The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1914-01-29
news FROM OUR
NATIONAL CAPITAL
Senate Passes Bill Authorizing
President TO Purchase or
NJ Build Alaska Railroads.

Washington-B a vote of 46 to 16
the senate passed the Alaska railway
bill, directing the president to pur.
chase or construct 1000 miles Of rail.
road in Alaska at a cost not to exceed
tlO,OOO,OOO.
Fifteen republicans and Senator
poindexter, progressive, voted for the
bill Senators Bacon, Iloke Smith and
Williams, democrats, voted against It.
The bill places on the president re.
sponslbllity for the selection of the
route from tidewater to the interior Of
Alaska, and the construction, equip.
ment and operation or leasing OF such
lines as he may construct or buy to
constitute this route. The broadest
powers are conferred on the president
IN carrying out his duties.
Redemption Fund Provided.
The bill provides for a redemption
fund into which shall be paid 75 per
cent OF all moneys derived from the
sale OF public lands in Alaska or of
the coal or mineral contents thereof.
Machinery utilized I'm the construc.
ton of the Panama Canal III made
available for the construction work.
The bill provides for the senate's
approval OF tho appointment OF civil
engineers receiving more than $4,000
per annum. forblds any payment for
the good will of existing railways;
gives injured employees the right TO
sue the government and limits the
governments defense To the grounds
provided for In the Federal employers
liability law OF 1908.
To Urge ooethals 10 Stay.
Colonel George W. Goethals will be
asked to remain In the federal service
lie win not be permitted to sever his
connection with the government ex.
ccpi over President Wilson's protest
Ana the president expects Gocthals
to stay
This much was learned here from
an authoritative source. Il is under.
stood that the report that Colonel Goc.
thur was seriously considering Mayor
MitCh'l's offer to appoint him police
commissioner of New York shocked
the president. lie had already plan.
ned the issuance Of nm executive or.
der creating n canal government with
Colonel Gocthnls as governor
The fact that Goethals even con.
sidercd the offer, army officers said.
was due 10 friction during the last
year among certain Panama officials,
Accident Benefits for Postal Employees
The postofficc appropriation bill.
carrying record breaking total ~
$685. was passed by the house.
Il includes an amendment which
extends To postoffce clerks. letter ear.
riors. rural free delivery carriers,
mounted letter carriers and postoffice
messengers. for injuries received ON
du'y fam llary for one year after In
jury. with an additional half salary
for aIother year II necessary and
S2uU0 lump sum payment In ease of
death
Apple shippers Assured
Pacific Coast apple shippers and
commission merchants. who have been
appTcheutNc of the results of the Me,
Kcllar cold storage hill will not be
affected by the measure The bill
would prohibit keeping in cold storage
various products longer than 90 days.
In response TO large number OF
inquiries from california merchants.
Representative Kahn obtained prom
Use from Representative McKellar
that his bill would not be permitted
TO apply To apples In cold storage.
National Capital Brevties.
A point of order struck out of the
annual postorlicc appropriation bin
the rider to exempt all OF the coun-
try's 2ioo assistant postmasters from
the civil service law.
Captain John o. Ihuucog "a, for so
years a special rmploye of the house
Dl representative and holder of the
longest continuous service record at
.uv capitol De- Uud
I'M, informal .r.I,.rIrY. IYf.trfmtuf nm