THE
NOME NUGGET
OLDEST NEWSPAPER IN ALASKA—MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
bdra Year No. 19
NOME, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1962
Per Crynv 15^
Pair of Senators
Seek to Amend
Wages & Hours Act
JUNEAU VP) — Two members
of the Senate said today they
will attempt to amend the wages
and hours act signed into law by
Gov. Wm. Egan only yesterday.
The measure became effective
today. It trims sharply the num
ber of persons exempt from the
provisions of the state’s wages and
hours act.
It will be the first time, in the
memories of veteran legislators,
that an attempt has been made to
amend a bill enacted into law
during the same session it became
law.
Sens. Howard Pollock, CR-An
chorage), and Lester Bronson, (D
Nome), said today they will offer
a bill which would make three
revisions in the Egan-signed
statute.
“The first thing is to exempt
employes who work for an em
ployer with 10 or less employes.
The law now exempts employes
in firms employing three or less
workers.
“The reason for this change is
that the act as it stands now will
put a lot of little businesses out
of business. It will hurt the little
business and it will hurt the man
working for them.”
Bronson and Pollick said they
also want to make sure that en
actment of SB93 into law will
not abrogate the provisions of any
existing labor contract.
“It is a completely improper
approach on the part of the labor
unions to negotiate a contract and
then come in here and push for
legislation which would abrogate
the conditions which they had
agreed upon earlier,” the two sen
ators said.
The third amendment will at
tempt to make sure that the appli
cation of the act will be in a |
community or metropolitan area |
as distinguished from the state
as a whole. I
Pollock and Bronson said they
believed their proposed bill would
have a good chance of passing
this session, “if it doesn’t get
stuck in the Senate Commerce
and Labor Committee.
“We don’t know, of course,
whether Gov. Egan would oppose
the bill. If he did, he would pull
a lot of votes against the bill. We
hope he won’t do this.
“We waited until after the bill
became law so no one could say
that our attempts to amend the
bill was a device to kill it.”
Sticky Valves . . .
WASHINGTON UP> — With
pomp and ceremony and sticky
valves on their horns, Marine
band musicians marked the 15Srd
anniversary of the birth of Abra
ham Lincoln Monday.
Twenty-four degree cold froze
the horn valves, and drummers
had to make most of the music
as the band accompanied wreath
layers and color guard marchers
up and down the steps of the
Before the cold weather immo
bilized their instruments, the
band’s brass got their valves and
trombone slides into positions
which sufficed for taps and some
ruffles and flourishes. But the
valves were too stiff for any
qUick-paced marches. A steady
Lon of drum rolls filled
icoln Memorial.
gap.
U-2 Pilot Powers Will
Testify Before Congress
WASHINGTON (JPi — Presideni
Kennedy promised today that U.S
spy pilot Francis Gary Powers
will be free to tell his story tc
Congress and the public when
government officials have finished
questioning him.
At present, Kennedy told a
news conference, Powers “is un
dergoing important interviews bj
appropriate officials of this gov
ernment” and is “cooperating
voluntarily,”
The President gave no clue as
to the hideaway where the ques
tioning is going on for the man
who was downed in Russia 21
months ago while flying a photo
graphic reconnaissance mission
over Soviet territory. Nor would
he say whether Powers’ U-2 plane
was shot down or crashed because
of mechanical trouble.
But he said once the question
ing is concluding, “Powers will
be free to testify before Congress”
and “will be made available to
the press at the earliest feasible
moment.”
Easi-West Conference
On another timely topic, Ken
nedy added little but emphasis to
word that he would be willing to
join in an East-West summit con
ference on disarmament when
ever he thought that would add
to the chances of success.
He said it still is his view “we
should climb to the summit aftei
careful preparation at the lowei
levels,” but he said that., “o:
course I would go” to the forth
coming disarmament negotiations
in Geneva if that would advance
the chances of moving ahead in
this vital area.
The news conference was car
ried on national radio and tele
vision networks—the fifth live
conference out of a total of 24
since Kennedy took office.
Cuba Walks
Out of OAS
WASHINGTON UR — Cuba
walked out of the Organization
of American States today, saying
it was not interested in remain
ing in the Inter-American system.
The Cuban walkout came mo
ments after the President of the
OAS Council, Alberto Zuleta
Angel of Colombia, had recom
mended that the Punta Del Este
resolution ousting Cuba from the
system be sent to the Council’s
General Committee for urgent
study.
Soon after today’s OAS meet
ing opened, Cuban delegate Carlos
Lechuga walked out. He said the
Punta Del Este resolution was il
legal and that, “we are going to
retire anyway, we don’t want to
remain in this organization.”
Reindeer Meat
Shipped to Alaska
SEATTLE UR — Reindeer meat
was shipped to Alaska Tuesday
from Seattle.
Washington has not gone into
the reindeer-raising business. It
was the same 4,100 tons of rein
deer meat sent to Seattle from
Anchorage for shipment to Ket
chikan by Alaska Steamship Co.
There is no direct line from An
chorage to Ketchikan, so the rein
deer meat had to be routed
through Seattle. Whether there are
any more such shipments de
pends on how many Ketchikan
residents develop a taste for
reindeer meat.
May Try Orbit
Shot Tomorrow
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. UPi —
The United States is going to try
again tomorrow to rocket John H.
Glenn Jr., around the earth.
The National Aeronautics and
Space Administration announced
late today it was going ahead
with plans for the space shot
sometime after 7:30 a.m., EST,
Thursday.
However, NASA officials plan
ned to have another weather
briefing at midnight before
making a final decision to resume
the half-completed countdown.
Meteorological sources said the
weather in the recovery area is
still a major factor, but that it
may get worse after tomorrow.
The weather sources said the
condition was somewhat improved
late this afternoon in the one
orbit recovery area of the Atlantic,
where rough seas caused today’s
postponement.
Aity. Gen. Kennedy
Gets Big Welcome
From Indonesians
By Peter Arnett
JAGJAKARTA, Indonesia UP)—
The Robert Kennedy’s got the big
gest welcome of their Indonesian
tour at this former capital today
About 50,000 persons gathered
to watch them drive from the
airport past terraced rice field:
and coconut groves to the city.
The U.S. Attorney General anc
his wife, Ethel, smiled and waved
The Indonesians responded en
thusiastically. Their greeting
contrasted with a restrained re
ception in Jakarta, the seat of
President Sukarno’s neutralist
government. v.
Foreign Minister Subandrio ac
companied the Kennedys on their
trip in the hinterlands. Indonesian
sources said he is to continue talks
with the Attorney General on the
Dutch-Indonesian crisis over West
New Guinea.
uxo Laxxv whh ouivai uu,
the U.S. Atty. General and his
wife started on a three-day tour
of Indonesian hinterlands, includ
ing the fabled island of Bali, in
a Soviet-built Ilyushin transport
plane.
At the University of Indonesia,
he displayed anger when students
persisted with questions about
what the United States would do
if negotiations over West New
Guinea were broken off.
“What the United States does
if negotiations break down de
pends on who breaks negotia
tions,” he told the 1,200 students.
“We will make a major effort to
bring you and Holland together.
We all have disagreements and
sometimes we disagree with you
and you with us. But that doesn’t
mean to say you can tell the
United States to go to hell.
“We all have to show maturity.
I don’t ask your agreement on all
we do—I ask your understanding.
“Let us not make it a one-way
street. If we disagree, it doesn’t
mean we have to pick up our
marbles and go home.”
$5,228 for Nome School
I WASHINGTON — The Alaska
congressional delegation has been
advised that the U.S. Office of
Education has certified $5,228 for
immediate payment to the Nome
Public School District for current
expenditures under Pupblic (Law
874, which provides for financial
assistance for schools in federally
affected areas.
Great Bear Flying Boxcai
Lands Safely Here
After Losing One Engine
By JOE RYCHETNIK
Air Force Reserve Capt. Henry
Redding of Sacramento, Calif.,
can claim the title of hero of the
day according to the troops on
board his transport. Just over the
village of Unalaklet, the right en
gine of the 0119 Flying Boxcar
Capt. Redding was piloting to
Nome for the Great Bear war
games, began to smoke badly. Oil
pressure fell off and to prevent
a serious fire the cool headed re
serve pilot feathered the propellor
and made for Nome.
The 17 infantrymen aboard the
Boxcar felt a bit edgy over the
ice of Bering Sea as they flew
into the west for 40 minutes. The
men are part of the 23rd Infantry
Battalion, The Tomahawks of Ft.
Richardson, who are to act the
part of the aggressor force here.
Emergency equipment from
Nome’s volunteer fire and police
department was on hand at Nome
Field when the plane flew in on
one engine. The plane is of the
314th Troop Carrier Squadron, a
Sacramento Reserve outfit.
One oldtimers waiting for the
inevitable wreck at the field
claimed the landing was “just likt
in the movies.”
When questioned after the haz
ardous operation over the Berin
Sea, Capt. Redding, a 31-year-ol
i transport pilot for World Aii
ways in civilian life, said that b
l wondered if the ice would hoi
, his 40,000 - pound airplane Ion
enough for everyone to get out.
Yesterday the first elements o
Canada’s Princess Patricia’s Ligh
Infantry Regiment arrived oi
troop transports of the 97th Troof
Carrier Squadron of Paine Field
Among the first Canadians tc
arrive were Pvt. Neil MacKenzie,
Cpl. Robert Harris, Pvt. Guy La
vergne, and Craftsman A1 Rou
ault, drivers of four Royal Can
adian Army “Rats,” which are
snow traveling assault vehicles.
GOLD PRODUCTION IN
ALASKA DROPS 33 PER CENT
Gold production in the State
fell about 33 per cent from I960
to 1961, and now ranks fourth on
the mineral production list in
stead of holding the esteemed
number one position it held for
so many years.
The Bureau of Mines has esti
mated that national gold produc
tion dropped 9 per cent to a value
of $53 million, the lowest level
since 1884. During the year, the
U.S. gold loss was estimated at
a little less than $900 million, and
the nation’s stockpile was valued
at $16,890 billion.
$75,000 Advanced
For Planning of
Vocational School
WASHINGTON — The Alas
ka congressional delegation has
been advised that the Commu
nity Facilities Administration
has approved a $75,000 advance
for preliminary and final plan
ing of s vocational school to be
constructed at Nome.
The school, which will be
constructed by the Alaska De
partment of Public Works, will
serve pupils from all over Alas
ka who have no secondary or
vocational facilities in their
home area.
Construction is estimated to
begin Sept. 1, 1962.
Od CL <V
BIA Resolution
Turns House
Into a Turmoil
JUNEAU Cfl — A hotly worded
resolution criticizing the Bureau
of Indian Affairs for its reference
to the proposed Nome Vocational
School as a political project threw
the House into an hour-long tur
moil today.
After unsuccessful efforts to in
definitely postpone the measure
and to adjourn, the lawmakers
finally sent the measure back to
the House Committee on Federal
Relations with orders to consult
with BIA representatives to get
their side of the story.
Part of the time, the lower
chamber was held inactive under
a call of the House while the ser
geant-at-arms sought the one ab
sent member, Rep. Wm. Erwin.
Rep. Bob Blodgett carried the
ball in fighting against indefinite
postponement of the bill. The mo
tion was made by Rep. Bennie
Leonard of Anchorage.
“If such a motion is sustained,
it would perpetuate the bureau
cratic decision not to support the
State in its effort to establish a
vocational school,” Blodgett said.
After the motion to indefinitely
postpone the measure failed toy a
. vote of 18-22, Rep. Frank Cha
, pados then moved that the reso
j lution be sent back to the Fed
_ eral Relations Committee for
further study.
Blodgett supported the re
referral.
“This measure needs the unani
f mous suport of this whole body,'*'
t Blodgett said, “including the
t support of Mr. Leonard. And I
, am sure that with further study,
it will pass 40-0.”
Canadian Troopers to
Jump Here Tomorrow
Capt. Robert Steele, command
ing officer, 1st Scout Bn., stated
today that the company of Can
adian Airborne Light Infantry
participating in the Nome phase
of Exercise Great Bear will para
chute at approximately 1:30 p.m.
on Thursday.
Persons wishing to observe the
jump are strongly requested ta
stay clear of the drop zone, which
will be east of the Red Hanger.
Parents are also urged to warn
their children of the danger of
getting near the drop zone.
It is also requested that the
Bessie Road be kept clear to ac
celerate ambulance service if
needed.
Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Carroll,
Adjutant General for the Alaska
National Guard arrived Tuesday
to observe the Great Bear Ex
ercise in Nome. Accompanying
Gen. Carroll is Col. Charles W.
Casper, United States Property
and Fiscal Officer for Alaska.
ARMY SECTY. STAHR
CANCELS TRIP TO ALASKA
FT. LEWIS, Wn. UPl — Army
Secretary Elvis Stahr Jr. has can
celled a scheduled trip to Alaska
and the Pacific Northwest be
cause of illness, Ft. Lewis offi
cials were informed today.
Gen. Herbert B. Powell, head
of the Continental Army Com
mand, said he was informed
Stahr entered Walter Reed Hos
pital in Washington today for
treatment of an upper respiratory
ailment.
Stahr had planned to visit Alas
ka to observe Exercise Great Bear,
the U.S.-Canadian maneuvers now
in progress.