the BOmk N&tis
Alaska’s Largest Mimeograph Weekly
Published every Thursday in Homer, Alaska
Bill Raver, Editor ana Publisher
Dorothy Raver, Compositor
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THE LEGISLATURE
Now that the legislature is adjourned and some of the dust
has settled, and smoke screens have rolled away, we think it
fitting to make a few remarks about the panorama ihich we
viewed through the blurred eyes of the only daily newspapers
available to us.
The 22nd Legislature was just about what anyone who is
at all understanding might have expected it to be. Tfe cannot
*' imagine that there was a thinking person in Alaska who did
not expect - that there would be considerable strife Then a
Democratic legislature went to meet under the watchful eyes
of a Republican governor. Nor can we believe that there were
those in the Territory vho were so naive as to think that
there would not be intra-party strife within the Democratic
and majority party. Such, it seems, is not meant to be under
our democratic form of government.
It might he well for those . who are crying "disgrace”
about this session to take a look at some of the activities
of the legislatures in some of the great forty-eight. A re
cent issue of Time Magazine told us about Indiana and the
' ’battle raging between the two Republican factions vdthin the
state. The article made the Alaskan legislators look as pure
as the driven snows, v/e read about the struggle going on in
Olympia, Washington, in Topeka, >Kansas»..we could go on and
on. State legislatures just aren't .the epitome of perfection.
The men who go to the state capitals for 60 days every two
years are lawyers, merchants, engineers, working men from
a wide range of professions and occupations. Very few of
them are experts in labor, government, finance, employment or
any of the myriad of problans that will face them at the cap
ital. It is expected that within, the framework of the state
government there will be representatives of these many fields
who can give the legislators the background information
needed to pass the best laws.
In the long xun the people c.ome out pretty well from the
actions of their representatives. We think that time will
chow the people of the Territory of Alaska to have gained
from a majority of the laws passed by the 22nd legislature.
Most of the people do not realize the part played by the
lobbies that work with and ^n every legislature. Every group,
It seems, has a lobby present to urge the passage of its
legislation. The lobbies have all of^the answers as to why
their particular piece of legislation must be passed. It was
refreshing during this past session of the legislature to
hear some of the. men from the third division speak out about
the power of these behind-the-scenes string pullers.
The fact that the legislature was predominantly Democrat
ic and the governor of the Territory is a* Republican added
little to the operation of the body. The governor end the
representatives of the people crossed swards several times
during the session. Perhaps the greatest difference between
the executive and legislative branches came over the Employ
ment Security Commission problem.
The legislature had asked the governor early in the ses
sion to apply for a loan from the federal government to tide
over the nearly depleted territorial ESC fund. The governor
sought an opinion from his attorney general as to whether
such ak loan was possible. The attorney general held in a
formal opinion on January 8 that such a loan was possible.
Apparently the governor did not like the opinion so he went
to the solicitor for the Department of Interior and asked
for an opinion. The solicitor upheld the opinion of the Al
aska attorney general. .Still the governor was not satisfied.
He then turned to the attorney general of the United States,
JUST PHONE 0:4
f
FOR DELIVERY
OF
FUEL OIL
BOTTLE GAS
TERMINAL OIL SALES
Standard Oil Products
*
Herbert Brownell, Jr., <*>o ruled ageinat the opin
ion was not made known until three days after the Alaska wno.
bad run dry and nearly two months after the legislator M'.
requested the governor, without avail, to apply T°r a ‘
Ttis interesting to note that the opinion Of tto solici
tor ms never made known until last Saturday in
ter the legislature had adjourned.. The governor shou.
made to answer why he did not make this opinion
legislators and the people of Alaska. ^ . . +hfllr
The 22nd legislature enacted almost 200 hills during **
regular scission. The highest previous total was less than
150. Many, many sound pieces of legislation were passed
will make the Territory stronger in every way. _ .
There was discord and several of the laws wil p 7
fece court tests and no doubt revision as the years
hut the men and women xho went to Juneau in January, ^
cans and Democrats alike, worked hard for the people of *Jas
ka and they deserve, as men and women, the respec
citizens of the Territory.
CLUB OPENING- DRAUS CHOK'D
■ x good crowd was on hand
Monday night to attend the
grend opening of the Yah,
Sure Club, The guests; rare
entertained by Bud Aldeh and
Jim Neely with their music
and comedy routine and by
Jimmy Kelly, and hi3 electric
steel gilitar. Don Rose and
Jim Neely, operators of the
club indicated that they were
most gratified with the re
sponse received and that they
enjoyed meeting the > Homer
folks,
PAIR MAY RECEIVE MONEY
The Homer fair board has
been informed that the recent
legislature has appropriated
matching, funds for . community
fairs. It is not known how
much of the money will be al
located for the third divis
ion, but it in estimated that
the sum* will be about $3000
of which Homer hopes to re
ceive ^1500, _
DON'T WORRY... .
about the mud and dirt
getting on your clothes
these Spring days, Oiie
trip to our shop and they
will come out sparkling
like new,
HOMER
CLEANERS
JORNS LE..VE FOR STATES
Mr. and Mrs, MdI Jorn loft
Saturday for Junction City,
Utah, Mrs. Jorn's daughter
and son, Mrs. Joan Hunsacker
and Nelson Berry accompanied
thorn. Mrs. Jorn and Mrs.
Hunsacker have been operating
the Homer Barber and Beauty
Shop since last October.
MAXWELL GETS CONTRACT
Lloyd Maxell announced
Wednesday that his firmj the
Maxuoll Construction Company,
has received the contract; for
the excavation on the Homer
hospital-health center from
Gilbert Roberts, contractor.
Maxwell states that he has
also received the contract to
haul the equipment of the
Roberts firm from the dock to
the building site.
F-OR THE
KIDS
ROCKERS
. youth
CHAIRS
SPECIAL
$6.50 (
Chrpme—Wood
.Wrought Iron
Kitchen Chairs
Only $6.75
UMINSKI'S
■(. El
YOU ARE
' ENVtTED
TO ATTEND
■ THE
OPENING
Of THE
AS THE QUESTS Of
HAROLD ( ELECTA BtLLURS
.FRIDAY,. APRIL 15 at 7/?m.
FOOD ANC‘ FUN FOR ALL
And you are invited to stop
in any time at the Sterling Bar
and Liquor Store to meet John
Pate and Tom Crosbie, the boya^
: behind the bar night and day*