The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-01
TWO PUBLIC MOVEMENTS
Effort to Get the Democratic Convention
and New Federal Building Considered.
Committee on the Former Appointed by the
Commercial Club-Strong Resolutions
on the Latter Adopted.

The meeting of citizens called at the
Commercial Club last night for the pur-
pose of discussing the matter OF a new fed
eral building for Indianapolis was fairly
well attended. President Eli Lilly. of the
club, presided. The first matter discussed
was the effort to secure the Democratic Ia
tionsl convention. Sterling X. Holt pre-
sented the following resolution. which was
adopted:
Resolved, That the Commercial Club extends
to the Democratic national committee an lnvl-
tatiOn TO hold the Democratic national conven-
ton OF 1892 in indianapolis, and pledges Itself as
an organization to raise whatever amount OF
money may be REQUIRED for all necessary ar
rangements.
Resolved, That the president of the club is
hereby authorized 10 appoint a committee OF
seven to cooperate with like committees repre-
senting other organizations in the city in urging
the acceptance of the invitation to hold the con-
vention In indianapolis, and 1t Is recommended
gether for consideration of the work they are to
undertake not later than Tuesday. Dec. .. 1881.
President Lilly said he wanted time to
select dis committee. and he would an
nounce it in q few days. The matter was
fully discussed by Judge Martindale, Z. e;
Foster, s.. o. Plckens. L. +. Griffiths and
!. s.. Gordon.
Each gentleman spoke of the ample abiI-
ity of this city to take care OF large dele
gated bodies, and argued that to-day 1t Is
better able to entertain the Democratic
national convention than any other city In
the country. The expense would not over
reach $50. 0O0, and the investment would be
an splendid one for the city. The only
thing that would need to be done would be
the the ,hs erection eccommo o. 81 large aSout oa aw q
thousand people. Judge Martindale said
that if Indianapolis got the convention
and entertained it handsomely, as 1t can
well do, it would be the best advertisement
Indianapolis could possibly have rs a per-
feet convention city. Her hotel facilities,
her railroads and her central location all
argued i'm favor of this city. and he be-
lieved that If an energetic, earnest try was
made indianapolis could get 1T. Even II
she failed, 1t would let the rest of the
world know she is alive and in line for any
such events.
w FEDERAL
The matter of the need of a new federal
building was then taken up for discussion.
Postmaster Thompson was the first speaker.
and he told how wholly inadequate the
present quarters were for the proper and
careful dispatch of the governments bust
ness. Mr.. Thompson said he would be
afraid to estimate the needs of the
government for it's business for fifteen
years to come. For the last fifteen years
the present building has undergone con-
slant improvements, yet it Is now far too
small for the governments needs. lie
thought that q new building. at least 200
by 500 feet. should be put up. and that 1t
couldn't be too many stories high. The
volume of business is constantly increas-
ing. and it is impossib BILE TO look ahead and
form any accurate idea what sized build
ing We should have. The circuit
Judges should have more quarters. as
should also the other government officials.
The cities of Louisville, P~ittsburg n
Washington have each new offices, be-
gun some years ago, yet now. as they
are Just finished. they are too small
for the business. The postotice depart
ment alone is very much crowded. The
railway mail service ~ forced TO do It's
business in three small rooms, yet ESQ clerks
report here for duty. The city will soon
have q pOstal-telegraph station, and postal
savings bank and division Inspector office.
All these things must be ooked TO. and
abundant allowance made Tor them In the
discussion of q new building"
Judge Martindale was the next speaker.
He agreed with Mir. Thompson that too large
a building could not be urged. He favored
the construction of a building within an
entire square,. and thonghttkat Mr.. Thomp-
sons dimensions OF 200 by 500 feet was
small enough. He thought if the square
bounded by Ohio. New York, Pennsylvania
and Meridian streets were secured it wOuld
be q good location. but no favored no one
site in particular.
r. X. Shiel spoke briefly on the impor-
tance of taking up this matter and push
ing it with all vIgor. He said the city was
growing, and a decade hence would mark
1T away above 200.00 0 inhabitants. He
thought that delay in this matter was dan
gerous.
General Coburn followed. He remarked
that his city had n federal build
ing long before other large cities in the
country. The first appropriation was made
In 1855. and the building was finished In
1861. Then people said it was big enough
for q lifetime. but now we see where we
are. He urged the I'M Dortance of getting
the matter before the congressman at once,
in order that the item could GO in the esti-
mates of the Secretary of the Treasury to
be presented to Congress.
Judge Martindale then moved the adop-
tiOn of O re5ol utIon, rs the sense OF the
meeting, to the effect that the present
grounds owned by the government Were en-
tlrely too small for n new building ana that
they be sold and afull square be purchased.
This was adopted.
At the request of several gentlemen, Sec
rotary Fortune then Drepared and read the
following resolution. which was unani-
mously adopted:
Whereas, There ia urgent need OF a more COM
mOdiOus United States government building in
indianapolis than the one occupied at present,
which was erected more than a quarter of a
century ago, when there was less than one
seventh the population shown by the last CEN
sus; and
whereas. The inadequacy of the present build
Ing and grounds cause great public lnconveni-
ence; therefore be it
Resolved, That IL is the sense OF the CONNER
cial Club that there should be erected in Indian
apOlis without unnecessary delay q new building
better suited to the growing needs of the govern
ment business, occupying not less than a square
of ground.
po.l-ol ~ un- Az - zt~l ---l
hesolved, further, Ihat the cIuo shall lnmedl-
ately take steps TO secure the proper consiGera
ton by government officials of the need OF n new
United States government building III this city,
and that the president of the club is hereby AT
thorized to appoint a special committee OF five
for that purpose.
The meeting then adjourned.