Because of the inclusion of this word "apparently", it is deemed desirable that the perfecting amendment eliminating the word "male" in section 618, title 48, of the United States Code should be adopted.

The Governor of the Territory of Hawaii expresses his position in the following letter to the Secretary of the Interior:

The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR,

Washington, D. C.

JANUARY 14, 1930.

DEAR SIR: With reference to my letter of yesterday regarding certain suggested changes in the United States Code, I have had the opportunity of giving this further consideration and have just sent you the following radio, which I believe is self-explanatory:

SECRETARY INTERIOR,

Washington, D. C.:

JANUARY 14, 1930.

Supplementing my radio of yesterday relating to section 618, title 48, United States Code, I suggest that if this section is to be repealed an amendment should be passed at the same time eliminating the word "male," and the words "except as provided in section 618 of this title," in section 617 of same title.

Yours respectfully,

JUDD, Governor. L. M. JUDD, Governor of Hawaii.

The Department of the Interior is favorably inclined to this bill.

Mr. BINGHAM, from the Committee on Territories and Insular Affairs, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 9707]

The Committee on Territories and Insular Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 9707) to authorize the incorporated town of Ketchikan, Alaska, to issue bonds in any sum not to exceed $1,000,000 for the purpose of acquiring public utility properties, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass, with the following amendments:

On page 2, line 5 (sec. 1), strike out the word "fifty" and insert in lieu thereof the word "thirty".

On page 2, line 21 (sec. 3), strike out the words "a majority" and insert in lieu thereof the words "not less than 65 per centum".

On page 3, line 5 (sec. 4), strike out the word "fifty" and insert in lieu thereof the word "thirty".

The bill as amended would authorize the town of Ketchikan, Alaska, to issue bonds in amount of $1,000,000 by approval of not less than 65 per cent of the tax-paying electors for the purchase of the local public utilities, consisting of electric light and power, water, and telephone exchange.

A request for this legislation and the reason therefor is embodied in the following resolution of the town council of Ketchikan under date of January 15, 1930:

Be it resolved by the common council of the city of Ketchikan, Alaska:

Whereas, under ordinance No. 151 of said city of Ketchikan, the Citizens' Light, Power & Water Co., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Territory of Alaska, was granted the franchise rights of furnishing light and water service to said city of Ketchikan; and

Whereas, under ordinance No. 89, the said Citizens' Light, Power & Water Co., through its successor, J. C. Barber, was granted certain franchise rights governing the telephone service to said city and its citizens; and

Whereas, under section 7 of said franchise No. 151, the said city of Ketchikan has the right after 10 years from the date thereof, to wit, the 10th day of Septem

ber, 1920, to purchase from said Citizens' Light, Power & Water Co., all its power, equipment, good will, and rights at an appraised value to be determined by 3 appraisers, 1 appointed by the Citizens' Light, Power & Water Co., 1 appointed by the common council, and 1 appointed by the 2 so appointed; and

Whereas ordinance No. 89, granting to the Citizens' Light, Power & Water Co. the right to operate and maintain an electric telephone bell and signal system, is about to expire making it optional for the city to purchase said telephone system or grant a new franchise to the company; and

Whereas if the city wishes to take advantage of its right to purchase said interest, as heretofore set out belonging to the Citizens' Light, Power & Water Co., such right must be exercised at once in order to come within the time limit set out; and

Whereas the Citizens' Light, Power & Water Co.'s stock is controlled by the W. B. Foshay Co. and its subsidiaries, more particularly the Public Utility Co.; and

Whereas the said W. B. Foshay Co. and its subsidiaries are now in the hands of a receiver, and there is a probability that the receiver may find it necessary to place the said public utilities of the city of Ketchikan, now under his control as receiver, up for public auction in order to properly liquidate, straighten out the company's affairs, and protect its stockholders; and

Whereas it might become necessary for the city of Ketchikan for its protection and that of its citizenship, in view of the probability of such a sale, to purchase the entire plant, good will, wires, equipment, rights, etc., of the light, telephone, and water-power properties of the Citizens Light, Power & Water Co., operating in said city by virtue of franchise No. 89 and franchise No. 151. The right to make such purchase is given under section 7 of franchise No. 151 and the expiration of telephone franchise No. 89, and the general power, authority and procedure to buy, construct, and otherwise establish and maintain plants for the distribution and the use in the city, of light, heat, and power by electricity and to establish and maintain for the use within the city, telephone systems, water works, electric light and power plants, and other public utilities for the purpose of serving the city and the public, is set out under "General Powers of Common Councils, Article III of chapter 97, Session Laws 1923 of Alaska: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the common council of the city of Ketchikan, hereby petition the Congress of United States for the power and right to bond the said city of Ketchikan in a sum not to exceed $1,000,000 to make such purchase if found necessary and advisable after submitting the same (due notice being given) to the vote of the people, for their approval at the next general election or a special election called for that purpose. Be it therefore further

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to Hon. Dan A. Sutherland and that he be respectfully urged to prepare and submit a bill granting the right, power, and authority to the city of Ketchikan to purchase its public utilities and granting it the further power and authority to bond the credit of the said city in a sum not to exceed $1,000,000, after the approval of the electorate thereof, upon due notice given at the next general election or special election called for said purpose, and that Hon. Dan A. Sutherland respectfully urge the immediate passage of said bill in order that the city might meet the situation if the emergency arises and the electorate so desires.

Passed and approved this 15th day of January, 1930.
[SEAL.]
Attest:

M. J. BUCEY, Mayor.

WM. A. HOLZHEIMER, City Clerk.

The Chairman of the committee has also received a telegram from the mayor stating:

Our option to buy utilities plant comes in September of this year. Any delay might seriously interfere with purchase.

Ketchikan, the center of the North Pacific deep-sea fisheries and of the salmon-canning industry of southern Alaska, is the largest and most prosperous city in the Territory. Its permanent winter population within the corporate limits is about 4,000, which is increased over 100 per cent during the summer fishing season.

The assessed valuation of property, both real and personal, is $6,818,360. The tax rate is 17 mills.

The town's outstanding bonded indebtedness is $110,000, on a school building. The original issue was for $150,000, upon which payments of $10,000 per annum have been made in the past four years.

The fixed capitalization of the utilities in question is:

Electric....

Water.

Telephone..

Total...

$1,078, 655. 91

119, 986. 00 72, 339. 00

1, 270, 980. 91

The profits of the Citizens Light, Power & Water Co. during the past five years have been as follows: