reminds
You
that
the
MONTH
END
St ore wide
SALE
continues
through
Tuesday
and
Wednesday
February
27th
and
28th
MV
WELL
SAVE
in
MttEHREM^
Many
Bargains
remain
and
in every
department
are
unusual
values
for
everyone
QzHtenck Ca
oamirv s/net /Sst
rA NORTHERN NOTEBOOK
I By BOB DE ARMCKD
Twenty-third of a series
Says the report of the Territor
al Commissioner of Labor for the
ears 1949-1950: “The biennium
narked a new high both in num
•er of persons employed and num
ber of persons unemployed. The
Employment Security Commission
cports that unemployment bcnerits
oald during the winter o'” son
B49-1950 were the hi best fer a
en year period. This anarralors
ituation, created by the seasonal
lature of Alaskan industries, em
phasizes the need for develop
ment of non-seasonal industries.”
This statement by the Labor
Commissioner is entirely true, s:
far as it goes. But it do s ait en
tirely explain why Lie Employ
ment Security Ccmmio..’un paid
ut $1.85 ir tenefits for every dol
'nr it. received in cct itut'en. dur
ing 1949.
Ncr dees it explain w:\~ this
ratio climbed f om 318 cpr n id
out for each dollar taken in back
in 1948. to 96 9 cents in 1948, on up
to $1.85 in 19^9 ar.d possibly higher
yet in 1950.
It is obv'o.is, 'll cornr. that
when ycu pay out a ror.r'e of
dollars or thereabouts for c try
dollar you take in. your bank ac
count is going tp decline. And the
Employment Security F nd has
suffered in the same way.
Moreover, when the Empl y uent
Security Fund suffers, the business
men of the Territory who are
steady employers of labor are hit
n the pocketbcoks.
This happens because when the
fund drops to a certain point, ex
perience rating credits’ are auto
matically terminated. And when
these credits are terminated, the
businessman and employer, even
though he has a steady payroll
and creates no unemployment what
ever, is nicked for a full three per
cept of his payroll—2.7 percent to
the fund itself and .03 percent to
Uncle Sam to be used for admin
istrative purposes—with a limit of
$90 for each individual employee
in a year.
While the Commissioner of La
bor blames all of this upon the
seasonal nature of Alaskan in
dustries, Alaska has had seasonal
industries—fishing and placer min
ing, for example—for many years
without apparently putting any
undue strain on the fund.
Back In 1939 beneiit payments
III1IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII1IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII1IIIIII!
| amounted to only 64 cents for each
dollar placed in the fund, and in
1941 it dropped to 28 cents.
The reason fishing and placer
mining have not caused a drain
upon the Employment Security
Fund is that they are classified
as seasonal industries by the Em
| ployment Security Commission.
This means that a miner or a
! fisheries worker who is unemployed
i during the off season, when fish
j ing and mining are shut down, is
| not entitled to unemployment ben
efits.
It seems obvious, then, that
i something has been added to the
i Alaska economy in recent years
that has resulted in the present
heavy drain on the fund.
And it is necessary to look no
further than the big construction
presrams to find the cause. Con
struction has become perhaps the
biggest business in Alaska, and al
though construction is often sea
sonal for the very same reasons
that placer mining is seasonal, it
is not so classified on the hooks
of the Employment Security Com
mission.
For instance, a bulldozer opera-,
tor who works for a mining con-!
cern from May until October and
is then thrown out of work because
of the freeze-up will draw no un
employment benefits during the
winter.
But a bulldo^r operator work
ing on a construction job, perhaps
only a dozen miles from the min
ing operation, and who is also
jobless after the freeze-up, is en
titled to compensation for 25 weeks,
or almost six months.
It is entirely true that not all 1
construction work is seasonal. If!
a building is well along before
freeze-up, the carpenters, plum
bers, electricians and painters may
be able to continue work during
much or all of the winter.
But a report of the Employment!
Security Commission shows that
while there were 5,805 contract con
struction workers employed in
Alaska in October, 1948, this
dropped to 2,426 in February, 1949,
and climbed again to 9,275 in!
August, 1949, a considerable season- j
al fluctuation.
Just how contraction workers can'
be classified so as to offset the!
seasonal nature of much of their!
work is a not inconsiderable prob- 1
llllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllilllllllllllllll
lem, but it is one that the Com
mission could undoubtedly solve.
A proposal has been made tc
classify, for a starter, all construc
tion work north of the Yukon River
or the Arctic Circle as seasonal.
One thing seems quite clear—
i experience rating credits have been
virtually repealed for the duration
of the Alaska construction boom
or until some sort of seasonal clas
sification is provided for construc
tion workers.
With the contractor paying a
maximum cf $81 into the Employ
ment Security Fund for each em
ployee and with the workers draw
ing up to $62a apiece out of the
fund during the winter months,
the fund isn't going to grow a
whole lot and the butcher and the
baker and the other small-time but
year-around employers of the Ter
ritory are going to have to foot
a large part of the bill.
During recent legislative hearing.
on bills having to do with unem
ployment compensation, much was
'"iii about the benefit Alaska mer
chants derive from the payment of
this compensation during slack
pe-iods of the year.
The merchants do benefit, al
though with approximately half of
the unemployment compensation
payments from the Alaska fund
being made to people in the states
he docs net benefit as much as he
might. j
And there is now a bill before
the Legislature that would further
decrease the Alaska merchant’s rev
enues from the Alaska compensa
tion fund.
This is House Bill No. 73. and it
requires that every employer who
transports any persons to Alaska
for the purpose of employing him
must furnish return transportation
at the termination of the employ
ment.
If a worker has to pay his own
fare back to the States, there is a
chance that he may decide to spend
the winter, some of his summer’s
earnings and his unemployment
compensation in Alaska.
But if he can get free transporta
tion back to the sunny south, and
so long as he can draw his com
pensation there as easily as though
he remained in Alaska, there is no
incentive whatever for him to stay, j
As a matter of fact, under those
conditions, there wouldn’t be much!
of any incentive for anybody to stay
in Alaska after the first of October.
One of the trees from which tan
ners derive extract used in making
leather soles tough and flexible is
a South American variety so rugged
that the natives call it quebracho—
literally "the axe-breaker."
miiiiiiiiiiiimiiimiiiiiiiimimiimimii
STATEHOOD
BILL GIVEN
| EXPLAINING
| Difference Between Old
j Measure and New One
Proposed Is Told
I
Versions of the new statehood bill
is given in Delegate Bartlett's nevv
letter from Washington, dated
January 18. The news letter says:
Upon his return this week from
the recent meeting of the Alaska
Statehood Committee at Anchorage,
Delegate Bartlett introduced an
Alaska statehood bt:i. Tne same day
Congressman Yorty of California
offered a bill in the House pat
terned after Delegate Bartlett’s
measure.
The Kou.se version, with two ex
ceptions, is identical with the bill
placed in the Senate hopper last
week by Senator O’Mahoney, Chair
man of the Senate Committee on
Interior and Insular Affairs, and
18 other Senators.
The first difference, in compli
ance with a recommendation made
by members of the Statehood Com
mittee, is found in the House bill j
which calls for a primary election
of delegates to the constitutional
convention as well as a general elec
tion, the latter election being the
only one called for in the Senate
version. Both elections would be
held on a non-partisan basis and
the candidates would run without
regard to party affiliation or refer- j
ence. The second difference be
tween the two bills finds the Senate
measure calling for approval cf the
state constitution by the Congress
before submitting it to the Presi
dent, while the House bill provides
that the state constitution will be
submitted directly to the President
for approval, as did Delegate Bart
lett’s bill as introduced and passed
in the House last year.
Both Senator O’Mahoney’s bill
and that of Delegate Bartlett re
tain most of the provisions of H. R.
331 as reported to the Senate in
June of last year. The changes, 11
in all, are mostly minor adjust
ments and are listed briefly be
low:
1. The number of delegates to the
constitutional convention has been
increased by 2 to 31 and has been
I reapportioned according to (he 195(
census, thus providing 9 delegate;
to be elected at large from the en
tire Territory, 5 from the First
Division, 2 from the Second Divi
sion, 10 from the Third Divi: ioi:
| and 5 from the Fourth Division.
I 2. H. R. 321 as reported to the
Senate provided for a primary and
general election in the selection
of delegates to the constitutional
convention on a party basis; in
dependent or non-party candidates
could also have run. The new Senate
bill eliminates the primary and pro
vides for a general election cn a
non-party basis. Delegate Bartlett’s
bill, as stated above, retains the
primary and provides both elec
tions to be carried out without
reference to party.
3. K. R. 331 provided that the
delegates to the- convention would
' meet on the 9Ctn day alter then
! election. The new b.lls cu: that .inn
! to the 30th day.
4. H. R. 331 granted Block 32 and
| the structures and improvement1
I thereon in Juneau to the State “
use for a dwelling for the Govcro.e.
for a State museum, and f r park
and recreational purpose;.' The r.mv
bills amend that languid e to pr -
vide that Block 32 and the str c
turcs and improvements tnerccn in
Juneau are granted to th Stan
“for any or all of the following
purposes: A residence lor the
Governor, a State museum, or park
and recreational use."
5. H. R. 331 provided that “The
Federal Building and the Federal
jail at Juneau are hereby granted
to the State of Alaska.” The new
bills clarify this language by stating,
“The Federal Building and the in
terests of the United States 1 n
Blocks C and 7. and the structures
and improvements thereon, in the
city of Juneau, are hereby granted
to the State of Alaska.”
6. H. R. 331 granted one million
acres to ihc State for internal im
provements. Tire new bills increase
that amount to 2,550,000 acres, in
cluding 500,000 acres to the Uni
versity of Alaska in addition tc
lands granted previously for the
University.
7. H. R. 331 as reported to th
Senate (this provision was not ir.
the bill as it passed the House)
provided that no native reservations
would be created by the Secretary
of the Interior until the provisions
of the statehood act had been met.
The new bills delete this section.
8. H. R. 331 provided that the
constitution adopted at convention
would have to be approved by the
Congress. The new Senate bill re
tains this provision, but Delegate
Bartlett's legislation provides ap
i HI IliMUl 1II11IIII11 HI HIHI HHi nTliilliTl
EVERY NIGHT
. 5 99
Everybody Welcome at The Country Clnb
NOW ... You can have HOME COOKED FOOD
prepared by MRS. CLOIE CLARK at
THE COUNTRY CLUB
OPEN EVERY NIGHT - ALL NIGHT-7p.m. to 10 a. m.
HIVIVf.-IMYCIYfc-COCKTAILS
-NO MINORS ALLOWED
COCKTAILS
Alaska Crab — Alaska Shrimp ...$ .50
ENTBEES
Fried Chicken, Half; Local, Pan Fried . 2.50
T-Bone Steak . 2.50
Top-Sirloin Steak . 2.50
Filet Mignon Steak . 2.50
SPECIAL — NEW YORK CUT, BABY BEEF 3.00
SEAFOOD
t
French Frieo Prawns—Tartar Sauce.$2.50
French Fried Oysters — Tartar Sauce. 2.50
Broiled Lobster — Drawn Butter .. 2.50
Salad — Spaghetti —
Garlic Bread or Hot Biscuits
Honey — Coffee — French Fries
-BANQUETS-SPECIAL PARTIES-DINNERS
3 Miles on Glacier Highway - Telephone — Juneau 015-2
CARNIVAL IN NICE — The gigantic King Carnival
float passes through streets of Nice, France, as the 67th Nice
Carnival opens despite an unseasonable rainstorm. This year’*
theme is from the La Fontaine fables.
__ _/
proval by the President with no
reference to Congress.
9. The new bills make provision
for a recall cf the constitutional
convention should the first cons .
tution not bo approved by the Con
gress, in the case of the Senate
bill, and by the President, in the
case of the House bill.
10. H. R. 331 authorized an ap
propriation of $100,000 to defray
the costs of the convention raid
elections provided for in the act.
The new bills raise that authorisa
tion to $200,000.
U. H. R. 331 provided for an
! election if officers for a full slate
[ government after the cor '.-'utt«v.
; had been approved by the ■ *
! Delegate Bartlett’s 1. II calls . ;
election after approval of ti e c ■
■ stitution by the President, while the
Senate version provide? for an elec
j tion after approval of the constitu
■ tion by the Congress.
; Aside from the provisions s e t
! forth above, both the Senate and
House bills introduced izi the I2r.c
Congress are identical with Dele
gate Bartlett's bill, K. R. S31, at
reported to the Senate last year by
the Interior and Insular • Aff.n:
Committee. The major terms pro
vide:
1. Protection to any land? or other
property (including fishing rights)
the right or title to which may be
held by any Indians, Eskimos or
Aleuts.
2. Establishment of a public
school system open to all children
of the state.
3. A grant of 200.000 acres ct
land in the national forests tr
the new state and 200,000 acres of
public land for community and re
creational purposes, with provision
contained in the bills for protection
of valid existing rights.
4. In addition to all other grants
of land, the new s afe would be
entitled, five years after its admis
sion into the Union, to select 20
million acres of unreserved public
lands, with protection spelled out
to valid existing ri?hte If land?
selected are unsurveyed, the S-: ro
tary of the Interior would survey
the exterior boundaries of the are'”
requested with patent i 1 ir
terms of the exterior boundary sur
vey. The state could sell r.v ; rant
land in tracts not larger than 640
acres for any purpose with the r :
sez-vation to the state of royalt.e'
of not more than 12’, per cent on
all minerals produced from the
land, all for the support of the
public schools.
5. The new state would be paid
37’, per cent of the revenues from
the national forests rather than
the 25 per cent which goes to
Alaska as a territory.
6. The new state would control
its fisheries with the exception oi
the fur-seal fishery on the Pnbtlol
DON’T BE A HOARDER...
We learned in World War II
that hoarding does not pay.
And the hoarder almost
always is caught with un*
j usuable goods.
Islands. Because cf international
aspects, the fur-seal Industry would
be retained under the jurisdiction
of the Department of the Interior
but half the proceeds from the sale
of fur-seals would go to the new
state.
7. Five per cent of all land sold
in the new state by the United
States after statehood would go to
the new state for support of the
common schools within the state.
8. Provision is made for election
of state officials and two Senators
and one Representative following
proclamation by the President of
the new state.
remaining provisions cf
: . ; d al with technical
manges involved insofar as the
. lied States District Court for the
iV .ir.‘. , of Alaska and the Federal
am would be ct ncerned.
"NSOXS HAVE GABY GIRL
\ 1 i 1 arrived this morning
a; and Mrs. Edwin C. John
on., at St. Anne’s Hospital, in
Juneau. The infant weighed in at
3 mss and 3 ounces on its ar
rival at 6:30 o’clock A. M. It has
been named Florence Elizabeth,
honorin', its mardmother, Mrs.
Charles Cochburn cf Lake Stevens,
Wash., and its mother, Mary Eliza
beth.
A. homo Florence Elizabeth will
join a brother, Carl, five years of
age.
i . ' pop a John err is a local
fish broker.
CA ■ i T, VISITS HERE
Frank Cashel, business man of
Sum, wi- a weekend visitor here
with his mother, Mrs. Fd Cashel,
and his sister Margaret Lindsay.
While here he also attended to
fcuunius in Juneau.
SOUTH VIA DENALI
Mr. . 'me Shvdshift is a passen
ger on the Denali enroute to Se
attle. -The a she will visit a sister
Sind also : o through another medi
cal check-up and rest. Later she
may visit friends and relatives in
California.
HAMILTON SOUTH
j Homer ' Ham” Hamilton left
i yesterday via P.A.A. for Seattle.
, where he will enter the hospital
I and receive medical care for a
! .> torn, h condition. Ham is one of
j the personnel of the U.S.C.G. sta
tioned at the headquarters office
in Juneau, but living in Douglas.
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
Mr. and Mrs. James Eowie, old
time residents of Douglas, cele
brated their golden wedding anni
versary on February 23, at Van
couver, B. C. Mrs. Bowie is a sister
I of Mrs. John*? Iills, who celebrated
' her golden anniversary in Douglas
i just a year ago. With Mrs. Mills
m; : v: d a year and a day before
icr sister.
pv.de’s grn,nddson, Jack
-.■it , left last Tuesday via Steam
ship to attend the affair.
The Bowies were prominent and
velikeown in Douglas, leaving here
following the Treadwell cave-in,
many years ago.
BABY FOR SMITHS
i Mr. and Mrs. Tare:ion F. Smith
of Douglas are the proud parents
. of a baby daughter, born at 7:55
P. M. on Saturday evening in St.
Ann s Hospital, at Juneau.
The young lad;.. named Marilyn
Louise, tipped the scales at nine
y and 7 ounces on birth and
will join a family includ ng Victor,
-i or:; of a e, and Roy, a year
md a half.
:rr and daughter are reported
i r v . y well. The father is a
; i- .pit with the Fish and Wild
life Service.
—EMPIRE WANT ADS TAY—