Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-03
NEBRASKA'S MILITARYSCHOOL
Reservation at the Fort to Be Secured fol
that Purpose.
PLANS SHAPING ALONG THAT LINE
Nebraska Delegation mt Washington
inclined 10 boom the Scheme
at the Present session
of Congress.

suggestion made by General G. +. Mander-
son that the old Fort Omaha site be turned
over to the state Of Nebraska upon the com
pleton of Fort Crook meets with favor
among the Nebraska delegation here, and
bill to that end will be introduced at the
present session OF the Fifty-fourth congress.
Congressman Mercer is in receipt of letter
from General Henderson, Offering number
of valuable suggestions to the course to
be pursued in securing the desired legislation.
The letter follows:
OMAHA. Nov. 23.-Hon. David H. Mercer.
My, Dear Mr.. Mercer-I enclose @ here, to
eTai Gfneral of the Is state ea'of of Nebraska hsv
Ing reference to the granting ,,td OF
old Fort Omaha to the state of Nebraska
as a place OF rendezvous and school of in
structon to our national guard OF Ne
braska have also 2 had iUr fSnsmtaton Esnhnt Is w,h
in regard to- this subject. Acting under
my advice, Governor Holcomb Will address
action proposed. General Barry will write
to Adjutant General Ruggies and MAJOR
these letters will be transmitted either to
Serator Thurston or yourself ana my sug-
seston is that our our dsegation IN sohgsess IS
obtain their cooperation to attain the end
TOO MUCH OPPOSITION.
see by the papers that you have some
idea of introducing bill for the establish
ment of a military academy by the general
1ieve that that result can be had You WI.
find strong indisposition In the War de-
partment and in the military affairs com
mittee to establish another academy at all
like that at West Point. Besides this, such
proposition would at once provoke ,oEe Som Sra
Chicago to San Francisco, and under this
rivalry the scheme would fall. The only
course that l think can be successfully
pursued is that the government should turn
over Fort Omaha to the state of Nebraska
for the purpose suggested and also for the
establishment of what might, be called
Root Graduating State Military school.
In many of the High schools of the state
taught the rudiments of the military, art,
and i think 1t would be desirable, II the
should place perhaps three military In
structors there who could give a course In
who had had the preliminary instrcution In
the schools fitting them to take the higher
'"s"de enclose e "1 draft '' Of biz that think
w s The IDEAS that faYe W se
1 1est Of %'sf the ,a' deiesaton. S You would in
troduce the bill in the house and have Sen
% aena copy Cd s Ii the e
Thurston, ard one also to General Barry,
hestate @ to ao cali ale upon me- Would % be glad
to hear from you in regard to the matter.
CHARLES F. MANDERSoN.
CARRYING OUT THE PLANS.
Congressman Mercer said, in speaking of
the subject, that he recognized the face Of
General Manderson's thought and the me-
cessity of concerted action. While he would
like to see a western branch Of West Point
he appreciated fully the difficulties in the
way and the antagonisms such course
would arouse. In Difference therefore to the
legislature and the citizens Of Nebraska, he
would introduce a bill such as contemplated
by General Henderson, and would ask Sen
ator Thurston to look after the bill in the
senate. Shortly after the house organization
is completed Mr.. Mercer and the Nebraska
delegation will call upon Secretary Lamont
and General Miles. with the idea Of securing
from these gentlemen an expression looking
to favorable legislation There would seem
to be little difficulty in the way of securing
the passage Of such bill as proposed by
General Henderson, being hadged about with
the provision that the buildings and site
should be turned over to the government
should the military necessities of the United
States require the use Of the reservation for
purposes Of military character.
The adjutant general of Nebraska would
be responsible for the maintenance of the
reservation which is proposed 20 be main
tained without expense to the United States,
and would annually report to the secretary
Of war in detail the uses of the reservation.
With thess conditions 1t is thought there
will not be much opposition to the passage
OF the bill, In view Of the fact that the site
was donated to the government by the cit
liens OF Omaha.
In fact. the establishment Of such a school
would be along the lines indicated in a
former telegram from Washington as to a
contemplated Increase in the appropriation
Tor military purposes being training school
for the youth of Nebraska, who. in case of
threatened danger from abroad. would be in
position to take their places as officers in
the militia and at the head Of newly re-
crulted companies.
ESTIMATES OF LOCAL INTEREST.
In LOTT oP ~.
ury transmitting estimates OF appropriations
required for the service for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1895. Nebraska has received
consideration. In support of The Indians of
the different tribes, including the Santee |
Sioux OF Nebraska, 81, ,39S so is recommended |
TO pay twenty-seven of the thirty install |
ments to purchase clothing for males over |
ia years OF age; $l25.000 to pay twenty-seven
Of thirty installments to purchase such ar
tices as may be considered proper by the |
secretary Of the interior; $50 per head for |
10000 persons engaged In agriculture; pay |
OF hve teachers. one physician, one carpenter, |
one miller, one engineer, two farmers and |
one blacksmith, 10000; pay of additional !
employees, $4,000; for the Sioux In Nebraska |
and Dakota industrial schools at the Santee |
Sioux and Crow Creek agency, Sc 600; for |
subsistence OF Sioux ana for purposes of |
their civilization, s1,000.0O0 support and |
maintenance of day schools. s75. .O00 for the |
Yankton agency, $. d., fulfilling treaties. |
$50, 900.
FOf the completion or the Omaha federal
building, under the present limit, 5000 900;
for the South Omaha postoalce. total amount
10 be appropriated, $4,000 Amount appro-
prated tor the fiscal year ending June 80,
1886 $4,000; for he completion Of the Sioux
city postoffice under present limit, $50 900;
improving the Missouri river from the mouth
70 Sioux city, $4,000; removing obstructons
above Sioux City and operating snag boats,
$50 000
For Omaha and Wtunebago agency, inter
est on depos; Cor tribe sii.l62; support and
civilization of Shoshones In Wyoming, $780,
600; incidental expenses Of Indian service in
Sol;h Dakota, So, 800; support of the Indian
school at Flanireau. s. D., S3i, i,550; support
OF Indian sGhaol at Genoa, Neb. SOS 300;
support of lndlan school at Pierre. $. d.,
xsS7SO' support OF Indian school at shoshone,
Wye. see ,4be.
OPENING LACKED ENTHUSIASM.
There was at element OF tameness about
the opening of congress today, which occa-
stoned remark among the old timers who
have seen congress convene In biennial ses-
s,ens for years past, The pent-up enthusiasm
Of republicans In returning to the house of
tter fathers was OF mild and temperate
Character, In the drawing for asats Tho