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FOURTH YEAR.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1914.
NUMBER 16
LATE TELEGRAPHIC NEWS
_
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 3.—The Chamber
lain Alaska railroad bill which recently passed the
Senate was substituted in the House today for the
Wickersham bill. The House was acting under
special rule to facilitate the passage of the Alaskan
legislation. Alaska profits to the extent of
$5,000,000 by the change as the Chamberlain bill
calls for an appropriation of $40,000,000 while the
House bill provided for only $35,000,000. The vote
to suspend the House rules and permit of working
under special rules was overwhelmingly in favor
of the resolution and friends of the railroad bill
took advantage of this fact to force the resolution
for substitution to an issue.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 3.—In order to
expedite the administration’s scheme for the de
velopment of the resources of Alaska Senator
Chamberlain has introduced a bill to create an
Alaska Development board. This board would be
similar to the Alaska Road Commission with
broader powers as it would have jurisdiction and
control over the government business of the terri
tory which is now distributed among the different
•departments in Washington. The bill provides for
a board of three members to be appointed by the
president.
The principal offices of the board would be in
Alaska and would have jurisdiction over the
reserved lands, forests, water powers, mines and
other resources subject to national ownership with
the exception of the proposed government owned
railroad and steamship lines. In speaking to the
measure Senator Chamberlain declared that some
plan was necessary whereby authorized officials
who could act for the government was necessary in
the territory as the capital was a long way from
• Alaska and necessitated long delays. It would also
relieve the over-burdened departments in Wash
ington of the details of the government of the
territory.
Senator Key Pittman lias announced that he
will oppose the Chamberlain bill to establish a
board of managers for the affairs of Alaska. He
believes it is paternalism of the worst kind and
will serve to retard the development of the terri
tory’s resources. The territory is well qualified to
look after its own affairs if given the power. He
would favor Alaska being given full territorial
powers.
WASHINGTON, 1). C., Jan. 31.—Postmaster
General Burleson has submitted to the Senate
recommendations, which if followed out, practically
gleans government ownership of all telephone and
telegraph business. He also recommends that the
government declare a monopoly over the radio
communications of the nation.
He recommends that the government purchase
the existing commercial net work of telegraph and
telephone lines throughout the country at their
appraised value. That Congress should authorize
the postmaster general to issue revocable licenses
whereby private individuals, associations, corpora
tions or companies may operate telegraph and
telephone services in such parts of the country as
may not be acquired by the government.
The department lias been investigating the
telephone and telegraph companies throughout the
country and has 2>resented figures to show that it
would be good business for the government to take
over these i>ublic utilities, and conduct them in
, ;•• .. •. „ j -» ■ . '■ • ■ • • ■ ■ *
connection with the postal service. The estimates
show that an enormous saving would be saved to
the people of the country.
It is believed the report will result in a measure
being introduced to provide for carrying out the
plans of the postmaster general. The anti-govern
ment ownership element in the Senate have
announced that they will make a fight on any such
measure if introduced.
The plan of Mr. Burleson to issue revocable
licenses is merely to provide for continued opera
tion of the telephone and telegraph lines which are
not immediately taken over by the government if a
measure providing for their acquisition is enacted.
The postmaster general has stated that his depart
inent would begin by acquiring the Western Union
and Postal Telegraph companies and the Bell Tele
phone company and gradually extend the service
until all lines of communication were absorbed.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 2.—Prof. Lawrence
Martin, of the University of Wisconsin, who is
considei-ed a leading authority on glaciers, wants his
university to have the honor of having discovered
the new i*oute to interior Alaska from Prince
William Sound. He has addressed a letter to the
National Geographical Society here, in which he
claims to have discovered the new Alaska railway
route which will connect Portage Passage on Prince
William Sound with Turnagain Arm on the Cooks
Inlet side, by a short line.
Prof. Martin states that he was over the route
several years ago and broxight the matter to the
attention of the society at that time and has offered
to produce copies of his letters. He is enthusiastic
over the new l’oxxte and believes that it possesses
many advantages as a natural terminus for the rail
road which will be built to tap the western sections
of Alaska. The route presents no difficult engineer
ing but will necessitate two tunnels.
He has been all over Alaska and believes the
western section is destined to have a wonderful
future. He says that that section is capable of
supporting thousands of agricultxmsts who would
find a ready market for their produce when the coal
and mineral lands have been developed.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 2.—President
Wilson was snubbed today iu his office by dOO angry
working women. The delegation had been given an
audience and presented their request that he promise
his support to a proposed constitutional amendment
which would enfranchise women in the United
States and place them on equal footing politically
with men. They were sure if they could see the
president personally he would make the proposed
amendment an administration measure and insure
its ultimate success.
President Wilson told the delegates plainly that
he could give them no encouragement as he was
opposed to the proposed amendment. He believed
that suffrage was a matter which should be left to
the different states. Several of the women inter
rupted President Wilson while he was talking and
were inclined to be abusive but were quieted by the
others. When the president ceased speaking the
women lined up in single file and marched from the
room. President Wilson had taken a position near
the door of his office and offered to shake hands with
the departing delegates but many of them refused
the pi’offered hand and ignored his presence.
JUNEAU, Feb. 3.—The transportation cases j
which have been before the courts here for several
years was brought to a close yesterday wheu
attorneys for the defendants entered pleas of
guilty. The case was dismissed on motion of the
district attorney who had secured the consent of
the attorney-general’s department. The cases
grew out of a rebating system from which the
Humboldt Steamship Company was excluded. The
case was fought through the lower courts and was
carried to the supreme court which decided that
the Interstate Commerce Commission had jurisdic
tion over transportation lines in Alaska. Judge
Jennings this morning imposed the following fines
on the companies which had been indicted by the
grand jury as being guilty of rebating: Pacific
Coast Steamship Company, $0,250; Alaska Steam
ship Company, $5,000; North Pacific Wharves &
Trading Company, $10,000; White Pass & Yukon
Route, $2,000; Canadian Pacific, $3,500.
The motion of the district attorney to dismiss
the case followed a conference between the attor
neys of the defendant companies and the govern
ment prosecution. It has been understood that the
'.companies were preparing to fight the case on the
same grounds which resulted in the case of Banker
Summers being reversed by the supreme court. The
grand jury in the case of Summers returned an
indictment covering many charges which the
supreme court held wTas contrary to procedure. The
indictments in the transportation cases were similar
and the attorneys for the defendant companies had
given notice that they would carry the cases to the
supreme court. The cases have already cost the
government thousands of dollars and with the
prospect of having litigation extending over years
and conviction uncertain, the offer of the defendants
to plead guilty if nominal fines were imposed was
agreed to by the attorney-general.
MEXICO CITY, Feb. 4.—Hundreds of Ameri
cans who were anxious to stay in Mexico to protect
their property left on the trains last night for the
coast when informed that President Wilson had
decided to lift the embargo on arms. They assert
that the action of the president has intensified the
hatred of the Mexican federals against Americans.
President Wilson is accused of giving support to
the Constitutionalists.
JUAREZ, Feb. 4.—General Villa, in command
of the Constitutionalist troops in the northern states
is preparing for the southward march to reinforce
the army of the commander in chief, General Car
ranza, when the combined army will march against
Mexico City. The rebel garrison will be with
drawn from Ojinaga, which was recently captured
after a prolonged struggle. The rebel general states
that the Constitutionalist government is amply
financed to secure munitions of war now that Presi
dent Wilson has lifted the embargo.
JUAREZ, Feb. 4.—The news from Washington
that President Wilson had decided to lift the
embargo from importations of arms and aminuni
tibns into Mexico from the United States has
caused great joy among the rebel leaders here. They
declare that the Constitutionalists will be in control
of the capital before many weeks.
WASHINGTON, I). C., Feb. 4.—President
Wilson this morning signed the order removing all
restrictions from the exportation of anus and
ammunition to Mexico. The customs’ officers along
the border, as well as the commander of the troops,
have been notified of the embargo being lifted.
BflOSTSALASKA
A recent issue of" the Sunset Mag
azine contains interviews with Sec
retary of the Interior Franklin K.
Lane and Walter E. Clark, ex
governor of Alaska. The secretary
declared that Alaska is a land of
opportunity, and that he would do
all in his power to aid in the de
velopment of the resources of the
territory.
The interview with Secretary Lane
entitle “Tomorrow in Alaska,” was
preceded by an article by Walter
Clark, former governor of the ter
ritory, entitled “Yesterday in
Alaska.” Ex-Governor Clark re
viewed the history of Alaska, and
pointed out the indifference of the
r^Miftial government in the past in
jr -gard to providing for it necessary
laws.
The necessity of building rail
roads for Alaska was pointed out by
Secretary Lane. He intimated, too,
that the conservation policy that
has tied up the coal fields of Alaska,
would be modified and that some
method would be adopted whereby
coal would be mined in the terri
tory to be used for local needs and
shipment to the United States
proper.
Former Governor Clark explained
how the various island possessions
of the United States have received
the financial aid of the general gov
ernment, while Alaska has been
denied the right to make use of her
own natural resources. The fact
that Canadian coal is being shipped
to Alaska to be used there as fuel,
while the vast coal deposits of the
territory are bottled up by national
authority, was sighted as an in
stance of the narrow policies of the
government.
That the United States has been
drawing upon Alaska’s gold, fish,
and fur to the value of hundreds of
millions of dollars, and had in the
past refused to give anything in re
turn was the burden of Mr. Clark’s
article.
It was declared by Mr. Clark that
! the national government had re
fused even to aid the territory to
get adequate laws, and had caused
the laws of Oregon, adapted espe
cially for the needs of that state, to
be applied to Alaska. For a long
time, he asserted, Alaska had been
without laws providing for the pun
ishment of various crimes.
It was asserted by Mr. Clark
that the ignorance of conditions In
Alaska has been responsible for the
lack of attention the officials of the
government have given the terri
tory.
-o—o—o
After sending a note to his
brother-in-law telling him that he
intended to commit suicide and
where his body would be found,
Alex Rassmussen, of Fairbanks, lay .
down to have a sleep. His relatives
notified the marshal’s office and he
was apprehended in a rooming
house, having overslept. He still
declares that he will kill himself
and will be examined as to his
sanity. He has been mining on
Coldstream and has suffered j
reverses.
%
LUTE TELEGRAPH
VOLO, 111., Feb. 4.—Five of the
women who were leaders of the mob
of women who rode Mrs. John
Richardson, a neighbor, out of town
on a rail, were fined $100 each sn
the federal court here today. The
woman’s attorney has given notice
that his client would begin suits for
heavy damages for indignities and
injuries sustained at the hands of
the mob leaders.
BOSTON, Feb. 4.—The annual
convention of the National Canners’
Association and allied industries
opened here today. The attendance
of delegations from tile western
states this year is unusually heavy.
After the opening ceremonies west
ern delegates will speak on the
“Outlook of the West When the
Panama Canal Has Opened the Way
to European Markets.” “The Tariff
and How It Has Affected the Fruit
Growing Industry of America,” will
be the topic of discussion tonight.
The convention will be in session
for several days.
LIMA, Peru, Feb. 4.—The revolu
tionists have been successful in
overthrowing the government and
are in control of the capital. Presi
dent Guillermo Billinghurst has
been taken prisoner and will be
exiled from the country.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 4.—
Thursday will be given over entirely
to general debating of the Alaska
railroad bill in the House. This
was agreed upon this morning when
the regular order of business was
taken up. The bill was discussed
at length in the Democartic caucus
last night and is promised a speedy,
passage. An effort will be made to
limit the hours of debate. It is
predicted that the measure will pass
with a big majority. The vote on
the substitution of the Chamberlain
senatorial bill for that of the house
committee measure which carried
the title of Delegate Wickersliam’s
bill, is taken as a fair test of the
opposition.
HOQUIAM PIONEER
LUMBERMAN DEAD
HOQUIAM, Feb. 4—Joseph Lytle,
a millionaire lumberman of this city
died last night after a brief illness.
He is one of the pioneers of this
district and has been prominently
identified with all movements for
the welfare of the community.
-o—o—o
WOULD BE MURDERER
IS DECLARED INSANE
ALTOONA, Pa., Feb. 2.—John
Vane, the Italian laborer, who shot
and mortally wounded Guian Pet
roli, the father of a 9-year-old girl
whom lie wished to marry, was
adjudged insane. Physicians state
the wounded man cannot recover.
-o—o—o
WHITES MUST KEEP
OFF THE RESERVATION
White resdents of Fort Yukon
have been encroaching on the
Indian reservation there and the
matter was brought before Judge
Fuller of Fairbanks during the
present term of court, by the gov
ernment officials. The defendants
claimed that the settlement had
been occupied by whites before the
Indians settled there and that the
Yukon river had been washing the
bank away necessitating their mov
ing the buildings. An injunction will
be issued restraining the wrhites
from appropriating any of the
native’s ground.
-n—o—o
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 4.—
The Democrats of the House in cau
cus last night unanimously wrent on
record against the creation of a
committee on woman suffrage in the
House. The action of the delega
tion of wom.il who recently snubbed
President Wilson when he refv.svd
to promise his support to Che t<>a- '
stitutional amendment providing for
universal suffrage, is believed to
have influenced the caucus.
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Feb. 4.—
The postponement of consideration
of the Alaska railroad bill in the
House until Thursday was due to a
desire to hurry the passage of the
administration’s immigration bill.
The latter bill has been trimmed of
all amendments and is expected to
come to a vote this evening.
Chairman Houston, of th House
committee on territories, has pre
dieted that the Alaska bill will come
to a final vote on February 11, and
that it will pass the House with
little opposition.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 2.—A re
markable tale was told in court
here today at tlie preliminary trial
of Wiilliam H. Fisher, arrested by
the police on the charge of having
passed a forged check at New
Smyrna, Fla., two years ago. Fisher
had been living with Mrs. John
Gentry, the wife of a New Jersey
farmer. Previous to their elope
ment the woman’s husband had suf
fered a severe illness and had acted
queerly. Mrs. Gentry had him com
mitted to an insane asylum, then
sold all the household goods and
other property and skipped out with
Fisher. Gentry soon recovered and
was discharged from the asylum but
refuses to prosecute the woman.
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 2.—Nearly
eighteen hundred delegates, repre
senting approximately 415,000 mem
bers, are attending the 24th inter
national convention of the United
Mine Workers of America in this
city. The convention will be in
session until February 10.
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2.—Miss
Annette Warren, the aged spinster,
who kept watch over the corpse of
her sister, Mary, for three weeks
has been committed to the asylum.
They were believed to be poverty
stricken but it has developed that
they were the sole heirs to a for
tune of $500,000 left by Samuel
Warren, of Toledo, Ohio, who dis
appeared mysteriously in 1878.
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 31.—The
ferry across the Mississippi river is
hard and fast on a bar in the river
and is in danger of capsizing. The
steamship Almirante and a tug are
standing by but have been unable
to get the ferry off the bar.
SEATTLE, Jan. 30.—Harold C.
Williams, secretary-treasurer of the
Sylvester Wholesale Grocery Com
pany, embezzled $8,000 from the
company and fled from the city. He
was arrested in New York yesterday
is he was about to take a steamer
for South America, and will be
brought back to face the charge of
:mbezzlement.