The Wrangell sentinel., 1956-06-08
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE
Let's Look at the Record

A column Tn the Fairbanks News Miner labeled "On the Inside" un- der the date of June of this ev- entful year carries the following item:
 'Anti-constitution Editor Lew Williams of the Wrangell Sentinel is at it agai n. He says: Under etanding at the constitutional con- vention was to the effect that they CTennessee-plan senators and con- sressman from Alaska wouldn't get paid.
 If that's so, he's one of the few people in Alaska who had such an understanding. A Fairbanks dele gate, Mrs. Ada Wien, says no such statement was ever made either publically or privately to her knowledge. Furthermore. she adds. nobody presumed that the three AL askans would have to pay their own way while serving the Terri toy in their pseudo-cOngressional roles. It was pretty well agreed, Mrs Wien says, that the Territory would make provision in some way to pay them salary so that we wouldn't limit our representatives to wealthy folks
 Took the matter up with Senator James Nolan the other morning at his drug emporium along the street The Senator was a delegate to the constitutional convention from the First Division at large and was in daily attendance at the convention during it's 75-day cir GUS of a few hungry politicians making like statesmen with the aim of creating new territorial payroll and getting on it. The Sen ator. whil" calmly sipping his cof- fee elucidated as follows:
 T would suggest they take look at the record As I recall 1t was in the closing days of the con- vention and the Tennessee plan was receiving some of its final ora tory when l arose and made the point whether or net these Tennes- see plan seralcrs and repre7enta- tive were going to be paid and that ha part of the record.
 "Delegate Ed Davis of Anchorage, as I recall, emphasized the subject further by asking whether the-n pseudo congressment from Alaska were going to be paid $22.5oo a year. the going wage in Congress, and was it the understanding of the convention? think the record will show the convention at that pOsnJ definitely rejected the thought of paying those elected under tho Tennessee plan and no provision was made for it or recommended to the legislature for doing so.
 "Of course. Mrs. Wien was ah- sent one day. Had to go to the hairdresser's, Maybe that was the day. However, the record was made It should be available All they have to do is look it up."
 News-Miner which should have been ion the inside of the con- yention by covering it. should also be in an excellent position to look up the record for Mrs. Wien. One can get terribly confused in beauty shops
 Meanwhile, Pay Plan Underway
 Again it is our understanding, and we'll be happy to have Mrs. Wien correct us if wrong. scheme for paying the Tennessee plan boys is in the works. Pending meeting of the next legislature in January. the statehood committee is laying plans. probably had 'em long since made to provide expenses of $35 a day to the successful candidates who will go to Washington without portfolio. Meanwhile, drive will be made in the fall election to get legislators elected who are friend ly to the idea of putting the pseudo senators and representative on the Territorial payroll at the going congressional wage of S22.- goo a year until such time as Con- eress may decide to grant Alaska statehood and dump 'em on the federal payroll. The drive. no doubt. Will pc lnSpl ei uN lHe -1-'9 ka statehood committee.
 COP Has Lineup
 This week in Joneau, Alaska Re- publicans in convention. joined the Tennessee plan by naming as its senatorial candidates Robert At wood. Anchorage publisher and chairman of the statehood commit tee. and Territorial Senator John Rutrovich of Fairbanks For Ten nessee plan representative they chose Charles c. Burdick of Jun eau, former assistant regional for ester.
 Democrats will nominate their candidates at a convention in An Chorage this month.
 L. w.