SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 24 Establishing the Alaska Legislative Celebration Commission to organize events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first convening of the legislative branch of government in Alaska. TIM LAMKIN, STAFF, SENATOR GARY STEVENS, presented a PowerPoint, "SCR 24: The 100-Year Commission Celebrating the Alaska Legislature" (copy on file). He stated that on March 3, 1913, the first convening of the first legislature of Alaska occurred. Mr. Lamkin displayed slide 1. The photo was of downtown Juneau taken in 1905. He remarked that Juneau was densely crowded, with not much useable land. He stated that in 1911, the United States Congress authorized the funds to build a capitol building for use by the legislature. Because of World War I and land shortage, the construction of the Capitol was stalled for 16 years. For the first sixteen years, the legislature met in various halls in downtown Juneau. Mr. Lamkin displayed slide 2, and explained that the photo was taken in September, 1929. The building in the photo was the former governor's office, and it was torn down to make room for the new Capitol. Mr. Lamkin discussed slide 3. The photo was of the same site as the former governor's office, facing the Gastineau Channel. He pointed out the car on the right side of the photograph, and stated that this photo was from the beginning of the Capitol construction in 1929. Mr. Lamkin displayed slide 4. He explained that approximately a year and a half after the Capitol construction began the building was dedicated as the "Territory and Federal Building." Mr. Lamkin discussed slide 5, and stated that the photo was of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1913 in the Juneau Elks Hall. He remarked that the Elks Hall was originally three floors. It was his understanding that the Senate met on one floor, and the House of Representatives met on another floor. Mr. Lamkin displayed slide 6, "First House of Representatives Committee Structure." There were originally 15 standing committees, with 16 members that sat on all of the committees: 1. Banks and Banking, Corporations (including Municipal) 2. Committee on Committees 3. Education, Public Health, Quarantine, and Morals 4. Elections, Election Laws, and Mileage 5. Engrossment and Enrollment 6. Fisheries, Fish, Game, and Agriculture 7. Judiciary and Federal Relations 8. Labor, Capital, and Immigration 9. Mining and Manufacturing 10. Printing 11. Roads and Highways 12. Rules 13. Territorial Institutions 14. Transportation, Commerce, and Navigation 15. Ways and Means and Contingent Expenses Mr. Lamkin stated that he did not believe that there was a Revenue-type committee at that time, because the legislature had very limited powers. Every item that the legislature examined and determined needed to be approved by congress. Mr. Lamkin discussed slide 7, "A Sampling of the Session Laws of 1913." He explained that the first legislature passed 84 bills and 111 resolutions in 60 days. He highlighted some of the laws. He remarked that the legislature passed a law allowing women the right to vote, several years before congress. He pointed out five more notable laws that were passed in the first legislature of Alaska: - "An Act to Prevent the Desecration of the Flag of U.S., and to Provide Punishment For Carrying Flags in Public Parades or Flying Them From Buildings Under Certain Conditions" - "An Act to Require Hotels and Lodging Houses to be Provided With Fire Escapes, Ropes, and Other Appliances" - "An Act to Prevent Employees from Being Oppressed by Reason of an Employer Compelling Them to Board at a Particular Boarding House, or to Purchase Goods or Supplies at a Particular Store." - "An Act to Establish Juvenile Courts, to Provide For the Care of Dependent Children, and to Create Childrens' Guardians in Alaska…" - "An Act to Prevent the Spread of Contagious Disease Among Livestock" Mr. Lamkin discussed slide 8, "A Sampling of Session Laws of 1913." He discussed six more laws of note from the first legislature of Alaska: - "An Act to Provide For the Registration of Persons Employed to Advocate or Oppose Legislative Measures, and to Regulate the Method of Such Advocacy or Opposition" - "An Act to Provide For the Compulsory Education of the Children of Alaska…" - "An Act to Fix the Liability of Employers For Personal Injuries Sustained by Their Employees" - "An Act Prohibiting the Casting of Sawdust, Planer Shavings, and Other Lumber Waste Into the Waters of Alaska..." - "An Act to Provide Punishment For Pimps or Macques" - "An Act to Create a Board of Commissioners to Provide For a Home for Aged Prospectors in Interior Alaska" Co-Chair Thomas wondered if the Flag Act had been repealed since the first Alaska legislature. He remarked that he had recently visited the Treadwell Ice Arena, and noticed that the U.S. flag was level with the Canadian flag. He made a complaint with an employee at the Ice Arena, and was told that they receive that complaint many times. He told the employee that veterans would be "very upset" to see the U.S. flag flying equal to a foreign country's flag. Mr. Lamkin replied that he assumed that the flag act had been amended, but was not sure. Mr. Lamkin looked at slide 9, which was a photo of the first territorial senate in 1913, in what he assumed was the second floor of the Elks Hall. Elwood Brunner, pictured in the front and left-hand side of the photo, was the first president pro-tem of the Alaska State Senate. He also served as the Rules Committee Chairman. 9:23:14 AM Co-Chair Stoltze requested a description and intent of the fiscal note attached to the bill. Mr. Lamkin replied that the purpose of the fiscal note was to allow the legislature some flexibility in spending on the project. Other organizations were contacted to determine a reasonable figure, in order to shape the logistics of bringing legislators and state officials from around the state together for the celebration. Co-Chair Stoltze surmised that the geographical references were intended for the purpose of estimated the fiscal note. Mr. Lamkin agreed. Co-Chair Stoltze hoped to not spend the amount of money represented in the fiscal note. He thought it should be a community based celebration, like the statehood celebration. Mr. Lamkin agreed. Representative Doogan felt the focus should really about the whole history of Alaska, and not just the legislature. He read part of the bills that passed during the first Alaska legislature, and related a personal story. 9:29:41 AM STEPHEN HAYCOX, PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in support of SCR 24. He felt that it was important for education in Alaska. Before the legislature was held in 1913, Alaska was effectively ruled by the "federal bureaucracy." James Wickersham, who supported the formation of a legislature, was very committed to the idea of "government by the consent of the governed." He remarked that the formation of the first legislature was an important step towards Alaska statehood. Representative Edgmon stated that Professor Haycox was his history teacher in 1984. 9:33:35 AM TERRENCE COLE, PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), testified in support of SCR 24. He stated that James Wickersham stopped the territory from being ruled by Washington D.C. He remarked that this resolution was not party-based, but merely a narrow focus on a part of state history education. He felt it is important to remind Alaskans of this particular aspect of Alaska history. Co-Chair Stoltze appreciated Terrence Cole's publications. Representative Doogan related another personal story. Co-Chair Stoltze closed the public testimony. Representative Neuman recalled that there was $25,000 left over from the Alaska Statehood Celebration. He thought that that money may have been placed in an endowment. He wondered if that money could be used toward SCR 24. Representative Guttenberg hoped that the archives from the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first legislature would be easily accessible for future generations. 9:40:36 AM Co-Chair Thomas MOVED to report SCR 24 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. SCR 24 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with previously published fiscal impact note: FN1 (LEG). 9:41:03 AM AT EASE 9:45:16 AM RECONVENED