The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1958-06-12
M Naahinqton
with Rep. John Henderson

Alaskan Statehood
Statehood for Alaska, one of
the major issues before the 85th
Congress, dominated hours of
debate inn the House of Repre-
sentatives last week-a debate
punctuated by heated oratory
both for and against the entrance
of the 49th State.
This is the seventh time the
Alaskan statehood question has
arisen in Congress, with the first
statehood bill having been con-
sidered in 1916. On some previ-
Gus occasions, the creation of the
50th State Of Hawaii was also
intricately involved and the
moves were defeated. The latest
debate, however, focused its at
tention entirely upon the huge
northern territory which the
United States purchased from
Russia in 1867. In its final action,
the House passed the bill by a
vote of 208-l66 and sent it to the
Senate for consideration. The
prospects for Senate debate on
the bill this session are said to
be good, although even its pro-
ponents expect a stiff battle to
develop.
Under the bill, the House re-
duced the number of acres to be
transferred to the State of
Alaska from 182,800,000 to 1922
$4,000. This land could be select
ed from existing unreserved pub
lie lands. Rights to such minerals
as these areas might contain
would also be given to the State
Another provision would reserve
for Federal control a large area
in northern Alaska for defense
installations. A total Of 900 of
the proceeds from coal mines
now owned by the government
would go to Alaska and $3.50 of
the proceeds from all mining on
public lands would be directed
to the States treasury. The
United States government would
retain, at least temporarily, its
present control over the conser-
walton of fish and wildlfe.
There were many arguments
advanced for Statehood. A num-
Der were cogent and reasonable.
Included was the principle of
taxation without representation.
Alaska for many years has had a
delegate in the House of Repre-
sentatives who enjoys all other
rights except the privilege of vot-
ing on the passage of legislation.
1t has no representation in the
Senate. The opposition to the bill
cited many objections. Among
these were the huge size of the
territory, equal to one-fifth of
the United States, with an ex-
ceeding sparse population. These
same arguments will arise in the
Senate-particularly the repre-
which the $4,000
people of Alaska would obtain
in Congress with one Representa-
tive and two Senators. Opponents
declare that this would mean one
Senator for each $4,000 of its
and that this is dis
proportionate to the power in
Congress to which the State
should be entitled. Even more
strenuous are the objections that
Alaska's three Electoral College
votes in the election of Presi-
dents would give it a 6-1 advan-
tage over the average representa-
ton by other States of the Union,
Alaska, too, is far from the
of the United States
and would be the first State
which was not physically joined
to the rest of the nation. Related
to these objections were points
made in the debate concerning
the potential taxable revenue of
the new State in the forseeable
future. Despite known and poten-
tial resources, the territory is
fairly impoverished with a total
annual income from all private
industry of $l60 million. More
than twice this amount is ap-
propriated by the Federal gov
ernment annually for civil and
military expenditures in the ter
ritory.
In terms of the economics of
the situation, it has been ex-
planned that the cost to Federal
government the State of Alaska
would be is considerable an
nual sum as is the case today
under the territorial arrange
ment. On this basis, opponents of
the bill indicated, new pattern
of Federal-State relations would
have to be established to assure
that certain of Alaska's needs
would be met. Intervention Of
the Federal government into
areas that have been within the
jurisdiction of the States has
been traditionally justified be-
cause of the inability of certain
of our poorer States to provide
needed services to its citizens. 1t
has been argued that Alaska's
admission would open new
round of Federal inroads.