The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-19
House and Senate Bills to
Be Taken Up in Con-
ference at Once
WILSON READY TO
SIGN MEASURE
Section Authorizing Big Bond Issue
Eliminated After Sharp Skirmish.
Would Finance Project Out
of Current Funds

Washington, February 1S.-The adj
rainistration Alaskan railroad bill, au-
thorizing the President 10 construct a
s35, 900, 900 railroad from AIaska's
const 10 it's great coal fields, was
rassed by the House late today by n
vote of 23O 10 81.
4 similar measure already has
passed the Senate and the bills Will
be taken up at once in conference be-
tween the two houses with view to
sending it quickly to the President.
who has signified his intention of
signing it.
Sharp Skirmish
At the eleventh hour. after sharp
parliamentary skirmish. the House
by the territories committee a provi-
sion authorizing bond issue of $780,
100000 to finance the railroad and to
be raid off by the proceeds of govern
ment land sales in Alaska. The Senate
bill provided for $40,0oO.OOO bond is
sue. Repi esentative Fitzgerald of New
York led a fight which resulted In
striking out the entire bond provision
from the bill. Under the amended
measure the project would be financed
out of current funds in the treasury.
the President being limited to $685.
100000 and $1,000.000 being appropri-
Gted for immediate expense. Congress
would appropriate each year the amount
estimated as necessary for the con-
struction of the road.
Provisions of Bill
The bill provides for the construc-
tion of a road mot to exceed 1000
miles, to be so located as to connect
one or more of the open Pacific ocean
haroors on the southern coast OF
Alaska with the navigable waters in
the interior of the Alaska and with a
coal field Or fields yielding coal suf-
ficient in quality and quantity for
naval use, so as to best aid in the
development of the agricultural and
mineral or other resources Of Alaska.
An effort was made by opponents of
the bill, led by Representative Daven-
port of Oklahoma. to postpone the final
vote until Wednesday. but 1t was de-
feated.
The Alaskan railway project Is of more
interest than even the expenditure of
$35, 100000 proposed ordinarily would cre-
ate Coming as soon after the ccm-
pletion of the Panama canal, it is at
tractive as another great engineering
project unuer tlie ulTecllOn Oh tne Afnef-
lean government. Moreover, the new prof.
ect is to be the first test IN this coun-
try of government, ownership of a pub
lie utility 1t is expected to open great
resources that until now have been for
the most part lying idle and will afford
emplovnent to a large army OF men,
both in it's construction and in its MAIN
tenance. 1t also will develop Alaska agri-
culturally, as we'll as III other ways
by attracting homesteaders. friends Of
the measure claim, and IL VIII cheaper
greatly various commodities OF commerce,
notably coal.
President Given Power
The bill also puts great power in the
hands of the President; directs him to
locate and acquire by purchase or con-
struction or by both means. line or
lines of railroads from tidewater into the
interior of Alaska and to navigation on
the Yukon. Tanana. or Kuskowim rivers.
In choosing the route he is to use his
Judgment as to what will oest promote
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