The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1914-03-13
ALASKAN RAILWAY
IS PROVIDED FOR.
GILL APPROPRIATING MONEY is
READY FOR PRESIDENTS
SIGNATURE.
CONSIDER TENTATIVE PLANS
interior Department. Will Have Super
vision of Undertaking - Chief
Executive Will Determine
All Important Steps.

Washington, March 1.-THE Alaska
railway bill providing for the construc-
ton of thousand miles of govern
ment railroad and the expenditure of
100000 is ready for the presidents
signature, the senate having adopted
the conference report already adopted
by the house.
Tentative Construction Plans.
President Wilson indicated his in
tention of signing the bill as soon as
it reaches the White House, and ten
tative plans for constructing the first
government railroad already have
been considered at the interior depart
ment
Secretary Lane, long an advocate of
the project, is prepared to go ahead
with it as soon as the president gives
the word.
Final action on the bill in congress
came after a long debate in the SEN
ate, the report of the conference COM
mittee appointed to settle differences
between the two houses being adopt
ed by vote of AZ to 81.
What Bill Authorizes.
The measure authorizes the con-
struction of not more than 1000 miles
of railroad to connect Alaska's coal
fields with the coast, the route to be
selected by the president, to whom
also are left many other important
details. He is to decide whether or
not railroad lines already constructed
in the territory shall be purchased as
a part of the government system and
whether the road is to be operated by
the government itself or leased after
it is built.
The last discussion was principally
on a suggestion by Senator Cummins
that the senate conferees be instruct
ed to reinsert the language of the bill
as passed by the senate and strick-
en- out by the house, providing that the
president, in constructing the railroad,
must, if existing railroads in Alaska
are to be bought and 'sed as part
of the system, buy or arrange for the
purchase of these lines before con-
struction of extensions is begun.
Objections Raised.
Senator Cummins declared that
leaving it discretionary with the pres
jdent whether the government should
begin erecting lines into the interior
at the northern terminal of existing
private railroads from the Alaskan
seaboard, might so enhance the value
of existing roads that syndicates
could demand a prohibitive price
from the government.
Senator Pittman replied that such
a thing would be so obviously out
rageous that no president would yield
to any influence which could bring
out such a result. The bill, as per-
fected, he said directed the president
the seaboard to the interior and that,
obviously, it first would be settled
whether the main line should be built
by the government or purchased out
right by condemnation from existing
corporations before any extensions
were erected in the Alaskan interior.
There was also extended debate on
Senator Norris contention that the
language of the bill placed on the
president the obligation to make an
effort to lease the railroad after it
is built, before the government I'M
dertook to operate it itself.
Other senators insisted, however,
that the language already made this
optional.