The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-19
It Commits the Country to
Government Ownership.
THE PRESIDENT IS SUPREME
He Is Given Unlimited Power
of Direction.
Plan Is to Use Machinery From
the Isthmus.


istration Alaskan railroad bill. au-
thorizing the president to construct a
$35,OOO,00O railroad from Alaska's
coast to its great coal fields. was
passed by the house by a vote Of 230
to 81.
A similar measure already has
passed the senate and the bills will be
taken up at once in conference be-
tween the two houses. with a view to
sending it quickly to the president,
who has signified his intention OF
signing 1t.
At the eleventh hour, after a sharp
preliminary skirmish, the house elm
mated from the bill as reported by
the territories committee a provision
authorizing a bond issue OF $35, 5,0OO,-
600 to finance the railroad and to be
paid off by the proceeds of govern
ment land sales in Alaska.
The senate till provided for a $40,-
100000 bond issue.
Representative Fitzgerald On. "
led a fight which resulted in striking
out the entire bond provisions from
the bill. Under the amended meas
ure, the project would be financed out
of the current funds in the treasury,
the president being limited to $685.
100000 and $1,OOO.OOO being appro-
priated for immediate expenses.
year the amount estimated to be nec-
essary for the construction of the
road.
The bill provides for the construc-
ton of a road not to exceed 1000
miles, to be so located as to connect
one or more of the open Pacific ocean
harbors on the southern coast of
Alaska with the navigable waters in
the interior of Alaska and with q
canal field or fields yielding coal suffi-
-
val use, so as best to aid in the de-
velopment of the agricultural and
mineral or other resources of Alaska.
Details OF the Measure.
That Alaska is to have q railroad,
built. maintained and operated by
the government, and that as a result
the vast resources OF that compare
lively unknown country are to be
opened to the world. now seems as
sured by the action of both branches
of congress.
The bill places great power in the
hands OF the president and was op-
posed by some on this ground, not
that they expressed any fear in re-
gard to President Wilson's judgment
and integrity but that they thought
it was too much power to put in the
hands of any one man, and directs
him to locate and acquire by purchase
or construction or by both means a
line or lines of railroads from tide
water into the interior of Alaska and
to navigation on the Yukon, Tanana
or Kuskokwim rivers. In choosing
the route he Is to use his judgment
as to what will best promote the set
tlement of Alaska, develop its re-
sources. and provide adequate trans
portation for coal for the army and
navy, for troops and munitions of
war, and for the mails. The limita-
tions as to price in case Of purchase,
there being a few miles Of railroad
already constructed, is that it must
not exceed the physical value OF the
railroad property.
To Use Panama Equipment.
In constructing and operating the
Alaskan railroad the president is
authorized to employ in its construc-
ton and operation any number of
men he may think necessary. choos-
ing them as he pleases, only that
those chosen from civil life shall be
under the supervision, in the work of
construction, of 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 senate.
The president is authorized, and
the Alaskan railroad commission rec
ommends that it be done, to utilize
in Alaska all the machinery and
equipment used in the construction of
the Panama canal as rapidly as it is
used in Alaska, the president to fx
the price to be paid for it to the 18TH
mian canal commission.
The interstate commerce commits
sion, subject to the approval of the
president, is empowered to regulate
passenger and freight rates on the
new railroad, and the rates are to be
uniform. with no discrimination in
favor of agents of the government ex-
cept the usual provision for employees
and their families.
If the railroad line connects with
a steamship line for the joint trans
portation of freight and passengers.
or with any other railroad now or
hereafter constructed in Alaska, the
lines SO constructed must be operated
as a through route with through
rates on a fair and reasonable ap-
portionment Of revenue and expense.
R0hR HFARn F0R MlI FH