Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-05

Continued from First Page.)
is. in my judgment, fast approaching and
then the first great step towards the alb
solute eradication OF tuberculosis will have
been taken"
New Problem for the Army.
Quartermaster General Aleshire, who is at
present busily engaged in getting his es-
Inmates for the d-dartermaster generals de-
partment for the fiscal year ending Tune
80, 1910 into shape for submission to the
secretary of war, has run up against a snag
that will add thousands to the demand of
the service. In the transportation of Of
ficers from the east to the west, and vice
versa, the bond-aided railroads rave been
favored because OF the pecuniary interest
tho government has in them. 1t was not
very long ago that the west was gridironed
pretty nearlxa ENth railroads, whose CON
struetion had been made possible by the
aid Of friendly federal legislation. Grad
uaily. In the PRESENCE Of prosperous times,
these government-aided railroads have been
paying back to the government the aid re-
ceived, the Union Pacific, under Mr.. Har-
riman's guidance. settling with the United
States treasury several years ago at an up
set price, which boosted the receipts
nightly.
But there remained one bond-aided road,
the connecting link between the east and
the west, the Central Pacific, and 1t was
an easy thing for the quartermaster gem
eral to transport the army, If need be,
from the Missouri river to San Francisco
via the Central Pacific, and charge up the
transportation on the treasury books
against the subsidy bonds issued by the
government In aid of the roads construc-
ton.
Every quartermaster general for years
has figured on this transportation in his
estimate to congress, asking only appropri-
alton for the movement of troops, animals,
etc, as covered by the railroad companies
which are Independent of the governments
aid. 1t was comparatively easy to look
after this branch Of the department in con-
sequence, and there was usually enough
money in the transportation fund to meet
exigencies, but a rude awakening has come
to General Aleshire. He has to readjust
his transportation estimates, for the Cen
trail Pacific has ceased to be a government
bond-aided road nearly a year ahead Of
time, and all the figures on this subject, to
be sent to congress-, have had to be re-
vised and the transportation fund is get
ting dangerously low. The unexpected has
occurred.
Railroad Notes Taken Up.
Under an agreement made with the Of
ficials of the Treasury department in Feb
ruary, 1899, settlement of the debt of the
Central and Western Pacific railroad COM
panies on account of government aid given
was accomplished, the entire debt, prin-
cipal and interest. on February /, 1899, be-
ing S5S, So, us. This amount was secured to
the United States by twenty ~semi-annual
notes of -, 94O.635 each, bearing interest at
the rate of 3 per cent per annum.
The railroad has been meeting these semi
annual notes with great regularity, and in
order to stop the interest paid the last note
in July, seven months before 1t fell due.
The other day Acting Secretary Coolidge
Of the Treasury department notified all de,
partments Of the government of this pay.
ment, and that hereafter any money owing
the railroad companies for transportation
services or otherwise should be paid to the
companies and that auditors certificates
of settlement directing the Withholding OF
settlement for transportation services rem,
dered should be, returned to the auditor
for re-statement and charge under proper
appropriations.