The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-06


tary Hitchcock VIII Supervise Amuse-
ments-Now Waiting Senate Approval.
The House Of Representatives passed
an interesting bill last week. the purport
OF which has. rather curiously, escaped
attention up 70 this time. Congressman
Joseph Taylor Robinson OF Arkansas Ia
sponsor for the measure, which now awaits
the approval of the Senate. II it glides
through the Senate az easily as it did
through the House it will surprise great
many persons Before the Presidents name
is affixed to the document it may possibly
begin to dawn on some folks that the Cow
eminent is fathering II scheme by which
Monte Carlo will be started in this country
on Government land given away by the
representatives of the people.
The House number Of this interesting
bill is e29s. 1t was introduced on Jan. 3.
1904, by Congressman Robinson whose
first name is often printed Joe and was re-
ferred to the Committee on Public Lands,
which on March 20, 1904, reported 1t to the
House with certain amendments.
Congressman John +. Lacey of Iowa Is
chairman of the committee. There are
seventeen other members and it is worth
noting that New York il not represented
among them. II it were there might be
no doubt in the minds of the committee
rs to who are the bcneficiaries to whom
Congressman Robinsonwould give present
of some ten acres OF Government land,
together with the right of way for rail-
road
Their names are George r. Considne
and Edward Burke. When Mr.. Robinson
was asked in Washington what business
they were engaged In he replied that they
were capitalists. They are. but District
Attorney jerome might describe them az
gamblers.
There are six sections in the bill. Here
il the irst section and the official intro- :
ducton:
BILL
Granting the right of way for the cons
structiOn of "A railroad and other improves
mcnts over and on that part of the Hot Springs
Reservation known az West Mountain, Hob
Springs. Arkansas
Be it enncted by the Senate and House OF
representatives. of the United States OF
America in Congress assembled. that the
right Of way forty-Ave feet in width upon
which TO construct. equip, operate. and MAIN
tain railroad with one or more tracks, IA
hereby granted TO George T. Considine and
Edward Burke their associates and assigns,
upon and over that part of II OF Springs Rcser-
walton known as the West Mountain
but the said railroad shall not obstruCt any
highway contemplated by the plans for the
Improvement OF the Government Reservation
OF Hot Springs Arkansas, and the said grant
.as shah. by the erection and permanent
maintenance OF substantial iron bridges
with closed beds and sides. avoid rendering
the crossings dangerous to passengers on
the said highways. either In conveyances
or on foot,
That George Considine and Eddie Burke
are going into the railroad business Will
come as a surprise TO their friends. But
they are, and Congressman Robinson ~
willing to help them along anyway. Com
sidine said last night that their road Will
be one of the best equipped mountain
roads in this country if they can carry
out their plans.
Section > of the bill tells more about tbs
railroad. The Secretary of the Interior
is TO have supervision over its construc-
ton, and it must he built and in operation
within eighteen months from the passage
Of the bill or the right to build it will be-
forfeited The Secretary OF the Interior
can also make changes in the plans which
may be conducive to the public interest.
There will be great doings on the top Of
West Mountain when Considne and Burke
take charge. They are going in for hotels,
laboratories and other things. No men
ton is made in the bill Of the other things,
but maybe they are gambling houses.
The observatories would then come in handy.
Observatories in Considine's and Burke'-
society in this city are spelled loo -k-o-u-t-s
The bill says
The said parties or their assigns shall have
tho privilege OF erecting ON said West Mouh-
tain observatories. hotels and other such build
lngs as may be considered by the Secretary
of the Interior desirable for the accommodate
ton Of the public. and FOR such purposes.
and for LAYING on and beautfylng u park
surrounding OF adjace9t TO such building.
the said parties or their assigns are hereby
privileged 10 use such quantity OF land. not
exceeding In all ten acres OF ground, upon
said mountain. a. III the judgment OF the
Secretary OF the lpteriOr may be necessary
ia connection with the exercise OF the nights
conferred hereunder. they agreeing TO build
upon aud beautify the same at their own
expense 4 survey aud plan OF the grounds
to be used FOR the purposes herein mentioned
shall be- first submitted to the Secretary OF
tho Interior and approved By him before
any improvements shall be begun upon said
land Plans for all buildings shall be sub
mitted to and approved by the Secretary OF
the Interior.
NeCtlul 4 OF the blii ~ WHY rllolNF IL
says that Considne and Burke are 10 pay
semi-annually 10 the Department Of the
Interior, on account Of the fund for the
improvement Of the permanent Hot
Springs Reservation, tho sum of per cent.
of the gross annual earnings Of the railroad
and buildings and grounds. This section
makes no provision for Government
cashier to see that the Government does
not get double crossed
Section ) is interesting because It puts
the Secretary Of the lnterior-the present
Secretary is the Hon, Ethan Allen Hitch
i'm the position Of general overseer.
Here ii is
All tolls. charges or income received under
or by reason OF this grant. including the
character OF the means classes of enter
tainments 10 be provided for the public on
the lands granted hereunder. shall DO sub
jected 20 the approval Of the Secretary OF
the Interior who shall from timo 20 time
prescribe rules md regulations for the man
ngemcnt Of said property; provided, how
ever. that no pavilious. hotels. observatories
or any kind or character OF means Of provid-
ha ,,ukIgo aufartninu1out on