The Alaska daily empire., 1913-04-09
J. F. A. Strong Writes
 From National Capital
CContinued from Page l1

which go with these posts Will not support the office in the manner that is demanded in the European courts those places having been filled Tor years past by wealthy men The declination of these men to serve their country abroad has revived the talk of erecting residences for our ambassadors in European and other capitals and for an increase in sal aries.
 President Wilson is one of the busiest men in the national capital He is at his desk in his office at o'clock and frequently stays there until five with an hours interpission for lunch. The strain, it is said is telling upon him, and few days ago he was reported as being quite i'll. He is, however, better and work ing as hard as ever. He is taking the tariff problem by the horns, and IS giving it his personal supervision ana is consulting freely with Oscar WI Underwood, who will direct the meas use in the House. The bill is prac- ticallv completed and will be ready for presentation as soon as Congress meets. It will be a straight tariff re- duction measure, designed to lower the cost of living without harming to any extent any legitimate industry
 While a number of the Democrat ic leaders have declared that only a tariff bill would be considered at the special session there is a growing be- lief that the currency question will receive attention, and an effort will also be made to enact railroad and coal legislation for Alaska, as it is pointed out that the entire question of conservation is embraced in ade- ouate legislation for the opening and development of the Alaska coal fields. and the congress and administration must sooner or later face this prob lem in an honest and earnest man. ner To delay it even until the regu- lar session, it is urged, will indicate desire to dodge an issue which the Taft administration failed to meet and which the Roosevelt administra- ton precipitated and left to its fate Just what the Wilson administrations policy will be toward the develop ment of the coal measures of Alas ka has not been made public It probably has not been worked out as vet. but those "on the inside" be- lieve that it will be liberal, and that may mean either plan by which the coal lands will be leased, or that land grants, or patents will be issued to bona fide claimants, and the govern ment will reserve the right to fix the prices of the mined product, and to prevent monopoly. It is also believed that the administration will favor the building of railroads in Alaska along the lines embraced in the recent re- port of the Alaska railroad commiss- ion. Several Alaska railroad bills have been already prepared with this end in view. However it may be said that the administration has giv- en out no statement as to it's policy in this respect, for the reason prob ably that definite policy has not yet been decided upon President Will son and Secretary of the Interior Lane are giving Alaska matters their serious attention and are seeking knowledge of Alaska conditions from many sources.
 Aside from the governorship the Alaska offices that seem to be the greatest bone of contention are the marshalships for the Second and Third divisions. For the former place there were active delegations in Washington last week in the interests of John P. Reardon, E. R. Jordan and John A. Webb, of Nome Reardon claims to have the backing of Gov. suIzer and Senator O'Gorman, of New York; Jordan had former Sena- tor Towne, of Minnesota, here work ing for him, and Webb has the Ken lucky delegation in Congress behind him, it is said. James P. Daly, of Nome, however, has the backing of the Alaska Democratic organization Ferguson, of Valdez, has been here looking after his own interests in the Third.
 L. I. Erwin, of Fairbanks, seems to be the only applicant for the mar shaps position in the Fourth division He is now here looking after his own interests and seems to be confident of landing the place.
 It has developed that Attorney Gen eral James c. McReynolds and Secre- tary of War Lindley M. Garrison were former classmates of Robert w. Jen- nings, and he is therefore, said to be in close touch with the admins tration. MT. Jennings has been here for several weeks.
 The appointment of Mrs. A. P. swineford, wife of former Governor swineford, as postmistress at Ketch- ikan may be expected within a short time.
 M STAGE FOR SKOO-