The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-01
Executive Declines to Lend Ap-
prOyal TO Particular Alas
kan Interests.
STANDS BY BALLINGER
In HIS ADVERSE REPORT
Alaska Great Northern Road
Charged With Lobbying to
Secure Specific Aid.

WASHINGTON, May 31.-Presdent
Taft announced today that during his
administration he would not lend his ap-
provaI to legislation designed TO secure
government aid TO specific railroad In
forests In Alaska. Instead. ne favored
a general law that Will apply to all who
comply with its provisions; law mod
eled after the policy that has been In ef-
feet in the philippines for years
The announcement came In the form OF
an executive approval OF an adverse B4-
port made TO congress by Secretary Bal
iinger OF bill which proposed specific
hight over this bill is said to have been
the cause OF much controversy in the
committees OF congress. The hackers OF
the bill, IL Is claimed, have charged that
those who oppose this measure are CON
trolled' by the Morgan -Guggenheim syn
dicate. Governor Clark, former Cover
nor HoSatt and Lewis Z, Shackleford.
Republican national committeeman from
Alaska, have all been included in these
omnibus statements.
In this connection Mr.. Shackleford
made public a statement tonight in which
he charges that lobby" Is being main
tanned In Washington In behalf OF these
Delegate Wickersham Of Alaska In Wig
orous fashion. Mr.. Shackleford believes
the announcement of President Taft's
policy Will do much 10 "clear the air" in
Alaska.
Official Statement.
The white house statement follows:
The secretary of the interior was
asked TO give his opinion to the commit
blu 22557 TO aid In the construction OF
, a railroad, telegraph and telephone lines
in the~territory of Alaska and TO secure
10 the government OF the United States
and other purposes. The bill proposes 10
give governmen C\assistance TO a particu-
lar road mentioned therein.
10 that end the secY2iary OF the in
terror replied: 1t is believed that any
government aid in the construction of
trunk lines OF railroads generally in
routes have been recommended by y
competent board OF government officers
and approved by The president, or some
competent executive authority. and after
BIDS snail have been invited for the COR
struction OF lines of railroads over such
routes as may have been approved in this
manner. This department deems mad
visable the enactment of legislation
granting government aid TO any particu-
lar railroad corporation as proposed in
the bill under consideration
! The letter was forwarded to the presi-
dent on May Is, 1910. for approval be-
fore its delivery 10 the committee and
received his full concurrence.
Shackelford Emphatic.
Mr.. Shackleford. in his statement, says
in part;
The announcement OF the president. .
indorsing the policy adopted by the sec
rotary OF the interior is most Important
10 Alaska. For the last five years the
source OF nearly all the apparent diff
against the principal officials and the
dissatisfaction with reference 10 the ad-
mnistration by these officials in Alaska
has been a set of lobbyists who have
fascinated themselves with the idea that
II VIII be possible 10 secure the passage
of government aid bill, directed in
favor of special crowd and which will
make their property marketable the min
ute II IS passed and approved.
They haunt congress and various
financial centers with such schemes. le
anyone refuses them aid he is immedi-
atcly accused of being interested with
some of the railroads now building in
Alaska without any special legislation
and without any government aid
The delegate from Alaska has inter-
ested himself in this character of legis-
lation and. in his testimony before the
house committee on territories. March %,
1910. has stated he VIII not object TO such
legislation.
Attack on Delegate.
"As soon as the other Alaskans in
Washington declined to become interested
In this character of legislation, he and
the lobbyists joined in u bitter personal
attack upon officials or other persons in
terested in Alaska who don't indorse their
attempt TO seize fortune for themselves
In a special franchise bill carrying gov
ernment aid.
AN Investigation OF these lobbyists and
the connection of the delegates from
II made by congress or the magazine
writer's. be most fruitful source of in
formation as to underlying causes OF
charges made from time TO time against
tho principal officials in Alaska.
Delegate james Wickersham OF Alaska
tonight declined to make any reply to
Mr.. Shackeford s statement except TO say
he had introduced a bill in congress which
was in accordance with the ideas eN-
pressed by the president and drawn after
the Philippine law. He added he was in
favor OF any plan that would insure the
building OF n railroad line into the in
terror OF Alaska. whether through the me-
dium OF a general law or by aid to
Nn