FROfn UJHflT I HEAR
There still doesn’t seem much ancouraging
in the steamship situation. Congressional
action appears to have stopped in committee
somewhere while a to-the-finish battle on
rate increases is decided.
Steamship operators say :they must have
either a subsidy or a rate increase to con
tinue operation. .Estimates of the steamship
company place the increase at 35$, but Dele-r
gate Bob Bartlett says it would mean a boost
of 58$ in rates to the territory. .
The government has firmly decreed "no
subsidy", and the Alaska Development Board
and Alaskans everywhere have just as firmly
asserted "no increase." The steamship oper
ators have countered by warning that any at
tempt to block an increase in rates on the
part of the territory would result in an im
mediate cessation of service on March 1,
when the three steamship lines serving the
territory resume operation under ’ private
ownership again.
Delegate Bartlett terms the action "hold
ing a cocked and loaded gun on Alaska," and
says he thinks the territory must fight the
increase just the same.
An alternate suggestion to allow Canadian
lines to serve alaska hasnTt met with much
approval in Congress. Emergency-legislation
which compromises with a type of government
subsidy and some rate increases is finding
about as much favor with the company and Al
askans as any compromise measure ever does.
Congress favors the compromise suggestion
which would make a peace for 15 months, and
in the meantime has appointed the usual com
mittee to study the situation -- that commi
ttee to bring back a report of its findings
on Jan. 1, 1948.
The Alaskan legislature took a hand in
matters a few days back, when it drafted a
memorial to the Maritime Commission, before
which hearings on the rate increase provided
FRONTIERSMAN
GETS PAPER
At the fifty-ninth
minute of the eleven
th hour, an addition
al paper supply was
received by The Fron
tiersman last week.
This shipment assures
the , continued -publi
cation of the paper.
. a . week ago Thurs
day there was not
even enough paper on
hand to complete that
day’s work. However
six reams of news
print were delivered
in the mail, and
since that time it
has become possible
to purchase a good
supply of white mim
eograph stock.
for in the compromise
legislation will be
held. Legislators i
voted, with a sole
opposing voice, to
fight the increase.
And while Alaskans
await the outcome,
cannery interests,
the Alaska Develop
ment Board and every
one with any interest
in.the matter who can
get to Washington,
all are screaming ' at
Congress for some
sort of settlement.
It looks like Al
askans might be going
to have an opportun
ity to find out just
how self -sufficient
the territory can be.