The Alaska citizen., 1914-02-09
.DO|NGS AT WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON. D. C., Feb. D. Senator Chamberlain introduced a bill in the upper house of congress today which provides for the appoint ment of board of development to have jurisdiction and control over he affairs of Alaska which are now distributed among the various depart ments of the federal government. The object of the bill, as explained by the Oregon senator. is to expedite he administra ion of the affairs of the territory.
 The bill provides that the board shall consist of three members, to be appointed by the President The board is to main ain it's headquarters in Alaska and to have jurisdiction over all reserved and unreserved pub ic lands. forests, water mines and other resources fact, all matters subject to national ownership, with he single exception of he proposed government railroad, which is to be under the direction of the President.
 A delegation of 400 women arrived in this city today by special train, for the purpose of demanding of President Wilson positive statement regarding his attitude on the suff- rage question. The women came from all parts of the country. and upon their arrival here made direct for the White House.
 President Wilson was noticeably worried over the prospect of a stormy session with the suffragists, but he received them cordially and held out all the encouragement he could fer the success of the move ment He said, however, that, as leader of the Democra ic party. he could not advocate any legislation until it had received the approval of the national committee.
 The women were far from sa'is- fed with the answer. and left ,he White House in a fury. When the President offered his hand to his departing visitors, they ignored him entirely.
 X. o. Piudel. who was tendere1 the appointment as ambassador 10 Russia, has informed the President that he does not desire the office.
 l5DlO0bl btOISe bdl HtI, tOlililld liant of the marine barracks at Phil adelphia, will succeed Major Riddle as commander of the marine corps.
 The senate judiciary committee has reported adversely on the proposal to lengthen the term of the Presl- lent to six years. without the privi- 'ege of second term. The com init ee also has turned down the bi1 providing for the changing Of the date of the presidential inaugu- ration.
 WASHINGTON, D. C.. Feb B. The outlook for an early settlement of the Alaska railroad question is rrighter today than it has been at any time since the consideration of the several railroad bills began in the TWO houses of congress. The pres mt cause for rejoicing among those favoring the construction of a gov ,rnment railroad in the Northern ter 'itOry is the assurance that the sen ate bill, which was passed last month, will be substituted for the bending house bill when the question io talscn up for further Ionoidcra
 ion tomorrow.
 The house rules committee, to which was referred the question of substitution, reported a special rule
 oday which will enable the house to make the change tomorrow without the necessity of securing unanimous consent.
 The special rule of the house com mittee places patriotism above par lisanship, and it is confidently ex- pected that all of those who have been opposed to substitution because # their desire to see the house bill triumph will waive their objections in order that there may be no furth- er delay than is absolutely necessary il securing railroad for Alaska.
 There is the possibility that the senate bill will be both subs ,ituted and approved by the house tomorrow, in which event the measure will go Q the President Immediately for his signature Not very many believe he bill will make such rapid pro gress, however. the more conserva- i've contending that several weeks will elapse before the measure reaches the President
 After an afternoons session which was characterized by many hot de bates, every amendment which had been proposed to the Burnett lmml- grafton bill, seeking the exclusion of Asiatics, was lost in the house. The amendment to the lteracy test of the immigration bill also was 'ost when put to vote.
 Although the President and the secretary of state were treating the immigration question with the for eign nations Automatically, the Re publicans urged and assisted the Democrats in taking up the Asiatic question and defeating it. A stub born attempt was made to exclude the Orientals, but after long dis aussion the amendment was rejected.
 By a vote of 203 to 54. the house of representatives this afternoon re- fused to make any declaration re- ,arding the Asiatic exclusion policy the immigration bill. The mea- sure as it now stands does not dis tinguish the nations, and leaves the question of the admission of undesir- able foreigners with the President and the department of state.
 This action of the house was aimed at Japan, and because Of the intensity of the question, will, it is feared, lead to further diffi- culties between the two nations
 WASHINGTON. D. C.. Feb, 4.-By nf hn