The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-01-15
ALASKA THE TEsT7
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP OF
RAILROADS MAY BE TRIED
IN THE TERRITORY.
COMMISSION TO REPORT SOON
May Recommend Purchase of the
Alaskan Northern, but conserva-
tionists Assert This Would Be Poor
Road With Which to Start.
Rx GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington.-Is Uncle Sam to con-
slider the construction, ownership and
operation of railroads in the territory
of Alaska? The question probably will
be answered in a few days, and il the
answer is yes and government owner
ship and operation shall prove sue
cess, there are congressman in Wash
ington willing to say that the step
first taken in the territory may lead
later to a record step to be taken in
the states. This simply goes to show
that the question of government own
ership of the transportation facilities
is still occupying the attention of the
law makers of the land.
Last August President Taft APP
pointed what Is known as the Alas
kan railroad commission. It's duties
have been to study the question of
railroads in Alaska with a possible
view to the recommendation of gov
eminent ownership, subject which
has been a medium of debate, charge
and counter charge and bitter discus
sion In the committee. rooms and on
the floors of congress for years.
The members of the commission
who will report on the subject are
Maj. J. J. Morrow, U. S. A, chairman;
Alfred H. Brooks OF the geological
survey and one OF the authorities on
Alaskan subjects; Leonard M. Cox,
civil engineer, United States navy, and
Colin MacRae Ingersoll Of New York,
civil engineer In private practice. The
committee has been at work on its
report for month and the last pages
OF 1t are being prepared for the printer
Position Of ConservationIsts,
Some time ago Secretary of the In
terror Fisher recommended that the
government buy the Alaskan Northern
railroad and extend it to the Manta-
nuska coal fields. 1t seems likely that
the report Of the commission will deal
largely with this phase Of the trans
pOrtation problem. If the committee
supports Mr.. Fishers position it is be-
ieved in Washington that the whole
Alaska controversy may be reopened
and that the conservationists will re-
start their fight. The purchase of the
particular line mentioned they think
In itself is a good thing, but believe
that 1t would be a bad railroad to start
with on government purchase ven
ture
The conservationists hold that the
purchase of the Alaska Northern rail-
road would take the government into
practically virgin territory and would
leave the rest Of the country to the
exploitation of the Guggenheim syn
dicate, whose operations around Con-
troller bay and in the coal field lying
20 the north OF 1t would continue un-
molested. The conservationists add
that the Alaska Northern railroad
purchase would be a tactical error
and instead. OF strengthening federal
control over the resources of the rich
territory actually would weaken the
movement for such control
There is q story here to the effect
that some years ago the Canadian
bondholders who controlled the Alas
kan Northern sent an engineer out to
examine the II miles of track which
then had been laid and to report on
the wisdom of the extension of the
road to the coal fields. 1t is said that
this engineer said that the road was
The bondholders dropped the road and
1t went into bankruptcy after having
cost something like $5,000,000. Later
It was sold for 100000 at a United
States marshals sale. Now 1t is said
that the present owners are willing"
to sell it to the government
Booher Convict Labor Bill.
A hearing is about to begin be-
fore subcommittee of the SEN
ate committee on judiciary on
bill which opens up again the old
question of state rights. The bill was
introduced by Representative Charles
r. Booher, Democrat, of Missouri, and
1t is known as the convict labor bill
II It. is passed its effect will be to pre-.
vent the importation into any state
where convict labor for the markets
Is forbidden. of convict goods manu-
featured in other states where convict
labor for the markets Is allowed.
There is going to be a fight over
aflis bill and the details of the argu-
ments pro and con and the influences
which are said to be back of the oppo-
astion to the bill can be given without
prejudice one way or the other. One
or the strongest advocates of the pas
sage of the Booher measure saws
that 1t would affect intimately and
immediately the welfare of an army
OF working girls in hundreds of gar
ment factories throughout the cour
try; of a hundred thousand innocent:
wives and children of convicts who
are being punished by society for no
FAULT of their own; 1t would open the
way to reformation of host of per-
sons who are nothing more than pri-
yate slaves Of private personal CON
tractors; and, finally. it would end.
once and for alf time. the hundred
years war that has been waging be-
tween free labor and convict labor
In this country.