The Nome daily nugget., 1917-07-23

there Is much reason for believing the contrary. Without wishing to dis courage those who have given their time and efforts to the harbor project ing more than a chance to secure the passage of that to us, all important provision for harbor improvement, and it is no use to attempt to delude ourselves Into the idea that it's pas sage Is certain. No where more than in the halls of congress does the adage: There's many a slip twixt the cup and lip" find more literal application What will congress do?" should by all means be added to that list of things whereof wise old Solo, man said no man could know. What with the war and the immensely in- creased costs of government result ing therefrom, the senate may be very much inclined to dispense with all but the most essential improvements contemplated in the harbor bill; in which event the Nome harbor clause is very likely to be among the very first to feel the senatorial shears. Nome is far away and, despite the efforts of our constantly importuning representative, congress cares not tinkers' darn whether we get har- Dor or not-no matter how badly it may be needed. Aside from display ] ing cerain amount of interest in the fisheries and the new railroad. congress has never at any time shown
 an inclination to do great deal for
 Alaska, and least of all this section. l What congressional benefits have been
 result of the friendly interest of Sec
 retary Lane and a number of other
 influential persons connected with various government departments. At no time has 1t showed a willingness to grant the attention to which the great north country is entitled by reason of it's wealth and possibilities. And always there has been a certain element which has consistently and ] repeatedly fought every effort to grant benefits to Alaswa, proceeding apparently on the Solomy Jane theory ] it is not advisable to do anything for those who have never done nothin , for you"
 Another factor which should be 1 taken into account in estimating the prospects for the passage of the har- I Dor appropriation is that a large | number of influential journals in the states are offering much severe crit I icism of the huge appropriation in volved in the rivers and harbors bill; contending that, in view of the
 immense war expenditures pork"
 should be eliminated from govern | mental expenses and the money de-
 
 A majority of the journals referred to are of the opposing political faith and therefore, right willing to find all possible fault with the methods of the administration. But. in spite of this, they still weld a tremendous influence which is not without ef- feet on congressional deliberations. As is we'll understood by all who have taken the troubel to enlighten them selves on the subject. the Nome har- bof appropriation proposal is not l pork" by any means as the proposed | improvement is matter of tremend- ous importance to the future devel- opment of the whole Seward penin- sula district.
 Save and except that congress pro- vided comprehensive road system. l no greater improvement could be Of fered Nome and Seward Peninsula than a safe harbor for the coasting fleet upon which devolves the task of commercial distribution in the ab- sence of land highways. However, this will not save it from being class ed with the appropriations which rghtfully come under the esignation of pork" and whatever fight is made to exclude non essential provisions