The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-19
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
About the Hot Springs in Arkansas
Army Officers on sick Leaves
There Will BE No Ex.
ira Session.
The Inaugural Committee Have
Plenty of Funds on Hand
Other Matters.
THE HOT SPRINGS.
Congress TO be Asked for More Money for
Its Improvement.
snecial tn the sentinel-


Its Improvement.
Special 70 the Sentinel
WASHINGTON, Feb. Is - The Supreme
Court in 1876 decided that the Hot Springs
Of Arkansas were the property OF the United
States, and ever since they have been con-
slant expense and trouble
There is one bill before Congress now to
appropriate $50 900 to finish walling in the
Hot Springs Greek. a Job which it was orig
inalIy int aded should only cost about $780,
600, the amount Of money collected by the
Government from the Springs, but which has
already cost a great deal more.
One hundred thousand dollars was appro.
priaied two ears ago to build an army and
navy hospital at the Springs. The speeifcs-
tions under which the contract was let called
for five buildings, one of them being bath
house. The contract was let for $50, ,335, the
bath house to cost Sl2 80. None of the
buildings are finished. The bath
house is not even commenced.
and now there is a call for another large
sum "to furnish" these buildings.
There are two other bills before Congress
on Hot Springs, the last one providing $780,
600 to buy the furniture and the bath houses
on the reservation, and have the Secretary
of the Interior lease out the houses to the
highest bidder. This bill also provides that
a mammoth granite bath.house shall be
erected by the Secretary Of the Interior on
the reservation, having four grades OF bath
ing establishments in it. ranging in price
from forty cents per bath to free baths, thus
putting the United States Government in po.
sition as bath house keeper Il also pro-
vides for a reservoir at the base of Hot
Springs Mountain, into which the hot water
shall be carried, aud from thence be fur
nished to the batR-houses. OF course the
water would have to be pumped up from this
reservoir st the base of the mountain, when
il would flow into them from most of the
springs and the pumping is to be provided
for at cost of $4,000. I'm
der the regulations of the Int.
rior Department no sleeping rooms
we're allowed in the bath houses, bat num-
Der were furnished, and now the United
States is requested to buy this old furniture.
Possibly the Hot Springs people also have
some old clothes they may want to sell, and
these should be included in the bill, so that
besides a bath house Uncle Sam could set up
an 'old clo'" store as well as a dilapidated
furniture depot.
1t is believed to be about time for this Hot
Springs business to stou.
Young Army omcers on Sick Leave.
| Special to the Sentinel.
WASHINGTON, Feb Is DO you observe
the great number CT young army officers
/ around here ?" inquired an old-time civilian
| of your correspon dent today. well, SIR
he continued, there have been quite mum.
/ Der of those gsy young fellows about here
for two months or more, taking very active
part in society and having a bum good
time. ID you know how they are here?"
| 'No," l answered.
They are on sick leaves" was the reply
81 was at german the other evening whera
eight or ten OF the Lieutenants were. The
were very gay, dancing and prsncing an
making themselves agreeable, and | sske
one of them how they all come TO be here at
one time. he answered In undertone, We
are on sick leaves Then | remembered
what I should have remembered at the time.
They always come here during a very attrac
tive winter for their health. have observed
one of them around here this winter, well
fboozed mp except when he is at party,
and having one Of the most rollicking times
OF anybody
How do they get Say on sick leave?"
BY being on good terms with their su
perior officers. 1t is an easy matter for
these ducks to get away. They draw their
pay. you know, and have all the protection
while here drinking, gambling or in socletF
that they do when on duty"
Contributors TO the Inaugural Ball.
Special TO the Sentinel
WAsHINeToN, Feb. 1s.--It is estimated thai
the Inaugural Committee will have received
contributions amounting to over SO, 900 be-
fore the 4th OF March. To-day / asked one
Of the committee how he accounted for such
Iiberality.
'In two ways he replied. First, the
Democrats are always more liberal in con.
tributions than the Republicans; second
the change of party power makes way for
the offceseekers. OF course, men who are
looking forward for place will contribute
literally"
'CaR you disburse that amount of money
judiciousIy?" I asked.
"Yes. just about that amount We will
not want for the places 10 spend the money
and yet We will not want for the cash with
which TO supply what is needed. The
ameunt is in excess Of what is usually col
lected for insugurstions, yet We intend &c
have much more expansive display than