problems.
Yes, what I propose is astonish
ing. Imagine entertaining the idea
that anyone under the control of
an institution should be decontrol
led, or suggesting that a man’s
body is his own to take where he
pleases! We would be moving
backward, away from “progress"
toward the time when there were
no passports, and people went
where they wished, to seek a job
or admire the scenery, and if they
didn’t find a job or like the seen- j
ery, they picked up and went else
where.
Dreadful io begin to return to
such a dark age! For is it not the
new ideal that everybody, event- I
ually. should be "placed"—in a
work brigade, an aYea, a camp—
under board to feed, police and
indoctrinate him? Do not people
see that to be "placed" is only the
other aspect of being displaced?
And that at all times men place
themselves, in the quest of oppor
tunity. far more efficiently than
others can do?
Neither UNRRA nor IRO has
solved the problem. But each and
every person constituting it could
solve it for himself. It needs no
catalogs and sheaves of papers.
Just one piece of paper, issued in
the name of a fighter for freedom,
bearing the proclamation: “Good
for all freedom-loving countries
in the world.’’
PROCLAMATION
Office of the Governor of the
Territory of Alaska
The humanitarian work carried
on by the Alaska Crippled Chil
dren’s association in aiding the
less fortunate is a most praise
worthy undertaking. Under the
able leadership of Mrs. Margot
Hoppin, its president, it has raised ,
funds to help in rehabilitating
many handicapped persons _ and
has given its full support to the
Orthopedic Hospital at Sitka.
For the purpose of raising addi
tional funds to carry on its work,
the Association is arranging for an
Easter Seal sale from February 28
to March 28 of this year.
Therefore, in support of this
worthy cause, I, ERNEST
GRUENING, Governor of Alaska,
urge upon the people of Alaska to
participate in this human welfare
campaign by purchasing Easter
Seals during the period from Feb
ruary 28 to March 28, 1948.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I
have hereunto set my hand and
the Seal of the Territory of Alas
ka, at Juneau, the Capital, this 4th
day of February, 1948.
ERNEST GRUENING,
Governor of Alaska.
(SEAL)
Attest:
LEW M. WILLIAMS,
Secretary of Alaska.
A.R.R. Workers
Ask Higher Pay
(Special Washington Service^
WASHINGTON, (£>) — Wage
raises asked by employees of the
Alaska Railroad are being studied
by secretary of the interior Krug.
H. Rex Lee, assistant director
of the interior department’s divi
sion of territories, told a reporter
m yesterday he expects a decision
from Krug in a week or 10 days.
The railroad is owned by the
government. Employees were of
fered increases to make their
wages comparable to those paid
on western railroads in the United
States. They rejected this proposal
and even asked higher pay.
After a hearing here, the con
troversy was submitteed to Krug
for decision..
^ntenim /4yneeme«ttf
%
Much has been said about this agreement. We think you should know more of the details.
WHY SUCH AGREEMENT?
During the period of Government operations in the war and post-war periods operating
costs had advanced so tremendously the Alaska carriers were unable to resume service
on a strictly private basis, and in order to develop sufficient information to enable Con
gress to plan intelligently a long-range Alaska shipping program this agreement was
concluded.
WHAT IS THIS AGREEMENT?
This is a contract under which the Alaska operators covenanted with the Maritime
Commission to furnish service to Alaska until June 30, 1948, the Maritime Commission
to provide the necessary additional tonnage at nominal charter hire ($1.00 per vessel
per year) and cover hull insurance. To cover its out-of-pocket expenses the Government
will take any earnings over 10 per cent before taxes (about 6 per cent after taxes) on
operating capital employed, and if there is any remainder the Government will take 75
per cent thereof. All losses are to be paid by the operator involved.
BASIS OF ALLOCATION OF SHIPS AND DIVISION OF ROUTES
The carriers, unable to agree among themselves on the allocation of ships and the routes
to be served by each, did agree to submit this matter to arbitration and to abide by the
arbitrators’ decision.
During the pre-war period of strictly private operations, each company was entirely
free to enlarge its fleet as it saw fit and to serve competitively any or all ports of Alaska,
and the arbitrators decided that rather than promote the expansion of any one carrier
at Government expense and to the detriment of the others, the allocation of ships and
scope of operations under the agreement should be according to the pre-war private
determination of each carrier, except that the Alaska Steamship Company would have
one less vessel than pre-ivar and that all military cargo for all areas would be open to free
competition by each carrier.
PRE-WAR FLEETS AND AWARD FLEETS
--^RE-WAR (as of 12/7/41) -. -- AWARD -* % Tonnaga
Vessels Tonnage % Total Ton. Vessels Tonnage % Total Ton. Increase
Alaska Steam- 17 69,018 79.2% 16 73,906 71.7% 7.08%
Northland .. 5 14,405 16.6% 5 18,349 18.8% 27.4 %
Alaska Transportation .. 3 3,675 4.2% 3 9,478 9.5% 157.9 %
Subsequent to original award, one additional vessel was assigned each carrier, creating
an even greater disparity over pre-war tonnage pattern in favor of the two smaller
carriers.
DESIGN AT ED OPERATING AREAS (Except that military cargo for all areas open to
free competition).
Alaska Steam--Alaska generally (except Kuskokwim if Santa Ana Steamship
Co. was to operate).
Northland-Southeastern Alaska (except combination freight and pas
senger vessel authorized to operate in conjunction with other
combination vessels in the trade).
Alaska Transportation......Southeastern Alaska
SHOULD ARBITRATION AWARD BE CHANGED?
We believe not. Although the over-all result of the arbitration award was not nearly
so favorable to the Alaska Steamship Company as to the other carriers, since we agreed
to the arbitration and to abide thereby and the other carriers did likewise agree, it appears
to us that the right and proper procedure is to allow the Interim Agreement, as is, to
run out the period of its stipulated duration, or until plans for returning to a strictly
private operation are approved by the Maritime Commission, whichever occurs first. We
believe your consideration of the circumstances involved and the terms of the agreement
will lead you to a similar conclusion.
Sincerely,
i
ALASKA STEAMSHIP COMPANY
***** Sitting All Alaska *****
A
\