Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-09-20
Congressional Committee Will
Have Seine Important Sug-
gestions TO Make
INCREASE I'M REPRESENTATION
Likely That the Territory Will be Given
More Than One Delegate To Look
After Its Varied Interests in Congress
acknowledgement to Railroads -
Other News.

Washington Sept. Gothic trip OIL
u congressional party of twenty
three to Alaska lest summer. headed
by Speaker Cannon, is likely to result
in important legislation for that dis
trict at the next session. For one
thing, the speaker himself is now
friendly to this legislation, whereas
here ofore he has opposed 1T.
The question OF Alaskan represen-
t;ition In congress will come UP again.
but instead of providing for a delegate,
congress may decide to have a COM
mittee ON the district of Alaska COM
posed of seventeen members. auala
gous to the committee on the District
of Columbia. Such Il committee would,
1t is asserted, give Alaska more prom
inence in congress than it could pos
sibly secure thru o single delegate.
There Is no more reason. 1T is urged,
why Alaskan legislation should be re-
ferred to the territories committee
than that Districl of Columbia legis
lation should be so referred. Neither
is a territory in it's form of govern
ment and both are so nearly alike In
their political status as to require sim
liar legislative machinery.
Why a Delegate Fails.
Besides, 1t Is said no single delegate
could adequately represent the diversl-
fled and widely separated interests of
the country. A delegate living in
southeastern Alaska, for example,
would be no more fitted to represent
the great interior of the country and
the northwestern coast. than a con-
gresham from Alabama would be fit
ted to sit for the northwestern states.
Three delegates from different locali-
ties, respectively. would be needed If
resented.
A standing committee Of seventeen,
1t Is declared. would get around all
these objections. And as the speaker.
owing to the largely increased repub-
lican representation in the next house.
will not have enough places to go
around, the ''practicar argument for
the creation of another large commit
tee Of the first class is emphasized. The
attention of the speaker will be called
to this matter at an early date, and 1t
is believed that his more favorable at
titude toward Alaska will prompt him
to consider it without prejudice.
Need Of Railroad.
The congressman who visited Alaska
last Summer are impressed with the
need for a railroad running from Va,-
dez thru the Copper river country to
Eagle City, via Fairbanks. the great
gold camp on the Tanana river. Such
a line, probably six hundred miles long.
would tap mineral country Of the great
est value.
Major Richardson, who is in charge
Of the government road and trailmak-
ing in Alaska, submitted data to Speak
er Cannon and his colleagues last sum-
mer showing that such a road would be
of immensely more value to the gov
than any one of the transcon-
lines to which direct federal
subsidy was given.
The plan is to have the government
per cent on sufficient
bonds to build such a line. as has been
done for railways in the Philippines.
More Attention to Alaska.
1T is said that Alaska will receive
more serious attention in congress next
session than at any previous time.
The senate committee on territories
is already familiar with Alaskan condl-
tons, and what the house members
have learned will give Alaska. staunch
in both houses.
Among other things which strongly
the visiting congressman is
tba foot that Alaska althO Tlentiflllly
with rich forests and con-
sumer of 5O,O00.000 feet of lumber an
nually, manufactures only 100000
feet Of what it consumes, the rest
by water from Seattle at cost
Of more than 81 thousand feet The
railroad spoken Of would open UP vast
forest tracts and give Alaska its own
lumber supply at prices much below
those demanded under present condl-
tons.