FLASH-NENANA ICE MOVED 3:84 P.M. THIS AFTERNOON
NOME NUGGET
OLDEST NEWSPAPER IN ALASKA—MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
VOL. LV No. 51 * NOME, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1953 Per Copy—15^
About Proposed
Special Session
Of Legislature
By JIM HUTCHESON
AP Legislative Correspondent
Proposals for increased Alaskan
‘‘highway use” taxes, which have
caused the flurry of special legis
lative session talk in recent days,
came before the 1953 Legislature
in four separate bills.
None of them got to first base.
The Legislature stuck to the
‘‘no tax increases” policy which
, several leaders espoused.
The proposals have gained new
prominence now 'because of two
suggestions for a special session
for the purpose of raising gaso
line taxes or truck license fees,
or both.
There has been no indication
that Governor Heintzleman has
any intention of calling a special
session on the gas and/or truck
tax issue.
The few legislators who have
commented an the proposal view
ed it with caution or skepticism.
The proposals stem from the
House Appropriations Committee
cut of federal funds for Alaska
highways to 10 million dollars
from the proposed 18 million of
the Truman budget and the 14
million proposed in the Eisen
hower administration revision.
The House yesterday went along
with the committee slash.
One special session proposal
came from the Central Alaska
Council of Community Clubs in
the Anchorage area.
The one that drew top attention
was by an Iowa Republican con
gressman who sits in a key spot.
Congressional Delegate Bartlett
quoted Rep. Ben Jensen of Iowa,
chairman of the subcommittee on
Interior Dept, appropriations, as
proposing the special Alaska leg
islative action if the territory
wants to get more federal funds.
During the 1953 legislature, A.
F. Ghiglione, head of the Alaska
Road Commission, predicted Jen
sen might give the Alaska high
way funds a rough ride. He said
Jensen had stressed at previous
hearings that Alaska should levy
truck fees and gas taxes more in
line with the states.
Governnor Gruening also re
commended a motor fuel tax
boost.
Trucking industry representa
tives protested that the trucking
business already was in a pre
carious position because of com
petition from the government
railroad, high initial costs in Alas
ka and rapid wearing out of
trucks and tires under northern
driving conditions.
, LULL IN KOREAN WAR
SEOUL, UF)—American and Chi
nese divisions virtually sat back
on their own muddy battle lines
again today in a lull probably
resulting from the renewed armis
tice talks.
The two major forces in the
Korean war left what little fight
ing there was to ROK and North
Korean soldiers.
There were only light patrol
clashes involving squads and pla
toons, mainly on the rugged east
ern front.
CHENA ICE MOVED
OUT YESTERDAY
FAIRBANKS, UP) — The Chena
River ice pylon moved out Tues
day but the exact time is not
available. Four persons out of
10,378 guessers predicted the ex
act minute of the ice movement.
They were H. S. Harbell, Walter
Belling, both of Fairbanks, and
Victor and Ina Anderson, now be
lieved to be in the States. Har
bell is an Alaska pioneer and
Belling is a cook in a local cafe.
River experts now predict that
the Tanana River ice will go out
at Nenana within 60 hours. Ap
proximately 100,000 guesses have
been made on the time that the
ice moves there.
Calls For $5,800,000,000
In Foreign Aid Funds
WASHINGTON, UP)—'The Eisen
hower administration is reported
drafting a foreign aid budget call
ing for about $5,800,000,000 in
new money from Congress for the
next fiscal year. Former Presi
dent Truman had suggested at
least $7,600,000,000.
Officials who disclosed this to
day said the National Security
Council tentatively approved a
program of this size at a White
House meeting yesterday. A few
hours earlier, these same officials
had said the figure would be be
tween $6,100,000,000 and $6,300,
000,000 but the specific amount
was yet to be determined.
In conferences which lasted late
into last night, the amount ap
parently was scaled down to
around $5,800,000,000. Foreign aid
director Harold Stassen apparent
ly lo'st a last-ditch fight in favor
of the bigger amounts because of
the administration’s determination
to economize in foreign aid spend
ing.
U. S. Citizen Deplores
Lack of Understanding
Between U.S. and Canada
SPOKANE, Iff) — The lack of
understanding between the people
of the United States and Canada
is “one of the great tragedies of
history” the President of the
Pacific Northwest Trade Associ
ation said yesterday.
Ralph D. Baker, a United States
citizen who has lived in Vancou
ver, B.C., for the past 15 years,
spoke at a Chamber of Commerce
meeting here.
“Canadians want to be better
understood,” he said.
Baker cited a recent incident in
which he said an American alum
inum company irritated Canad
ians in announcing it planned to
use British Columbia water to
create power-generating facilities
near Skagway, Alaska.
The company failed to consult
with Canadians or their govern
ment before making the an
nouncement, he said “let alone
secure prior approval and per
mission.”
*
Nippon Nippers Increase Nips
TOKYO, (ff)—Japanese tipplers
apparently are working overtime.
The sale of sake, Japan’s national
drink, doubled in March over
February, beer sales tripled and
whiskey sales more than doubled,
Kyoda News Agency reported.
Fairbanks Agent
Plugs for Tourism
Before Chamber
Everett Patton, representative
of the American Society of Tour
Agents and operator of Fairbanks
tours which take the visitors to
that city on a three and a half
hour trip through Fairbanks, the
university and museum, spark
plugged the noon luncheon of the
Chamber of Commerce yesterday
with his vision of the future of
the tourist industry in Alaska.
He firmly believes that tourism
is a new business, big business,
new industry that will grow and
grow and some day in the very
near future, exceed the gold in
dustry and even exceed tourist
industry as developed in Hawaii.
Already, he stated, it is a multi
million dollar industry in Alaska
with strikes as the biggest thorn
in its side.
He showed how one planned
tour alone last summer, during
the tourist season, cancelled due
to the strike, caused refunds to
be made totalling $56,000..
There are many things to be
done to build the industry but
they cannot be done overnight.
One of the main things to do is
to have the visitors leave with
a feeling that “they have seen an
empire growing.”
Nome's History Preserved
He advocated that every shred
of Nome’s colorful history should
be preserved and handed down
to the tourist as he sees it from
his bus window. Every landmark
should be preserved for its his
torical value. For example, he
recommended that one of the old
locomotives of the early-day rail
road should be preserved and
used as part of the tourist dis
play; the legend of Tex Rick
ard and Rex Beach exemplified in
some way; an exhibit available
for those interested and also a
bulletin of service organizations
with information of when and
where they meet.
He showed that the average
tourist to Alaska is a tourist of
means, as traveling in Alaska is
30 per cent higher than in Eu
rope and these people demand
better facilities. How;ever, as the
volume grows, the tourist will get
more for his money.
Patton praised Wien Airlines
for having done more to further
the industry than any other air
line inasmuch that they have sup
plied not only the planes but the
entertainment and even housing
where necessary.
Patton speaks not only as a
businessman but as an Alaskan
who grew up in Fairbanks and
Seward where his father was pas
tor of an early Methodist church.
His enthusiasm brought a hearty
response from the Chamber mem
bers present.
Fairbanks Chamber to Visit Here
A letter from the Fairbanks
Chamber of Commerce was read
by Secretary Glavinovich, stating
that 29 members of the Fairbanks
Chamber would visit Nome, Sat
urday, May 9. George Goshaw
(Continued on Page Two)
Signs of Imminent
Break In Deadlocked
Korean Armistice Talks
TOKYO, iff)—There were signs
'.today that a break might be im
minent in the deadlocked armis
tice talks at Panmunjom.
After three days of no progress
the Communists indicated they
were getting ready to nominate
their choice for a neutral nation.
And President Syngman Rhee
of South Korea said he would
agree to send to the neutral nation
some 15,000 Chinese who have re
jected Communism.
Most observers predict that
once the Communists and United
Nations Command get together on
a neutral nation to administer
further screening of 50,000 Chi
nese and North Korean prisoners
who have refused repatriation,
.the rest will be easy.
India May Be Named
As Nation To Take Reds
Rejecting Repatriation
MUNSAN, (A*) — Communist
truce negotiators suggested Wed
nesday that 50,008 Allied - held
war prisoners who do not want
to go home be sent to an un
named neutral nation in Asia. The
Reds also agreed to bargain on
the time needed to determine
their future.
“I think we made some pro
gress,” said Lt. Gen. William K.
Harrison, chief U.N. negotiator.
“At least they are not adamant
on the time prisoners are to be
held in custody.”
While the Communists did not
name a neutral, there was un
official reports the Reds would
nominate India. Observers pre
dicted U.N. negotiators would
agree. The Communists have re
jected Switzerland as a neutral.
U.S. Soldier Tells How
Reds Machine-Gunned
800 Wounded Americans
TOKYO, (rP—A repatriated Am
erican soldier today said Chinese
troops ruthlessly sprayed 40 truck
loads of wounded U. S. soldiers
with burp guns, killing mo'st of
the nearly 800 helpless screaming
men..
Then the Reds bayonetted many
of the survivors, Pfc. Tully Cox,
*20, of Alcoona, Ala., told news
men in Tokyo Army hospital.
Cox, double amputee, was ask
ed if he considered the mass ma
chine gunning premeditated mur
der.
“That is what you’d call it,” he
said quietly.
Cox was with the 32nd Regi
ment of the Seventh Division dur
ing a retreat through hordes of
Chinese Reds on Dec. 22, 1950.
He was one of about 20 men
guarding the 40-truck convoy of
wounded.
“There were about 20 wounded
to each truck. We were trying to
get them out to Hamhung, where
the evacuation fleet was await
ing,” he said.
The convoy ran into a Chinese
road block and was overwhelmed.
Cox was wounded.
“Then the Chinese climbed up
on the trucks and sprayed burp
guns into the wounded. Then they
bayonetted them.”
Nome School To
Give Program of
Music Friday p.m.
The month of May will be
ushered in by the pupils of Nome
High School with a musical pro
gram starting at 7:30 Friday
evening, May 1, at the school
auditorium. There will be no ad
mission charge, and it is hoped
that parents will support with
their attendance a project on
which their children have worked
so hard.
An operetta based on Mark
Twain’s “Tom Sawyer” and writ
ten by Mrs. Kearns will be pre
sented by the fourth grade. A
group of Indian songs and dances
will be the third grade’s contribu
tion. The fifth grade will sing
music from the Kentucky moun
tains; the sixth grade will sing
two songs in French and several
other foreign language pieces,
including an African war chant,
a Chinese lullaby and an Egyptian
song of the Nile. The seventh and
eighth grades will combine to
offer a selection of pirate and
sailor songs. Cosumes will add to
the color of the production.
This is the first year the Nome
School has had a full-time music
teacher. This program, which
shows considerable work on the
part of Mrs. Kearns and the chil
dren is being presented not only
for the parents but for everyone
who enjoys music.
House Passes $400 Million
For Interior Department
WASHINGTON, UB—1The House
went along with its Appropria
tions committee Tuesday, passing
and sending to the Senate for
its action a bill appropriating
$406,130,343 for the Interior De
partment.
The total approved was only
$1,267,104 higher than the Appro
priations Committee recommend
ed for the fiscal year starting
July 1. But it was $201,206,057
less than the total requested by
former President Truman.
Main items in the Interior bill
were $43,300,000 for the Bonne
ville power administration; $13
million for the Bureau of Land
Management; $53,369,000 for the
Indian Bureau; $133,146,675 for
the Reclamation Bureau; $27,750,
000 for the Geological Survey;
$19,967,218 for the Bureau of
Mines; $13,917,550 for the Park
Service; $11,210,600 for the Fish
and Wildlife Service, and $34,
922,300 for the Office of Terri
tories.
Tuesday Scores
(By m.3e Associated Press)
National League
St. Louis 6—Philadelphia 5
Milwaukee 4—New York 1
Chicago 5—Pittsburgh 3
Brooklyn 5—Cincinnati 1
American League
New York 7—St. Louis 6
Philadelphia 3—Cleveland 2
Chicago 5—Washington 4
Boston 2—Detfoit 0
Coast League
Sacramento 2—Los Angeles 1
Hollywood 9—Portland 0
Oakland 14—San Diego 4
Seattle 8—San Francisco 2