Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-12-26

One salient feature of the measure
is the extension of the power of the
interstate commerce commission to
Alaska, coupled with special pro-
vision that the rates for steamship
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 Alaskas re-
sources by one great syndicate.
Shuts Out Monopolies.,
The contemplated legislation pro-
vides 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 say that
every safeguard has been taken to pre-
vent the exploitation of Alaska for
the profit of monopolies. and. that the
field 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 on
gineers on the Canal Zone declare that
their work is finished. The financial
provisions of the bill instruct the sec
retary of the treasury to borrow $685.
GIL 900 on the credit of the United
States and to issue bonds In the de-
nominations of 500 to $1,000. The
sum of $1.O00.O00 is set aside for ad-
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 gov
ernment 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
ernment aid in road building, will be
called upon to appropriate their pro
rata snare or 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 coed 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 founn it exceedingly
easy to build good roads on paper,
particularly SO as the paper used as
the paper used as the basis of ad-
vance construction has the ueassES
note formula printed on its Y
Money is needed to build good ns
and 1t 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 means of communication
through the country is strong in both
houses of congress. and the cry OF
economy will not serve to check the
movement
Bourne's Ambitious Plan.
The plan OF former Senator Bourne
is ambitious He would like to have
the government issue sl.0O0,000,000 in
bonds, the issue and the sale not to
exceed such amounts as may be nee
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
1t is 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 S, ,000. 900. 900, and provided that all
the requirements of the act shall be
compiled with, the different states will
| get large sums of money varying of
course with the size and wealth of the
| commonwealths. Illinois, for instance.
would get about $40,000.000, while its
neighbor state, Missouri, would get
about s35, 900 sums which it would
seem would build several miles of fair
ly good roadway.
What ShackIeford Proposes.
Representative Shackleford, who ~
a member of the joint committee. has
allowed some of his views on the sub
ject to be known in advance of the
committees report. He has no such
vaulting money-spending ambitions as
those which seem to be lodged in Mr.:
Bourne's head. 1t is probable that his
views more nearly coincide with those
of the average member of congress. In