The Alaska citizen., 1914-02-09
DEBATE 0N THE
 RAILROAD BILL
 IS CONCLUDED

Practically the entire time of the lower house of congress was taken up today with the consideration of the Alaska railroad bill. The regular deba.e on the measure was concluded during the afternoon, and hence forth until the question has been finally disposed of the bill will be debated for amendment under the i've minute rule.
 The chief features of today's con- sideration were the Republican sup port given the bill and the absence of serious opposition The principal speaker for the opposition was Rep resentative Martin Dies, Demo crat, of Texas. while the Republi- cans who spoke in favor of the meas ure included Representatives James R. Mann of Illinois, Albert Johnson and J. A. Falconer of Washington. Mann was the chief speaker of the lay.
 The evidence of Republican strength and the absence of dangerous oppo- stion are regarded as certain proof that the bill will be passed by safe margin. It is considered probable that vote will be reached next Wednesday, when the bill bill will be taken up for further considera- tion and amendment. There is the probability, however, that so many amendments will be proposed that It will be impossible to dispose of them in one day, in which event action will be delayed another week.
 When the session opened today, the senate railroad bill was substi- tuted for the house bill under the special rule reported by the rules committee yesterday The senate
 i'll already has been passed by the upper house of congress, and if it's passage, unchanged. can be secured in the lower chamber. much delay
 i'll be avoided
 Representative Mann. of Illinois. vas the principal speaker for the bill He declared tha, the opponents If the measure were the same who opposed the construction of the Pana ma canal and the enactment of pure food laws, on the ground that they were Socialistic measures. These same men. had they been living fiftv years ago. said the speaker. would have declared Oklahoma a wilderness and unfit for habitation."
 Representative William P Borland Democrat, of Missouri. made a strono appeal for the passage of the bill aonfining his remarks chiefly to the attempt of the Alaska syndicate to secure possession of he natural re
 1n~cpS of the territory
 We are confronted by the supreme
 risis of he entire theory of nationa conservation" declared the congress man. Either this national wealth must be opened and developed fo" the benefit of the United States an the whole people. or it must be turn d over entirely to the Alaska syndi- cate, comprising the Morgan and Guggenheim interests. to be devel- oped as an asset of private mono poly in the end.
 The story of the Morgan-Guggen- helm syndicate in Alaska includes everything from corruption and bribe- ry of judges on the bench to Wanton ottacks upon workmen by an armed band of assassins because those
 orkmen were engaged in rival en- terprises. It is drama of greed and carnage unparalleled since the days of Warren Hastings. It's scenes were enacted not only upon the snow-clad plains of the Arctic circle, but in the banks of Wall Street and in the counting rooms of London.
 This proposed railroad is the key to the situation"
 Representative J. A. Falconer, of Washington, made strong plea for the passage of the bill. He an swered the arguments of those who opposed the bill on the grounds that it would be bad policy for the gov arnment to engage in railroad build ing by reminding the opposition of the fact that the government already owns a military cable and telegraph lines in Alaska. And still no disas- ter has overtaken that country, he said Representative Falconer also read several communications from various Alaska organizations and Northern men asking for the passage of the bill
 Representative Albert Johnson, of Washington, also spoke in favor of ne Dlll, lulS DtlnS HiS otNoiu oPcCNh since the commencement of the de bate He dwelt at length upon the wealth of Alaska, which, he said, would be unlocked by the construc- ton of a government railroad.
 Representative H. T. Rainey and J. M. Graham, both Democrats of Illinois. appealed to the house for he early passage of the bill. their speeches showing that they had given much thought to the ques- ton.
 The only speech of consequence which was delivered in opposition to the bill was made by Repre- sentative Martin Dies, Democrat of Texas. His argument was that the passing of the bill would mean the placing of mortgage on the property of the American people for the purpose of putting the government in the railroad business.