The Nome Nugget

Blodgett Charges "Skulduggery In Ferry-Road Bonding Issue"

By Ward Sims
Associated Press Staff Writer

JUNEAU (AP) - The huge $23 million Ferry-Road Bonding Bill hit the floor of the House of Representatives for amendment today, as a storm of accusations swirled around the controversial measure.

Rep. Bob Blodgett told the Associated Press the bonding proposition "from its very inception has been saddled with premeditated skulduggery."

In a long statement, Blodgett accused Gov. Egan and the 1961 Legislature of attempting to subvert the will of the people in implementing voter approval of the issuance of $23 million worth of general obligation bonds for ferries and roads.

Blodgett said the 1960 Legislature, in submitting the bonding proposal to the voters, intended that $5 million of the $23 million be used for construction of the proposed Fairbanks-Nome Road.

Now, Blodgett said, the administration wants to use the $5 million for maintenance and road relocation.

"They're running this show as they damned well please and the people down here in the Legislature are apparently nothing but a bunch of rubber stamps," Blodgett said.

Blodgett, asked why he stormed out of a Democratic caucus last Thursday afternoon, said:

"I refuse to have people tell me in a caucus, 'if you don't vote for House Bill 44, you won't get your Vocational School at Nome.'"

"Well. that's a pretty doggoned rotten way of doing business. Now, talk about a bunch of hatchet men, we've got them. People that have been friends of mine right here in Alaska for years came right out and made that statement to me in caucus."

"If it follows that Northwestern Alaska doesn't come into its own just due in this road bonding program, if we don't get Route 97 from Fairbanks to Nome, I can assure the people of the state and our illustrious administration that I will work in the future for the defeat of any bonding propositions."

"I think it would be wrong to ask the people of my area to vote for the passage of any future bonding proposition if we are to be sold down the river now."

House Speaker Warren Taylor denied that Blodgett was threatened in the Democratic party caucus.

Rep. Morgan Reed, Chairman
of the House State Affairs Committee, said:

"If there was any premeditated skulduggery connected with any of the bonding propositions, Blodgett had as much to do with it as anyone because he was a member of the Finance Committee which drafted them."

"The governor has taken a hands-off attitude regarding the implementation of the bond issues. The Fairbanks-Nome Road with which Blodgett is so much concerned is not even a road system that would entitle it to matching funds."

Egan said he had recommended against using the $5 million for road construction at this time because the state had already committed its federal highway aid matching funds.

"Why should we spend this $5 million now and get 7-10 miles of road out of it, when we can wait and get some $60-$70 million in federal matching funds later?" Egan asked.

McNees and Hopson Comment

Two senators from the Northwestern District, John McNees and Eben Hopson commented in a joint statement:

"Much has already been said, some of it wrongly so, as to the position of the Northwestern legislators on the various bonding measures under the consideration by the Legislature.

"Much pressure has been placed on us from a wide variety of sources and in many ways threats have frequently been made, both by proponents of the bonding program as well as the opponents.

"The reason that the 'ice bloc' has been singled out for pressure is that it very likely holds the hinge vote in either or both Houses of the Legislature on many of the issues involved.

Furthermore, we intend to take advantage of that position to see that the intent of the 1960 Legislature and the Joint Finance Committees of that session is carried out. That, and no more than that, is our position."

McNees and Hopson said the intent was that the $5 million be spent, along with federal matching monies on a 19-1 ratio, for construction of the Fairbanks-Nome Road.

"We are morally certain," they said, "that this was the intent of the Joint Finance Committee, the 1960 Legislature and all of the people of Alaska in voting for it.

"We feel our claim is a just, a moral and a legal one, and we are disappointed that we are not getting the full backing of the administration in carrying it out."

Anchorage Area Cut Out

Rep. Bennie Leonard of Anchorage, asked to comment on Blodgett's statement, said:

"If Mr. Blodgett feels that Northwestern Alaska might be cut out of the bonding issues, I ask him to look at the Anchorage area, where 42 per cent of the state taxes originate, and see how that area has fared in this road program, or any of the other bonding issues.

"It saddens us all to see the Vocational School being vote-traded to Nome for the Ferry Bond issue. This is another case of legislation by the Democratic party caucus."