Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-28
MERCER DOES MORE HUSTLlNG
Second District Representative Puts in a
Busy pay in Washington,
SITES FOR PoSToFFICES IN NEBRASKA
Secures Promise that an Inspector
VIII He Sent to Look over
Ground ut Blair, Norfolk
and Hastings.

lue west lnlS morning ana the INK nau
hardly dried on the Riggs House register
where he placed his name when he called
on Supervising Architect Taylor to ascer-
tain when the inspector would be sent to
Nebraska to look over sites for public build
ings at Blair, Norfolk and Hastings. Taylor
informed him that the inspector would be
sent about the middle Of June to look over
the sites offered
The real object which brought Congress.
man Mercer to Washington at this time,
however, he stated tonight, was, II possible,
to secure the quartermaster supply depot for
Omaha, this matter having been taken up
by the Commercial club meeting prior to his
leaving for Washington. Today Mercer had
a talk with Quartermaster eneral Ludngton
and Assistant Secretary of War Meklejohn
in relation to the supply depot at the Gate
City. General Ludington said shipments
were compelled to be made from the coast
cities at this time, owing to the army OF
occupation In Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines, ana that while he appreciated
Omaha as a distributing center which be
regarded as one ov the very best in the
United States, owing to the absence OF
troops from Omaha 1t would not be neces-
sary to maintain more than the ordinary
depot al Omaha for quartermaster's supplies.
General Ludngton stated a shipment
would soon be sent to Omaha and that the
capacity of the warehouse there would de-
termine largely the amount of supplies car
ried. Mr.. Mercer in his talk with General
Ludington stated that 16 per cent of all the
railroad mileage of the United States CEN
tered in Omaha, which was revelation to
General Ludngton, notwithstanding his
years of residence in the metropolis of Ne
braska General Ludington stated that Chi
factory for quartermaster' supplies, but
that up to the recent time the city by Lake
Michigan had been shut out for the reason
that Philadelphia and Jefferson barracks
were turning out ali supplies needed at this
time.
MI. Mercer also had an interview with
Secretary Hitchcock in relation to permit
ting Indians on western reservations to
appear at Omaha this year, as they did
last. After considerable discussion, Secre-
tary Hitchcock said that he would strain
point in this matter and agreed that he
would permit 200 Indians to leave their
reservations for the purpose of showing at
the Greater America Exposition, provided
tGo exposition association would enter into
contract with Commissioner of Indian
Affairs W. A. Jones for the safekeeping and
return Of the Indians so exhibited. He said
lne Interior NUulu FeuulIe HllS
dollars per Indian from the exposition as
sociaton to be deposited at one of the
United States repositories in Omaha, which
deposit would be returned to the exposition
association after the return of the Indians
to their several reservations and any liza
bilities that would be incurred by the as
sociaton in failure to carry out their con-
tract with Commissioner Jones would be
taken out of the deposit made by them.
Talks About Furniture.
MERCER also had an interview with Su-
perintendent Hills of the Treasury depart
ment today in relation to the furnishing of
the court room of the new public building.
Congressman Mercer stated that mahogany
was largely used and that oak furnishings
were not in harmony with the general de-
sign of the room set apart for the United
States district court. superintendent Hills
stated that change would be made after
June 80 and that the oak furnishings now
in the building could be used at some other
point.
He also saw the Postoffice department OFF,
cas in relation to the South Omaha post
office and was assured that two additional
carriers and one registry clerk would be
added to the present force in South Omaha
after June 30
Mr.. Mercer left for New York tonight
and will return to Washington on Tuesday
enroute to Omaha.
Conservatively estimate, 5000 places now
in the civil service will be exempt by the
order of President Mckinley, which it is
now pretty generally understood will be
promulgated on Monday. These places which
are to be taken out of the civil service will
embrace higher positions in the internal
and divisions Of the s.
ury department, private secretaries, bureau
of statistics and number Of places in the
government printing office Clerks of $1,000
classes and under will not be affected, it Is
said but those above that class included
in the departments named will be given to
the faithful. 1t Is noticed that there are
more senators and representatives In the
city Just now than at any time since April
l. and 1t is thought the rumor of the pres
idents order on Monday may be largely re-
sponsble for this state Of affairs.
Luther Drake Of Omaha, who came to at
tend the wedding Of his sister, Miss Clara
Drake, and Mr.. Fred Montmorency, left for
home tonight.
j. H. Newell, chief of the photographic di
vision CT the United States Geological survey,
left for Omaha tonight to look over the
Greater America Exposition, en- route to the
western part OF Wyoming, where he goes
to investigate the question of arid lands.
William e. Andrews, auditor of the Treas
ury department will deliver the principal
Memorial day address at Oak Hill cemetery,
Georgetown, on Tuesday. James G. Blaine
is buried In this cemetery, as is also John
Howard Payne, author OF "Home, Sweet
Home"
Thurston VIII Speak.
Senator Thurston will deliver the address
at the naval celebration on Memorial day
which takes place usually in front of the
iee mansion at Arlington. His subject will
be Naval Battles of the Country of 1861 to
1896"
DR.. Frank Bristol, who is well well re-
membered in Omaha. having filled one of
the Methodist pupits in that city several
years age and who is now pastor of the
presidents church. the Metropolitan Meth
odist Episcopal church, will also speak at
the naval celebration, which is in charge
OF Colonel Michael of Grand Island, chief
clerk of the State department DR.. Brls-
tolls topic will be- The United States
Navy and Spanish American War of 1895" +"
Il. II. Collins of Lincoln, assistant in the
Department of Justice, who was arrested on
Thursday night because of his refusal to
move a box which he had placed in the
lot ba ~ via Z no