Valdez daily prospector., 1912-02-28

and trails in Alaska. So far no
 appropriation for this purpose
 has been submitted in the csti-
 mate of the War. department, but
 if a special bill fails, it is likely
 that a supplementary estimate Viii be filed. Col. w. P. Richard
 son. head of the Alaska road
 commission, although suffering
 from a broken ankle, sustained
 by slipping on the ice, is able tn attend to the clerical work nec- essary to the department and tU take care of the reports upon which tho road appropriation will be asked. It's rather an unusual occurrence for an Alaskan, by the way, to break an ankle by slip ping on the ice in a big city something like getting run over by an automobile in Alaska.
 Just now the dove of peace is l hanging over everything con ncctcd with Alaska. At a meet ing held a few nights ago a large number of representative Alas kanS were present together with the Pacific coast delegation. and ! ii was agreed that the practice of brick -hraving before the c0m- millcrS should cease. and an rf- fort made tO secure some con Struciive legislation. Delegate WickrrSllam has settled his lit ! tIr difference with those who Op- posed him, and whom he opposed, and something constructive, rather than destructive, is like ly to br the result. Just how long the pact will last il is impossible to say al Ihis time.
 Congressman SulZ"r, Alfred J. Daly, national committeeman from Alaska, Speaker Clark and Congressman Underwood, boss of | the ways and means cummittrr, and the man who has the most tO say about what money shall be appropriate, had meeting the other day. and it. was practically Iagrc d that territorial government will be enacted into a law, under new bill, modelled after inc one written by SulZer in i905-06. and reported as d committee bill. 9th rr Alaskan measures will be re- porte as a committee bill. Other Alaskan measures will b" report cd directly from the committee. SulZrr'S railroad bill will find considerable support, but il is not likry thai il will pass unless Inc appropriation feature is rlim- mated. Tn" Democrats are against letting any money lose this year. and that's all there is io il. II is probable that lhc hill will result in tn" appointment of "a commission of engineers and railroad operators to investigate Inc various projected railroad routes from the coast tO the iu- trrior uf Alaska, and il may be 1 that they will guaantcr the inter est on the construction bonds. Since Secretary Fisher. who speaks for the administrations, is
 frankly in favor of the cnnsirlIr- tIOn of roads and trails and the improvement of the lighting syS- tenn on the Alaskan coast, and be- cause the Democrats are anxious to do something for Alaska, it is quite likely that these bills will go through before the session closes.
 There will be no appropriation made for all exhibit from Alaska Ito the Panama exposition this year. This will be deferred till 1 the next long session in 1913. Appropriations, unless absolute ly necessary, are nix. Lights and roads in Alaska are deemed npc- essary.
 A fight will be made Co secure q reduction of the cable and tele- graph tolls in Alaska, but as this is a departmental, rather than legislative matter, the chances of success are not glittering with hope. However, Senator Wilson and other members of the dclega- lion arc hopeful of success along these lines, as they expect tO make a showing of profits made by the government from which there will De no escape or explanation. AL SO certain Democrats arc threat en'ng to use the tolls charged on the Alaska cable and telegraph system as an argument that will put q kink in Postmaster General
 Hitchcock's suggestion that tho government purchase and opcr-