The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-03
Representative Overstrect Too busy
Looking After Pensions for Con-
stituents To Come Home.
OFFICE DECLINED BY GRANT
HE DOES NOT WANT THE ASSISTANT
sECRETARYsHIP OF WAR,
And so Informed the President by
Wire Yesterday when He Returned
10 New York from Washington.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.


Special 10 the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, April 2-Judge David
w. Henry. of Terre Haute candidate for
collector of internal revenue. reached
Washington this evening. having been sent
for by First Assistant Postmaster General
Heath. Judge Henry held conferences dur
ing the afternoon and evening with Senator
Fairbanks and Representative Faris. The
situation tonight is not greatly different
from that of a week ago Henry is still a
seeming certainty tor collector, being the
favorite of the President and Senator Fair
banks but Nicholas Filbeck stands in the
path of a quick settlement of the yexatious
Vigo county complication. lie insists on
keeping in the fight. and although he is
quoted as saying that he was "A candidate
for collector only. it is broadly intimated
that if he could be assured of the postoffice
he might be induced TO surrender the coll
lectorship to Henry. The powers who have
to settle the matter hesitate TO indorse him
for that position or to give him his first
choice and shift Henry 10 the postoffice for
fear of arousing bitter antagonism instead
of producing harmony. George NJ. Allen.
+. Z. BENJAMIN and Capt. a. G. Ford. who
have been making an open and square fight
for the postoffice appointment. have let IL
be understood that they would regard il
unfair 10 leave them out merely 10 pla-
cate Mr.. Filbeck. They insist that there
are other and quite important indi-
viduals and factors TO be considered as Mr..
Filbeck ard that he has been given al
together too much prominence in this
affair, anyhow The problem is seemingly
full of unpleasant complications as it
has been at any time, but there are good
reacop~ for haliaxfpo- tbat =. daoicfo,, Mill II,
reached tomorrow or by the first OF the
week Ii begins TO look as though Repre-
sentative Faris is fuite willing to let SeDa-
tor Fairbanks assume the responsibility or
naming both the collector and postmaster,
and when this fact is firmly established
short work will probably be made of the
matter, the senator understands the sit
uation thoroughly and is quick TO form a
judgment when given individual response
bility.
If the President should change his mind
and appoint colored as recorder OF
deeds for the District OF Columbia, DR.. S.
A. Ebert. of Indianapolis. will stand as
good a show as any of the colored men who
have been urged for the position. He has
the undivided Endorsement OF the Indiana
delegation and his standing and character
have been vouched for In the highest terms
This office. which pays 5000 year has
been held by colored men for fifteen or
twenty years. but the official who now oc-
cupies the place has incensed the residents
to such an extent that the President de-
termined to deviate from the practice of
his predecessors and appoint a white man.
a Washingtonian. II one could be found on
whom the solid elements OF the District
could unite. The colored people. however.
feel that they have a mortgage on that
shaken off. =
Mr.. Overstreet will not return 10 his dis
trict Immediately unless he changes his
mind. His present purpose is TO remain in
Washington, believing that he best
serve his constituents by so doing. There
are numerous applications on file for offices
from his district and he feels that ii he
remains on the ground he may be Of service
in that direction. He also has many PEN
sion claims TO attend to. In common with
most other Republican congressman. Mr..
Overstreet feels that the old veteran viii
receive very much more generous con-
sderation under this administration than
under that controlled by Mr.. Cleveland
The retiring commissioner Mr.. Murphy,
was kindly disposed towards the old SOL
diers. but the policy of the administration
he served was not a liberal one. The ap-
| pointment of H. Clay Evans. who succeeds
Mr.. Murphy. seems 10 be giving the old
soldier element much satisfaction.
Senator Fairbanks to-day Endorsed the
/ following additional applications for ap-
pointment postmasters in the towns
named:
Allen County-Arccla. DIR. George y. Nc
| Googan: Woodburn. Jacob r. McMillen:
| Baldwin. Franklin Freese; Poe. G. w. La
/ Toilette.
Ripley County-cross Plains. John p.
Jarvis; Friendship. Henry Smalsmre: Del
aware, William ~ Gould.
There was no session of the United
| States Senate to-day. and. there
fore. no nominations to Office. IL is proba-
BILE large number of appointments now
under consideration will be announced next
week Colonel Frederick ID. Grant has de-
! clined the position of first assistant secrs-1
| tary OF war. offered to him yesterday by
the President He returned 10 New York
this morning and to-day sent telegram 10
| President Mckinley. saying: Although
! you were pleased TO urge me TO think over
/ the matter. IL is impossible for me TO con-
/ slider the position of assistant secretary CO
war. which you were good enough TO offer
me-. l. there sore. decline with thanks the
| appointment. at the same time regretting
/ that am not 10 serve your administration,
for which 1 worked earnestly" Mr.. Grants
reasons for declining the position not
known. He has now place Of honor and
! proht a member OF the New York City
| Board OF Police Commissioners.
There were many callers at the White
House to-day. some OF whom were Office
seekers. Gen Stewart L. Woodfcrd. OF
| New York. was one or the earliest visitors.
His name has been mentioned il connection
with the mission TO Spain. but he denied
| that he had any aspirations In this or any