Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1913-12-19

interstate commerce commission "a
Alaska, coupled with a speciaI nro-
vision that the rates for steamsnin
transportation to and from the terri.
tory shall be regulated. The asser-
ton is made that water transportation
monopoly has been one OF the chief
causes for the control of Alaska's re.
sources by one great syndicate.
Shuts Out MonopoIies.
Inc contemplated legislation nro.
Vldes for the location of town sites
The acquisition of land for monopoly
holdings is prohibited and no person
or corporation can acquire land for the
purpose of holding it in idleness. The
proponents of the measure saw that
every safeguard has been taken to pre-
vent the exploitation Of Alaska for
the profit of monopolies. and that the
held will be found to be open for
competitive strivings."
Under the terms of the bill the
president is authorized at his descre-
ton to take over the holdings of rail.
roads already in operation in Alaska.
Any property belonging to the United
states now IN use in Panama canal
construction and which can be of serv-
Ice in Alaska will be transferred from
the canal strip to the territory. to be
used in railroad building when the en-
g1neers on the Canal Zone declare that
their work is finished. The financial
provisions of the bill instruct the sec
rotary of the treasury to borrow $685.
$4,000 on the credit of the United
States and to issue bonds in the de-
nominations Of 800 to $1,000. The
sum of $1,000,000 is set aside for adj.
ministration purposes.
Good Roads Favored.
Before long congress expects a
report from its joint committee on
federal aid in the construction of
post roads. 1t is believed by the
members that legislation for a gov
eminent appropriation for highway
building throughout the country will
be made an administration matter,
and enacted into law with the sane
ton of both houses with very few
signs of division on party lines The
several states, in order to secure gov
eminent aid in road building, will be
called upon to appropriate their pro
rata share of the money.
The joint committee has Jonathan
Bourne, Jr., as its chairman. Mr..
Bourne is no longer in congress, but
he still retains his committee mem
bership. He has formulated his own
plans for good roads and his example
has been followed by Senator Swan
son of Virginia and by Representative
Shackleford of Missouri.
The members who have interested
themselves in this matter of improved
highways have found it exceedingly
easy to build good roads on paper,
particularly SO as the paper used as
the paper used as the basis of adj
vance construction has the treasury
note formula printed on its face.
Money is needed to build good roads,
and it is the matter of cash, lot Of
cash, which blocks the progress, OF
building and possibly, only possibly,
may block the future quick progress
of wagons and automobiles. Generally
speaking, however, the sentiment for
better menus of communication
through the country is strong in both
houses of congress, and the cry or
economy will not serve to check the
movement
Rourne's Ambitious Plan.
The plan of former Senator Bourne
is ambitious. He would like to have
the government issue $1,000 100000 in
bonds, the issue and the sale mot to
exceed such amounts as may be nec-
essary from time to time to enable
the treasurer of the United States to
make payments from the United States
highway fund to the several states IN
accordance with the provisions OF this
act"
It is a part of Mr.. Bourne's plan to
have the money accredited to the
states in proportion to their total land
area. their population, their assessed
valuation of taxable property, and the
total mileage of public highways. On
the basis of appropriations amounting
to 81, 900, 100000, and provided that all
the requirements Nof the act shall pc
complied with, the different states Will
get large sums of money varying OF
course with the size and wealth or the
commemorative. Illinois, for instance
would get about $4O,0OO,OO0, while its
neighbor state, Missouri, would get
about s35, 100000 sums which it would
seem would build several miles OF FAIR
" good roadway.
What shackleford Proposes.
Representative Shackleford. who is
a member of the joint committee, mas
allowed some of his views on the SUD-
iect to be known in advance OF the
committees report. He has no sucn
waiting corresponding ambitions as
those which seem to be lodged In Mr.
Ronrne's head. 1t is probable that ms
views more nearly coincide with tnose
of the average member OF congress. IN
truth it is likely that Mr.. ShacKleIoru ;
scheme. which he already has put into
hin form, will be found to agree pref
~ olocolv with the provisions OF the