 24, it will be made up of SS Democrats and sev- en Republicans and the refrain at the majority caucus promises to be: Clear it with Alex"
 Nolan or Lyngs
 The political dope has it that Senator Howard Lyng of Nome or Senator James Nolan of Wrangell will be President of the Senate. Should Senator Lyng be able to "clear it with Alex" he'll probab- ly be President and Senator Nolan will head up the finance commit tee. Senator Lyng, incidentally, will be rounding out almost 20 years of legislative service, having first served in the House in 1885. With the exception of two sessions. he has served continuously since that time and was Speaker of the House in 1899. As "dean" of the legislature he is expected to get the nod for the presidency but, of course, we haven't cleared that with Alex. Nolan, too, is a veteran legislator; a former Speaker of the House. former chairman of the po- tent House Ways and Means com mittee and since moving to the Senate has been a power on the Senate Finance committee - the boys who watchdog the treasury and allocate the expenditures.
 Apparently "cleared with Alex" for the Speakership is Rep. Wen dell P. Kay of Anchorage.
 More Teachers Pay
 After the Democrats get through with their organizational politick-, the legislature appears to have plenty to do, most of it having to do with money. If they grant all the requests for more cash now scheduled to be tossed in the leg, islative lap, they can set a record as one of the most free wheeling legislatures in Territorial history when it comes to spending.
 All the Territorial agencies want more money. The Board of the Budget has oked requests from de- partments for something over 20 million. There is reported to be a. round II million currently in the. Territorial treasury. There will be requests from other sources. An Pxample, one of many, is the leg islative program presently being circulated by the Alaska Educa- tion Association which is made up of most of the teachers and educa- tion, administrators in the Terri. tory - very potent bloc of about 12OO persons in that professional field. Says the ABA bulletin:
 "The association will ask the legislature to. increase the annual salary fncrements for all profess sional personnel and to give furth- CT recognition for advanced train