El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-03-11
Alaska Bill Is Sent to President

/ action in congress came when vice
president Marshall and speaker Clark
affixed their signatures to it.
Measure Goes to President.
The next step followed Immediately
when the bill was hurried to the gov
eminent printing shop for reprint.
There a big force was put TO work on
fbe hill to have it in final shape to be
sent to the white house. The presi-
dent had indicated his intention OF
placing his signature on the measure
as soon as it reached him.
with president Wilson's signature on
Dartment. who viii have the super
vision Of the work, were prepared to
20 ahead with the plans for cOnstruc-
ting the first railroad ever built by
the Government. Secretary Lane, who
hos 9rdentIv champiOned the proposed
road to develop the great natural re-
sources of Alaska, had already con-
sidered tentative for the project
Road 1000 Miles Long.
Tho measure authorizes the con-
structiOn Of 1000 miles OF railroad to
connect Alaska's coal fields with the
coast, the route to be selected BY the
president. An appropriation OF $685.
900 900 is authorized for this purpose.
Homeless In Snow, Is MessHge.
Cbarrrnau Foster Of the house mines
conuoirtee. which investigated the Col
orado coal mine strike, TO-DAY received
the following telegram from OFFICERS of
the United Mine Workers OF America
''TwentV-three militiamen under or
ders of adjUtant general John Chase,
this morning demolished the strikers
tent colony at Forbes, Colorado. Men,
women ana children are homeless IN a
binding snOWstOTm, Inhabitants Of
the upper tent colony were ordered
by militiamen to leave their homes
within 48 hours or be deportedS"
M too Z. I
been shocked by conditions in the
strike area.
Alaska Bill Ready for Signing.
The Alaska railway bill providing
for the construction OF a thousand
miles of government railroad and the
expenditure of S35,000,0 900 was ready
for the presidents signature when the
house adopted the conference report
Tuesday.
President Wilson has indicated his
intention Of signing the bill as soon
as ii reaches the white house, as
tentative plans for constructing the
first government railroad have already
been considered at the interior de-
partment- Secretary Lane, long an ad-
VOcate of the project, is prepared to go
ahead with it as soon as the presi-
dent gives the word.
Final action on the bill in congress
came after a long debate in the SEN
ate. The measure authorizes the con-
S-I QGllDL u not LlOlt LAldIl 4NVu llLl4ES
Of railroad to connect Alaska's coal
fields with the coast, the route and
other details to be selected by the
president. He is to decide if railroad
lines already constructed in the terri
tory shall be purchased as a part of
the government system and whether
the road is to be operated by the gov
eminent or leased after it is built.
Free Seeds Again Attacked.
Congressional distribution of free
seeds for the farmers of the country
was unsucceSsfuIly attacked in the
house Tuesday during consideration of
the agricultural appropriation bill. An
amendment by representative Sumner
of Texas, to place seed distribution in
the hands of the department of agri-
culture was voted down, 96 to SO, after
a lively debate in which members
from agricultural districts resented
Characterization of seed distribution as
graft"
Repeal Measure Delayed.
Action on the proposed repeal Of the
toll exemption provision of the Panama
canal act will not begin before the
committee on interoceanic canals of
the senate until after the house acts
on the interstate commerce report.
The house committee on interstate