The Wrangell sentinel., 1956-01-06
THROUGH THE SENTINEL TELESCOPE
Remember the Petition?


 be found a communication from local resident taking issue with conditions at the city floats. Tone of the letter indicates the writer feels the city isn't doing all that might be done in float mainten- ance.
 IL brings to our mind immed- lately the locally well known peti- tion. Last spring. the city fathers, with an always limited budget, and with an aim to having paid har- bormaster and bettering conditions generally in the harbOr, proprosed d small boat tax with the idea that boat owners and users of the city facilities should help contribute to- ward their maintenance.
 Immediately filed at the City IInll was petition of protest sign ed by 6S boat owners, fishermen and other users of the city floats, leading the city fathers to the con clusion that the situation wasn't so bad in the harbor. At least, 6S persons who used the city facilities didn't want to be taxed to help improve them.
 A municipality, and Wlangell is no exception, derives it's revenues for operation as municipality from the people, as taxpayers, who live in the community. The duly elected city fathers, or city coun- cil, administer the funds available to the best of their ability When there are no funds available for certain projects, such as additional maintenance at the city floats, the project of necessity must be by passed until money is available.
 Right now the city administra- ency brought on by m unusually severe winter resulting in a water shortage and it's kindred fire pro- tection problem. It means a heavy unforeseen drain on the city coffers for men and equipment to meet the emergency haulng water, run ming a fire patrol, repairing fro- zen mains and the mnny other tasks which come up under these conditions.
 We feel the men in charge of it are doing an excellent job of pro- tecting the town under trying cir cumstances. It is also our thought that if there is some snow on the city floats some volunteer in the neighborhood might grab a shovel and push it off. Quite a few peo- people, who are without running water. are carrying it from the neighbors in order to give the town an assist.
 Demos Ride Again
 Alaska Democrats were riding high again, at least, for a few days. They were opening their three-day Territorial convention to- day at Fairbanks with no holds barred. Big battle appeared to cen ter around the election of a Terri torial central committee chairman and who to support for national 6 election.
 Three avowed candidates were in the race for central committee boss. or Demo big wheel of the party wi hin the Territory. They were Tom Stewart and Felix Toner of Juneau and w. c. Bill" Stump of Ketchikan. By the rules, if any, the chairmanship should go to Southeast Alaska this year, thus. the number of candidates from the area.
 Stewart, Secretary of the Con- stitutional Convention, likewise meeting in the Golden Heart of the North, was said to have the sup port of the so-called Gruening fac ton of the party, sometimes known as the '1efties" Stump and Toner have long been active in the pnrty, Toner currently being the First Di- vision Chairman.
 Present Territorial Chairman AL ex Miller of Fairbanks, say the pol iticians, has the inside track for nomination as na iornl committee man. However. the name of former Gcv. Ernest Gruening has been mentioned in connection with both jobs. Ernest has been circulating some letters which he describes as
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