GOVERNOR ASSAILS LOBBY i
SOME MEMBERS OF RECENT
LEGISLATURE IN MESSAGE
(Continued from last issue ot
the Nugget, Friday, April 18.)
Armory Misrepresentation
A good deal of misrepresenta
tion about these armories was
propagated by the Lobby. As far
as the public has an opportunity
to express itself, it registered the
attitude of patriotic Americans
The p ople of Nome, in a mass
meeting, enthusiastically endors
ed the armories and when Repre
sentative Shattuck in an endeav
or to bolster up his opposition to
them sent a wire to the Nam"
Chamber of Commerce asking it
to follow the position taken by
the Juneau Chamber in disap
proving the armories bill, he re
ceived a merited r-buke in a mes
sage which said the Nome Cham
ber of Commerce did not care to
oppose the “unanimous expres
sion” of the people of Nome and
added ‘w,: realize with them the
necessity and urgency of coopera
tion with the Federal Govern
ment which is spending millions.
Shall be be blinded by selfi-h in
terest and offer no sacrifice to
ward preparation to d fend our
homes?”
Yet Cochran and Sullivan who
owed their election chiefly to the
people of Nome, did everything
in their power to delay, obstruct
and finally to kill this national
defense and civic measure.
Chambers of Commerce are no
tably conservative; they object
to expenditures, often, in Alaska,
it would seem, unwisely, when
I certain .■ xpenditures are really
community investments which
will bring better living condi
tions, more business activity and
more revenue to their towns. But
fact is that a number of our
Chambers of Commerce are con
trolled by resident lobbyists,
m n whose one and only loyalty
is to their absentee employers,
whose patriotism is only to their
pocket book. Yet the Chambers
of Ketchikan, Fairbanks and
Nome all endorsed the armories
bill. Anchorage and Juneau did
not. Junrau witnessed the de
pressing spectacle of one or two
of it “leading citizens” employ
ing every means to defeat a mo
tion before the Chamber to sup
a port the only hill before the I.r g
islature to build the armories re
quired. Of course patriotism that
consists merely in breast-beating
and flag-waving on holidays, but
balks at a single cent of expendi
ture, especially of his absentee
client’s, is the type which has
made the rise of totalitarianism
possible in the world. When
Adolf Hitler, in one of his fre
quent sneers at the free institu
tions of our world, d> dared, “Do
9 mocracies are impotent; while
they talk, I act; they value their
ease and wealth above all else,”
he could have found here in Al
aska recently a confirmation of
that caustic condemnation of dem
ocracies.
Time Will Tell
Time will prove him wrong.
Neither Alaska nor any part of
our beloved United States will
be controlled by the penny-pinch
ing pretened patriots, by the
lobbyists whose flag is thr dollar
sign and who at all times in their
4^ methods and morals are the en
emies of the democratic process.
Here in Alaska at the Fifteen
th Session the Lobby told the
people of Alaska:
“You shall not have additional
funds for Vocational Education,”
and so no funds were voted.
The Lobby declared:
“You shall not have additional
facilities for the University for
the boys and girls who want to
go there. You shall have no new
structures, and you must cut
your funds for operation.” And
so the University’s budget was
drastically reduced.
The Loby said, “You shall not
have armories.”
And despite the fact that ten
out of 16 members of the House
and five out of eight members in
the Senate favored armories and
so voted, there were no armories.
The Lobby even tried to cut
the funds for crippled children.
It got $10,000 slashed off the re
quested $30,000 in the first skir
mish. There was sufficient indig
mtion and spirit among the free
members of the Legislature so
that $5,030 of this was restored;
but the final figure was still
$5,000 le s than was required.
The Lobby said: “'You shall
not have a new Territorial Build
ing.”
And although Alaska's govern
nv nt can scarcely operate for
lack of space, there was no Terri
torial Building.
Reform Perish
Incidental to the Lobby’s stra
tegy of obstruction and delay,
worthwile measures, often involv
ed no increased expenditures, re
forms long sought by Alaska’s
civic bodies—Women’s clubs, the
American Legion—perished. Thus
died the bills for a juvenile code
— to prevent littl. children from
being stigmatized as criminals—
and the bill amending the mo
thers’ allowance law, both recom
mended by the Department of
Public Welfare. The Lobby was
too busy with its slaughter to
worry about innocent victims.
The Lobby on the whole won a
sweeping victory. To be sure it
suffered a few set-backs. It man
aged to secure cuts in many ap
propriations that were needed; it
managed to defeat all tax legis
lation which would hav distrib
uted the burden equitably and
have reached those who have
hitherto not borne a fraction of
their just share; and it is highly
possible that some worthwhile ap
propriations were made only be
cause the Lobby knew funds for
them might not be available.
With a one-third increase in
population in a decade, and fur
ther growth in prospect, our prob
lems could be taken care of large
ly by revamping out obsolete and
inadequate tax structure. Such a
revision would permit our new
and increased activities, not now
taxed, to pay a small share of
their burden. At present the in
flux of people into an Alaska
community creates new n quire
ments—-for schools, streets, pub
lic utilities, and so forth. At the
same time this influx creates pros
perity; merchants do a much larg
er business. But under our rigid
and outworn tax system the Terri
torial Treasury get no additional
receipts. In other words, Alaska
while called upon to furnish new'
facilities, yet gets no correspond
ing tax benefits from the increas
ed business and ntew construc
tion activities. The extremely
moderate net income and proper
ty taxes proposed to the Fifteenth
Legislature would have remed
ied this difficulty.
Most Lightly Taxed
The Lobby’s cry was that with
incr ased Federal taxes for de
fense impending, this was no
time for any new Territorial tax
es. The facts are that Alaska is
by far the most lightly taxed en
tity under the flag; that in no
other part of the union do so
many occupations, categories or
individuals escape appreciable
taxation; that after enjoying a 70
percent increase in the price of
gold for the four years from 1933
to 1937 without an additional
cent of taxation, a three percent
gross tax with a- $20,000 exemp
tion aone has b?en levied on Al
aska’s gold industry; that under
this exemption over $5,000,000
with of gold is taken out of Al
aska annually without paying
one cent of tax to the Territory;
that many states with already ad
equate tax burdens are taxing
themselves further to meet their
needs; that the Territory is now
at an all-time high of prosperity;
that the National Defense pro
gram is still further augmenting
this prosperity; but that very’
little of this new wealth is stay
ing in Alaska. Although Gover
nor Langlie’s message to the
Washington Legislature, in w"hich
economy w-as urged, was quoted
by one of the leading Alaskan
lobbyists, he did not state that
nevertheless the Washington Leg
islature finally adopted, in order
to provide adequate government
al services to the people of that
state, the largest budget in its
history and increased taxes all
along the line.
— m .,++*... ii
• _ •
S'IMIGHTY HUSKY YOUNGSTERS / ^
( LOOKS LIKE YOUVE BEEN READING
\ OUR ADS ON HOW HEALTHFUL
INTO MILLIONS of U. S. homes this year goes an impor
tant health message: Science finds notable food values
richly stored in Canned Salmon! This is the story that
Canned Salmon advertising is telling housewives and
mothers through national circulation magazines. It’s
another fact about Alaska’s good product that is en
couraging more and more U. S. women to serve Canned
Salmon in their homes.
Good reason, too, for Alaska families to enjoy more
Canned Salmon! Food authorities say that Canned Sal
mon contains a greater store of important nutrients than
almost any other food. Protein, for instance—the food
1 _ mu-fTL'rT
eleme nt you expect a main dish to supply. Canned Sal
mon is rated more mdant. in life-sustaining protein
than almost any other i in dish food. Then there’s the
rare “sunshine” vitamin iJ—Canned Salmon is an extra
good source of vitamin i). Salmon also supplies vitamins
A and G plus the valuable food minerals—calcium and
phosphorous—that help keep teeth and bones sound and
healthy.
Add these health facts to the satisfying goodness of
Canned Salmon and you’ll know why we say—to you
Alaskans as well as to the U. S.—“For good health and
good eating—nerve Canned Salmon!”
Senators Frightened, Bamboozled
The Lobby was abl to frighten '
one Senator, to bamboozle a noth
er, and these in addition to those
already “in the bag" were suffic
ient. With ample opportunity for
intelligent discussion and an hon
est facing of Alaska’s problems,
the income tax bill was nver
given serious consideration in the
Senate, although the House pass
ed by a vote of ten to six. The
Lobby has stimulated some child
ish talk to the effect that these
tax proposals were “brought in
from the Outside.” (So, it might
he recalled, are the Federal fund
which pay the legislators’ travel
and per diem.) Tbs basis for this
tax legislation was laid three
years ago under the administra
tion of Governor Troy when, a!
his direction the Planning Coun
cil undertook a thorough study
of taxation. This was clearly an
noying to the Lobby which want ,
eel the Planning Council killed
and had Us way. But apart from
all this, the Legislature had full
and final control over any tax
legisation. The Legisature had
the power to amend any propos
as or to introduce new revenue
measures. The only substantial
tax measure pass' d was one doub
ling the stamp tax on liquor. The
general property tax, expertly
drafted, was not even given the
courtesy of a hearing or discus
sion. A gross sales tax introduc
ed in the Senate after it was
clear the other measures would
not receive consideration, was
likewise unceremoniously laid on
the table. Thus while the Legis
lature passed a few worthwhile
measures, great opportunities for
constructive legislation which
would help Alaska were passed
by.
Next Biennium
In the next biennium, the peo
ple of Alaska will have ample
time to consider these problems.
If. as has been alleged — quite in |
correctly — .these tax measures
were “sprung” on the Legislature
and public without sufficient
warning, there will now be two
years for their full study. There
are available in the Governor’s
Office, for any who may desire
them, complete studies of Alas
ka’s tax problem, copies of the
proposed net income and proper
ty tax, together with summar
ies thereof.
And the underlying issue,
which will not down, is whether
the absentees who are stripping,
and would continue to strip, Al
aska, shall through their resident
lobbyists and representatives
take it all. Or, whether the peo
ple of Alaska shall talcs their
part and plow it back for the
improvement and welfare of the
Territory which they want to
call their home.
American House
Y> ife Reports On
Canned Salmon
Three out of every fiv? famil
ies in the United States are users
of canned salmon, a nationwide
survey just completed for the
Canned Salmon Industry reveals.
Data in the report, titled “The
American Housewife Reports on
Canned Salmon,” was secured by
interviews with women in all sec
tions of the country. Interviews
were divided to give proper r p
resentalion to large, medium and
small sized cities, as well as small
towns and rural areas. The re
suits are also properly represent
ativ? of all income levels, and
racial differences.
Fifty-nine percent of the house
wives used canned salmon at
least once during the* month pre
vious to the time they were in
terviewed. There were only 19 (
percent who had not served can
ned salmon to their families dur
ing the past year.
Of all the salmon used. 5 per
cent is used on Fridays, with 12
percent used on Wednesdays, the
second most popular day. Near
ly two-thirds of the servings are
at supper or dinner, with one
third being served at lunch.
Twenty-four percent of the
families serving salmon serve it
“as is” without any special pre
paration. Twenty-two parcent
serve it in salads. Salmon loaf
is served by 19 percent of the
users, and 12 percent servo it
creamed. Salmon is thus consider
ed a much more versatile dish
than tuna which is served prin
cipally in salads.
Two consumers in every three
regard canned salmon as am econ
omical food, while only three per
cent regard it as “inexpensive."
Thirty percent of the housewives
interviewed regard salmon as
more appetizing than other main
dish foods, while 57 percent re
gard it as about average in appet- j
ite appeal.
Every fifth consumer thinks sal
mon is more healthful than other
in every five were able to name
main dish food. Three housewives
specific health values found in
canned salmon.
Two out of every five house
wives had a supply of canned sal
mon in their pantries at the time
the investigator called. The aver
age quantity on hand was slight
ly more than two cans.
Six out of ten housewives
know where the salmon they
RAF! .Oil TWO M? N—in production at Akron, Ohio,
for the U. S. nasy are inflatable rubber lifeboats such, as the on*
at the right. The raft, of two-man capacity, can be inflated in 10
seconds with carbon dioxide and could prove valuable In the
saving of plane crew members forced down at sea. An inspector
holds a deflated boat packed in a duffle bag.
serve is canned. Of these six,
five say they serve Alaska can
ned salmon.
In a letter to salmon industry
members, the industry’s adver
tising agency points out that the
two principal themes used to ad
vertise canned salmon - economy
and health values — have been
acepted by most consumers. This
is shown by the number of house
wives who regard this food as
more economical than other main
dishes, and by the number who
know the specific health values
that canned salmon supplies.
SEEKS DIVORCE
LOS ANGELFS. April — Film
Star Wallace Beery's ex-w; fe,
Mrs. Mary Beery Foyt, fought a
divorce from her present hus
band, Broker Albert Foyt. Her
complaint stated that Foyt is be
Loved to b: in Manila. Mrs,
Beery married Foyt in 1939, it
Carson City, Nevada, a week af
ter she obtained a divorce from
the film actor.
Save $2.00 by paying in J
vance for your subscription.
Department of Commerce Weather Bureau
FORECAST, NOME AND VICINITY
Thin overcast with fresh, to moderate north ast winds tonight
and Tuesday Warmer Tuesday witli heavier cloudiness in P. M.
Data for 24 Hours Ending 1:00 p. m. Today
Highest temp — 41 Lowest temp — 31 Precipitation — 0.01
Total precip this month — 0.15 Total since Jan. 1, 1941—1.42
Temp. Humidity Wind Weather
12 Midnight-—.~.. 34 90 NE 6 Cloudy
8am —.... —— —* 37 76 NE 15 Clear
12:30 p m - —... 40 71 NE 16 Pt Cldy
Tomorrow: Sunrise 4:05 a. m. Sunset 7:58 p. m.
One Year Ago Today
Highest temp — 42 Lowest te mp — 31 Precipitation — 0.03