*
Territorial ‘Senators’ At Washington
Make Slow Progress ‘Hitting Doors’
By FRANK W. VAILLE *
WASHINGTON, W» — It’s a
long step from storekeeping at
Valdez, Alaska (pop. 800) to the
job of U. S. “Senator”—even
when you have to use quotation
marks around your title.
You have that on the word of
William A. Egan, who was a Val
dez grocer before being elected to
one of three non-existent offices
in a move intended to hasten
statehood for the Territory.
Egan, along with former Alaska
Governor and “Senator” Ernest
Gruening and “Rep.” Ralph J.
Rivers of Fairbanks, was sent
here by the Territory to drum up
support and make friends for
statehood. If successful, they
would take over as regular mem
bers of Congress.
“It’s a big job—bigger even,
I believe, than most persons rea
lized,’ Egan said in an interview
in the office of E. L. Bartlett,
Alaska’s non-voting delegate to
Congress.
One example might serve to
demonstrate what’s ahead for the
Alaska trio.
On The Scene A Month
Although on the scene a month,
Egan said he and Gruening, work
ing as a team, have been able to
meet with only 9 or 10 sena
tors in their offices. They have
talked with a similar number of
administrative aides.
For one thing, they held up on
their visits until President Eisen
how endorsed statehood in his
budget message. Then they were
slowed up when hearings on the
Middle East resolution occupied
the attention of the Senate Armed
Services and Foreign Relations
Committees.
“We’re lucky to catch two sen
ators a day in calling on seven
or eight offices,” Egan declared.
They have met with other
members socially at the lunch
eons, dinners or receptions to
which they are invited two or
three times a week. But the goal
is to contact each of the 96 sen
ators and 435 representatives in
dividually in their offices. Rivers
will carry the brunt of the House
visits.
Study Statehood Stands
In addition to “hitting doors,”
as Egan describes it, the trio has
to put in time studying in ad
vance the statehood stands of
those with whom they plan to
visit.
“We’re moving slowly because
we don’t want to antagonize any
one,” Egan said, “and so far we’ve
had no feeling of imposition and
received no snubs.”
Egan, who served five sessions
in the Alaska House of Repre
sentatives—once as speaker—and
from 1952 until coming to Wash
ington in the Territorial Senate,
sees several differences between
the Alaska Legislature and Con
gress.
But he sees one thing working
in Alaska’s favor.
“After all, senators and con
gressmen are human too,” he
said.
James Stewart
in
THE MAM
FROM IARAMIE |
A COLUMBIA PICTURE
A WHIIAM G0ET7 PRODUCTION
TONIGHT and THURSDAY
House Group Votes
To Extend Business Tax
At $30 Billion Level
WASHINGTON UP)—1The House
Ways and Means Committee to
day voted to extend business
taxes for another year at their
present $30 billion a year level.
The tax writing group acted
only minutes after hearing Secre
tary of the Treasury Humphrey
say it would be “inexcusable” to
let the government slip back into
red-ink financing by not extend
ing the present levies.
At the same time, Humphrey
said today’s tax levies are “too
high” and “will in the long run
seriously hamper our economic
growth.” He did not hold out the
prospect of any immediate tax
reduction, however.
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Dulles Says He Has
No Plans To Eetire
WASHINGTON, M — Scretary
of State Dulles said today he has
no present plans to resign or
retire.
Dulles also said at his news
conference he does not think the
recent Congressional attacks on
him were anjr more bitter than
normal in American politics.
Dulles said his heart was
warmed when, at the height of
the Democratic outcry in Con
gress against him, President
Eisenhower came to his defense.
Dulles said that makes you feel
pretty good when a person as
wise, and experienced as Eisen
hower defends you.
It was Dulles’ first public
comment on the subject.
The criticism of Dulles arose
during his testimony before
House and Senate committees on
Eisenhower’s Middle East propo
sal to block Communist expan
sion in the Middle East tlirough
U. S. military economic support.
k
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ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S
TO CATCH A THIEF *
SUNDAY and MONDAY