The Nenana daily news., 1918-07-12
DELEGATE EXPLAINS
 CUT IN RAILWAY BILL

followed the matter myself as closely as it was possible for Ire to do so amidst so many matters that de- manded my attention, and have upon each inquiry been satisfied that the matters were going as we'll as could have been expected. If there is any particular way in which I can help clear up understanding I will be very much obliged if you would suggest it.
 1 Cordially and sincerely yours, WOODROW WILSON,
 'I am grateful that the committee have placed in this bill the amount of S5,25O,OO0; that they did ,'ot see fit to let this work stop; and when I offer this amendment to increase this item I do not wish to be under stood as critcizing the committee in any manner. I feel that they have done what they thought was wise, and that they believed that in re- ducing the estimate to the extent ] of S2,1OO,OO0 they would not seri- ously handicap the work which is going on toward completion of the Alaskan Railway.
 "Mr. chairman. I regret that cannot agree with the committee in that respect I have devoted great deal of thought and study to this work and this project. 1 have talked the matter over very carefully with members of the commission and with officials of the Interior Department who are responsible for the work. They all advise me that this reduc- tion will have very serious effect upon their organization. The amount of the original estimate which was prepared last fa1l by the officials of the Interior Department after very careful consideration was a minimum figure, every possible item being reduced or eliminated by the secretary of the interior in seek ing to cut out every expense that could be avoided under the circum- stances and conditions existing at this time. If the departmental esti- mate is reduced we all feel that it will handicap this work to a great extent at this time, and that it will be a serious detriment, financially and otherwise, to the completion of the railroad.
 "Last year the Alaskan Engin- eering commission obtained $14, ,000,- :. 900 for the work We all realize
 that we are in great war, and
 that not a dollar should be spent
 
 by the Government unless it is 8
 matter of absolute necessity; and the secretary of the interior has reduced the estimates 50 per cent-cut therc
 in half so that this year the Alaskan Engineering commission re quest $7,35O,000. In reducing the estimates to this amount it is be
 lieved they have been cut down tc
 the very limit consistent with econ
 omical prosecution of the project and that less amount would not a enable the Commission to hold to gether through the coming fisca year it's organization, which has beer
 built up thruogh the course of sev,
 eral years, and is now at its per
 lection. To break up and scatter this splendid organization will bring about irreparable injury and greatly
 delay completion of the project. "The reduction made by the com mittee cut out two items which were . in the estimates; one extending from the Susitna river to HurricaC gulch or, mother words, the extension pro l posed on the north end of the An chorage division; the other item ths , has been cut out of the estimate: ' is the extension from Lignite to Riley creek, or the south extension ; of the Interior division. In other words, the committee have seen fiji to allow the work to continue or l both ends, but not to extend I l to,u.rd copon1etion from h0th end: