The Wrangell sentinel., 1955-02-18
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE
Shades of Huev Long

With the Territorial Legislature approximately halfway through its eo-day session some s0-odd bills. or maybe it's a hundred or more by now. nave been introduced in the House and between so and 70 in Ine senate. ala directed in a gen. e.-s way at the health. wealth. welfare and prosperity of Alaska. They range from such subjects as the censorship of comic books to se.sing up. political dictator. If iy Der cent of them are enacted inlo .aw, it will be a high average and possibly nine per cent too many at that.
 Amoug the prize packages, aside from the weighty problem of cen soring comic books. is House Bill No. sz, introduced by Rep. Greuel of Fairbanks. This might well be termed the "Huey Long" bill. Old sters. and you don't have to be sa old. either. will recall the late Huey as the lad who ran Louisiana with considerable aplomp and dis
  patched him.
 Rep Greuel in his H. B. g pro- poies Co set up the position of ~Business Manager to run the Territory and to be appointed by the Legislature for a term of two years. The powers this lad would have under HB 32 would make Huey turn over in his grave. For example. in section 2. 1t is reveal ing to note that the business man aEer shall have the power to ap- point. and at his pleasure. remove the following:
 Commsssioner of Health, Land Commissioner. Director of Welfare, Tax Commissioner. Commissioner of Agriculture. Director of Fisheries, Commissioner of Education. Com missioner of Mines. Director of Aeronautics. Director of Employ ment Security, Commissioner of ka Development Board and even the Librarian and Curator of the Historical Library and Museum, The latter is probably to be sure they don't get any of those naugh- ty comic books on the shelves. All boards which have to do with any Of the above offices would be abol- ished and the person appointed by the business manager would have sole charge Of the department sub ject. of course. to the pleasure of the business manager. There would be some advisory boards created. and. remarkable thing, the appointment power to these groups would be with the Governor. For instance. the Governor would have the dubious honor Of appointing members of an advisory water pollution control board. among few others. Ii doesn't say so in the bill. but 1t may be assumed the Governor would also be called upon for the business manager" at the Governors House so the latter could get his crowned heads to- gether for a discussion on how the political fence mending is getting along.
 This Legislature will go down in history as one Of tic great" Ter ritorial legislatures. says one com mentator covering the legislative scene.
 Doubtless. doubtless if they toss in a few more measures like HE s2. or such stuff Is greatness" made. Huey. move over.
 Production News
 While such goings-on were the order Of the day in Juneau. there was a little constructive and pro ductive news along the wrangell front. In seven hours the other day. the wrangell Lumber Com- pany sawmill cut a new S0.0OO board feet Of lumber and the plant Is just getting tuned up.
 When we get all the kinks out. wen be able to produce mora lumber than any sawmill in Alas ka." commented Manager Chet Neil. veteran sawmill man. with just pride.
 It's significant. too. that the saw mill operation means a payroll in the community of between $500 and si.eoe a day. Almost as much as the taxpayers have to pay to keep the Legislature in session in Juneau. and this Is productive wealth.