The frontiersman., 1957-01-24
WASHINGTON
NEWSLETTER
Statehood Legislation


legislation was introduced the
opening day of the 85th Congress
by Delegate Bartlett in recognl-
ton Of the constitution adopted
by the people of Alaska IN the
1856 April primary.
Chairman Engle Of the House
Interior and Insular Affairs Com
mittee and Congressman OBrlen
Of New York, chairman Of the
territories subcommittee, intro
duced similar bills patterned al
ter Delegate Bartlett's draft with
one exception. Delegate Bart
let's version would recognize the
two Tennessee Plan Senators
who would be able to conclude
their terms under statehood,
while the other two bills would
call for electioo of new Senators.
Ernest Gruening's long term as
Senator is scheduled to expire
January 3, 1868, and William A.
Egan's short term is due to ex-
pire January 3, 1861. All the bills
would call for election of a mem
Der to the House of Representa-
tives i'm the October, 1858, cleo
ton to take office on January 3,
1859. when Ralph Rivers term
as Tennessee Plan Representa-
tive comes to an end.
Previous statehood legislation
had carried detailed provisions
setting forth the procedure for
writing of constitution, includ-
ing election of delegates and q
convention, and had provided for
approval of the proposed state
constitution by the Congress and
for formal admission Of the new
state into the Union. Such legis-
lation had been usually termed
as an enabling" bill, whereas
the bills introduced this week are
termed "admittance" bills be
cause they would adopt the pro-
posed constitution. Lf passed in
the form as introduced. the leg
islation would provide that upon
passage the President would no
tify the Governor of Alaska, who
on or after July 8, 1858, but not
later than August 1, would call
for elections of all elective Off
GERS provided for by the consit-
tuition, including United States
Representative (The. Engle O.
Brien versions at this point
would also call for election of
two United States Senators). A
primary election would be held
on September III, 1858, and the
general election on October IA,
1858. At the general election or
a territorial general election or
a special election called by the
Governor following enactment of
the law, the people of Alaska
would vote to approve or reject
two propositions consenting to
the conditions of the grants Of
lands or other property contain
ed in the law and the boundaries
of the States as described in the
law. In the event the PROPOSE
tons are not adopted by ma
jority of the voters, the law
would be ineffective and Alaska
would not become a state thro-
ugh that law.
The Governor would certify
results of the vote on the propo-
sitions and the returns of the
election Of officers to the Presi-
dent who would issue a procla-
nation at which time the State
of Alaska would be deemed adj
mitted into the Union.
It will be recalled that the
combined Hawaii-Alaska state
hood bill recommitted by the
House in May Of 1855 to the In
terror and Insular Affairs Com
mittee designated an area in
northwestern Alaska which could
be established by the President
as national-defense Withdrawals
within the exterior boundaries of
the state with the provision that
no more than 40 percent of such
area could be SO Withdrawn, in
place of administrative propos-
ais for a much larger withdrawal
area with no limit on the per-
centage within the area to be
withdrawn. The three bills intro
duced this week deleted all refer
ence to military withdrawals.
The legislation introduced this