The Alaska citizen., 1914-03-16
.OF INTEREST
 ID ALASKANS
DAWSON TO HAVE UTILITIES.

| DAWSON TO HAVE UTILITIES. i DAWSON. March 9.-One of the | chief problems for consideration by the Yukon legislature when it as sembles on Thursday will be the pro | posed ins allation of city-owned watert telephone and electric light system. The Civic league is pushing the sale of bonds, arguing that the excessive rates and poor service have too long burdened the com | lhhnity, and calling attention 10 the fact that the great profits that have been made have been sent out of the country to foreign stockholders.
 FAIRBANKS BOOSTED. 1 DAWSON. March 9.-In long editorial printed today. the Dawson News boosts the Fairbanks district, saying that a great future awaits il | now that the coming of the railro ad is assured. The News states that | the building of the road will in all 1 probability start from the Interior 1 at the same time that the work is ] commenced al the coast terminal. POLICE BUILDING BURNS. DAWSON, March 9.-The Royal | Northwest Mounted Police headquar ters building was completely des- troyed by fire yesterday. The fire | originated from overheated furnace flues sSeld it had a good start before 1 the apparatus could be brought to 1 bear on it. After a hard fight the 1 building was completely gutted, only l a charred hulk remaining. A good many records were burned, but it is believed all the vital ones can be l duplicated here or at Ottawa or Re gina.
 SENATE PASSES BILL. i WASHINGTON, March 10.-The conference report on the Alaska railroad bil which was approved by the house of representative on Fri day, vas submitted to the senate this morning, and after considerable heated discussion was passed by a vote of F to g., The bill as finally approved by both h uses of congress now goes to the President for his signature.
 CUMMlNS MAKES OBJECTIONS. 1 WASHINGTON, March 10.-As was 1 predicted yesterday Senator Cum mins requested a postponement of he consideration of the Alaska rail road bill, the Iowa senator objecting to the adopti-n of the report when 1 the question was taken up this morning. Cummins denounced the pill bitterly, declaring that the measure as reported provided that ! on,,1I h,lj11 in 1 land from the present terminals of privately-owned railroads Under such conditions. he argued, the pro- posed government roads would De at the mercy cf the private lines n he matter of tideWater terminals, This bill is mighty fine thing for he privately-owned lines" sad Senator Cummins, whose amendment providing for the purchase of exist ng roads had been eliminatel ''l am opposed to the governments en- try into Alaska unless it owns rail ways from seawa.er to the Interior.
 Replying to the Iowan. Senator Pullman declared that Cummins to state," said the former Alaskan, that the entire business of railroad construction in Alaska is one of the | best of precedents'
 Senator PoindeXter expressed him. self as being in favor of protecting the government to the extent that it would not be necessary to pay ex- orbitant sums for the existing lines should they be purchased.
 SiVERTS MAY BUILD ROAD.
 WASHINGTON. March 1.-The name of Colonel Siverts, who built the Gatun dam, is being prominently mentioned in connection with the construction of the pro- posed government railroad in Alas ka. Siverts has many friends here who believe that he is the right man to undertake the latest gov ernment enterprise.
 CELEBRATION PLANNED.
 WASHINGTON, March 1.-The signing of the Alaska railroad bill by President Wilson will be the oc- casion of an informal celebration at he White House Senatcr Cham berlain has taken the question up with Secretary Tumulty and it is planned to issue invitations to a number of prominent men. Secre- tary of the Interior Lane and other members of the cabinet will be pres ent. together with the party leaders of both houses.
 SIGNATURE EXPECTED.
 It is expected that President Will son will attach his signature to the Alaska railroad bill on Friday. The bill was signed by Speaker Champ Clark, of the house of representa- tives. today, and it will be signed by President Marshall to-mor- row.
 The pen used by Champ Clark was made of Alaskan gold and was fitted in an ivory penholder made from the tusk of an Alaskan mastodon The souvenir, which was supplied by John Ballaine, was made to rep resent a totem pole. It will be used by the presiding officer of the senate when he signs the bill to- morrow. after which it will be pre- sented to the Territory as souvenir of the occasion.
 IS THIRD MEASURE.
 The signing of the Alaska railroad bill will mark the passage of the third important administration meas ure by the present congress. The first was the tariff bill the second the currency and banking reform l bill
 PRESIDENT SIGNS BILL.