The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-28

patiently nearly two days for chance 10
slip up on the blind side of the House and
secure its reincorporation in the bill.
Secretary Gage has sent to Chairman
Stone. of the House committee on coinage,
weights and measures, a letter in which he
explains the necessity for the enactment of
several important bills recently introduced
in the House at his request and still pend
ing He says the amount 1t is permissible
under existing laws to allow the melter and
refiner and carrier Of the United States
minis for wastage in their operations of the
precious metals is excessive and should be
reduced. The demand for new fractional
silver coin since 1880 has been much greater
than the amount coined and the treasury
mas been compelled TO pay out worn COR Is
the amount Of new coins manufacture -
been limited by the appropriation mad n
the payment of loss on recoinage of such
coin. From the demands for new coin it
would appear that a much larger amount
Of subsidiary silver coin would be main
tanned in circulation if the secretary o, the
treasury We're authorized to use any silk eT
bullion now in the treasury in the coinage of
such denominations of subsidiary silver colt
IS might from time 10 time be required. aild
1t Is therefore recommended that such ads
thority be given BY Congress not only To
use any bullion now in the treasury. bat Else
authority Go recon all worn and abrade'l
fractional silver coin now in the treasury
and hereafter received. There are now in
the treasury over s10a0J000 in subsidiary sill
vel EJiflSt anu OF THIS amount IL Is
that about s7.e5e.0ee is unfit for circula-
ton. The third bill is TO authorize the re-
ceipt OF foreign gold coin in sums. Of 5000
In any single deposit. and to pay for them
without previously melting, the coin to be
iseld as bullion and paid out for export in
eychange for United States coin.
1t Is regarded as settled that the naval
appropriation bill now being framed by a
House subcommittee will contein three I'M
portant items. namely, $l.0OOOc0 for smoke
less powder, s5J0,OO0 for reserve ammunition
and $4,000 for the establishment of a gov
eminent powder factory. The matter of
having an ample supply of powder. in or
der to meet the requirements of our naval
vessels in any emergency, has received
careful attention from members of the com
mittee. As long as the old style of black
powder in use the many private COM
panies making this article gave assurance
that supply could be secured on short
rotice Now, however with the general
adoption of srn0keless powder, the opportu-
mites for speedy supply are said to be
sslUch reduced. For that reason it is pro-
posed to allow $f.0O0000 for the purchase of
this article, and al the same time provide Il
government factory which will thereafter
produce an ample supply. The item of
100000 for reserve ammunition will cover
all classes of naval material. large and
small to meet requirements of vessels near
ing completion and of such emergencies as
nay arise.
The House committee on Pacific railroads
agreed to-day to report what is know as
the Fleming resolution concerning the sale
OF the Kansas Pacific Railroad, with
amendments embodying propositions made
by Senator Thurston. AS reported. the res
olution provides that the President in his
discretion. may protect the interests of the
United States by bidding in the Kansas
Pacific property to the full amount neces-
sary to protect these interests, and any
sums necessary to redeem paramount liens
are made available out of money in the
treasury not otherwise appropriated. The
Vburston provisions with notifications
pTovide that after the government acquisi-
ticn of the Kansas Pacific the President, in
his discretion. may dispose of the property
&c the best advantage of the United States
Representative Mcguire of California. Of
Tered an amendment, which defeated
by a party vote, s to 5. that on a sale by
the government the purchase price should
be the amount of the present liens and
claims of the government. in addition to
the first mortgage. Failing in this. Mr.
Mcguire secured the insertion of the words
that the sale should be to the best advan-
tage of the United States.
The Senate committee on Indian affairs
to-day authorized a favorable report on Sem
ator Pettigrew's bill for free homesteads on
abandoned Indian reservations as an amend
ment to the Indian appropriation bill. The
Pettlgrew bill has passed the Senate twice
10 secure consideration in the House The
opinion is entertained in the Senate COM
mittee that the. only way to secure its
enactment into law is to make it part of
an appropriation bill
Commissioner Evans, of the Pension Office,
has issued an order stating that hereafter
the requests of attorneys for consideration
nf title to fees will not be entertained unless
the same are filed in the bureau within
three years from date of issue of pension
on which such fees are claimed.
The gold reserve to-day reached $l6S, &c.
600. the highest point in about seven years.
The accumulation is becoming something of
burden. and the government Is no longer
encouraging Its deposit.
According to a report from Consul Debois
a st Gall, Switzerland. in spite of the
fact that the new tariff of the United States
advanced the duty on cotton lace and en-
broideries from so to 60 per cent, AN aver
age increase of 10 per cent, there has been
exported to the United States during the
first six months of the new laws operation
over 100000 more of these goods than dur
ing tae same time last year
The ex-President and Mrs. Harrison find
their visit to the Capital so very pleasant
that they will probably remain here until
the middle of next week and possibly for
2 still longer period. Mrs Harrison has
been literally overwhelmed with calls and
invitations TO dinners and receptions since
the White House dinner given in honor of
dent and Mrs. Mckinley
Postmaster Page of Fort Wayne, is send
ing daily reports to the Postoffice Depart
ment Of mail which cannot be delivered on
the day of its receipt with the present force
Of carriers. This Is an ancient device re-
sorted to by postmasters who are out after
Office increases.
The wife of Senator Fairbanks is very
much better this evening. and her early re-
covery is now considered certainty.
james g. Curtis, of Indianapolis. is a
guest at the Arlington.
The Senate to-day passed the resolution
to pay heirs of Selman K. Hannegan of In
diana. late Senate messenger. six months
salary. The dead messenger was son of
ex-senator Hannegan, of Indiana.
John Sargent has beer appointed postmas-
ter at Poe. Allen County. Indiana, vice
George w. Lafollette, removed.
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