Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1914-02-19
HAS ALREADY PASSED HOUSE IN
\ SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
FORM
DAVENPORT OPPOSED IT
BilI goes 10 Conference In Order 60
COncillatc Slight Dif-
lCrcnCcs.

W Nbl''Nt leht To- lH' wv
mlnistratlon Alaskan Railroad Blll,
authorizing the president to construct
"A $4,000 600 railroad from Alaska's
coast 10 It's great coal fields was pass
ed ny the house late today by "A vote
OF 23O to 81.
\ similar measure already has
passed the senate and tho bill VIII be
taken up at once I'm conference be-
tween the two houses.
At the eleventh hour after sharp
parliamentary skirmlsh, the house ell
minated from the bill as reported by
the territories committee provision
authorizing "A bond issue Of $4,000,
coo 10 finance the railroad and to be
paid or by the proceeds Of govern
mcnt land sales In Alaska The sen
ate bill provided for $4O,00O,OO0 bond
issue. Representative Fitzgerald oi
New York led "A fight which resulted
in striking out the entire bond proV-
sion from the bill Under the amend
ed measure the project would be II
uauced out OF current funds In the
treasury, the president being limited
10 $25,OOO 600 and $l,000,OOO being
appropriated for immediate expense.
Congress would appropriate each year
the amount estimated as necessary for
the construction Of the road.
The bin provided for the construc-
ton Of "A road mot TO exceed 1000
miles to be so located as TO connect
one or more of the open pacific har-
bors on the southern coast OF Alaska
with "A coal field or fields yielding coal
sufficient IN quality and quantity for
naval use SO as TO best aid In the de
Velopment Of the agricultural and
mineral or other resources of Alaska. -
An effort was made by opponents
OF the bill, led by Representative Day
Cnport of Oklahoma to postpone the
| final vote until Wednesday but II was
defeated
| Thc Alaskan Railway project Is OF
more interest than even the expendi-
ture Of the S35, 100000 proposed ordi-
Iuarilv would create Coming as soon
after the completion of the Panama
| Canal il Is attracting attention as an
other great engineering project un-
der the direction of the American gov
ornment Moreover the new project
Is 10 be the first test I'm this country
OF government ownership OF "A public
utility II is expected to open great
resources that until now have been
for the most part lying idle and viii
afford employment TO "A large army OF
men. both Ia its construction and IN
its maintenance. II also will develop
Alaska agrlculturally as well AS In
other ways by attracting homestead
ers, friends OF the measure claim. and
A. will cheaper greatly carlous-commo-
ditics OF commerce, Notably coal. The
bin, which places great power in the
hands Of the president directs him 90
locate and acquire bv purchase or con
struction or by both means. line or
lines Of railroads from tidewater into
the interior Of Alaska and 30 nayiga-
tion on Yukon, Tanama, or Kuskokim
rivers In choosing the route he is
to use his judgment as to what will
best promote the settlement Of Alask l,
develop its resources and provide ade-
Guate transportation for coal for the
army and navy for troops and muni-
tions Of war and for the mails,
The total Of all railroads bought or
constructed IL not to exceed one thous-
and miles and the appropriate for
the purpose is $35, 900.
The president is authorized. II he
sees fit, to permit the government
railroad To be operated by contract or
lease or it may be operated by the
Panama Railroad company In con-
structing and operating the Alaskan
railroad the president Is authorized
to employ IN its construction and op-
Grafton any number II men he may
think necessary. choosing them ny lie
pleases. only that those chosen from
civil life shall be under the superyi-
sion In the work Of construction o.
the engineers taken from the army
The appointment Of any engineer from
civil life whose salary exceeds $4,000
a year must be confirmed by the sen,
ate
The president is authorized and the
Alaskan railroad commission recon-
mcnds that II be done. TO utilize In
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