The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-10


only by Intervention OF very influential peo-
pie in Germany" Carrier Pftzner requests
Mr. Heath TO lay the matter before the
President and otherwise to intercede in his
behalf Mr.. Heath to-day referred the en-
tire matter 10 the State Department.
The Navy Department has instructed the
commandants Of receiving ships along the
Atlantic coast 10 resume the enlistment of
ordinary seamen holding honorable dis
charges for services rendered during the
Spanish war. The officer in charge of the
naval recruiting station in Chicago has been
similarly instructed and in addition has been
told to enlist landsmen under the same con-
ditions The purpose of these orders is to
secure the men needed to meet the increase
Of the enlisted force from the best material
Heretofore the Navy Department was
Obliged to discharge many of such men who
wished to stay in the naval service owing
10 requirements of the old law.
The opposition of the cattle owners to the
exclusion of cattle from the lands Of the
Creek Nation has been evidenced for some
time in written and verbal protests TO the
Interior Department The whole issue. how
ever. is one of law. and while the Interior
Department Is inclined 10 do whatever is
possible and right in permitting cattle to
come on the Greek lands on payment or
lease money to the Indians. if they can find
any authority of law for doing so they have
not been able TO discover legal warrant for
this so far. The barrier is Section % of the
Curtis act which makes absolutely void any
grazing lease made after Jan. l, 1898. and
all made prior to that date terminate April
next Carrying out this legislation the
department regulations which took effect
Oct :, 1895. prohibit any member OF the ilVe
civilized tribes from leasing any land TO any
one whomsoever until after the selection or
his proportionate share as an allottee. III
this can be construed so as TO permit any
cattle grazing. both conforming to the law
and 10 the interests of the Indians, the de-
partment officials would modify the restric-
tions. but no such construction seems open
in the case.
The Navy Department has been making
some figures regarding the supply of armor
and the prices 10 be paid. At present there
has been authorized $4,000 tons OF armor,
and there is available for the purchase OF
this armor $S.OO0O00. AT the time the Bethle-
hem arrnor plant was erected there was only
six thousand tons of armor authorized by
the government, and there has been pur-
chased by the government in all only 3O4
tons of armor, ten thousand tons more than
the government IS now authorized TO buy.
The average price for armor per ton has
been S557.51. the minimum being $552.O ana
the maximum $677.13 the higher price being
when nickel was being introduced. Ii Is
estimated by the officials of the department
that i'm case the estimates of $lOO per ton
as a sufficient price for armor are correct
| no
S545 per ton. would, i'm the manufacture of
23 600 tons of armor. be sufficient 10 build
government plant. If the government could
purchase the entire amount of armor au-
thorized with the Ss.OOO.OOO available the
average price would be S342. II is said that
these figures are being considered by large
iron and steel concerns. officials at the de-
partment say that il armOr can be manu-
factured for 500 per ton, and the govern
ment has money TO pay an average price oil
s342 per ton. that the manufacturers are
likely TO loOk into the matter pretty closely
as the profit of SIS per ton will be well
worth considering. In making these esti-
mates the price of 800 per ton is allowed for
the ships already authorized under the
naval appropriation act for the year end
ing June 30. 1885,
The figures given above have been dis
cussed by officers of the department and
representatives of the armor-plate manufac-
turers. 1t has also been pointed out that
the government will not need any of the
armor until next February and meanwhile
the armor plants of this country will be
making Krupp armOr for Russia. All this
arnnor will he tested at the government
grounds at Indian Head and the Navy De-
partment will have the knowledge of all the
Il too
of all improvements which may be effected.
The preliminary organization for the CEN
sus of 1900 took definite shape tonight at
| conference between Director of the Census
| Merriam and Assistant Director Frederick
| III. Wines, who arrived here to-day Several
| important offices i'm the census adminstra-
| tion Were filled. Col. Albert +. Childs, OF
| the District of Columbia. will be chief clerk;
| Edward McCauley. OF the District of Co
! lumbia. dsbursing officer. and William a.
| King. of Colorado. is to be one of the chief
statisticians. Both Colonel Childs and Mr..
King held similar offices under the census
OF 1890. These appointees will shortly as
sumo their duties and. under the supervision
OF Ex-Governor Merriam and Assistant Di-
rector Wines. will get the work of organi-
zation under headway. The Offices will be
moved from the old building now occupied
into new temporary quarters. and. as soon
as possible. we'll equipped permanent head
quarters established. Governor Merriam
will leave tomorrow for his home in Min
resota 10 close up his private business af-
fairs He will be away about ten days. Mr..
Wines, the assistant director who will su-
perintend the actual statistical work. will
he i'm charge here during his absence. Di-
rector Merriams policy will be TO select ad-
ministrative officers from the standpoint of
competence and skill in the particular
branch they are intended for, while clerks,
it is announced. will have TO undergo
merit examination. No further offices will be
filled for at least fortnight and there will
be general making of appointments for
several months.
Regarding the report from Atlanta of
riotng by the Tenth colored immune regi-
| ment. after its muster out at Macon, IL was
said at the War Department Today that no
| official report had been received and that
as the troops I'm question had been mustered
out of the service they would have TO be
| dealt with by the local authorities for any
breach of the law they might have COM
mitted. The fact is, however. that the re-
| peated occurrences OF this sort are becom-
| ing "A sore question with the War Depart
ment and ii is highly probable that here
after troops TO be mustered out will he sent
| first TO their own State and given their dis