The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-25
GLASS BLOWER In LUCK
SECURES A GOOD POSITION THROUGH
MR.. HEATH's INFLUENCE.
Alfred Mechsm. ef Muncie. TO he Spe-
~reau-Other Washington News.
Special to tn. indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, June 23.-Ffrst Assistant
Postmaster General Heath secured another
plum to-day i'm the appointment of Alfred
Mecham, a welI-known glass blower OF
Muncie. Ind, as special agent of the
Bureau of Internal Revenue. Mr.. Mecham
will be assigned to duty in eastern Ken
lucky and Tennessee. He will be a special
agent of the Internal Revenue Bureau of
Washington and not under any collector of
internal revenue direct. The position is one
Of the most desirable in the internal reve-
nue. service. The compensation will be be
tween $1,000 and 5000 per year. Mr.. Mecham
Is a prominent member of the labor unions
Of Muncie. Ind. and took an active part in
the campaign for the election of President
Mckinley I'm 1886 and of Congressman
Cromer last year, and was very earnestly
Organized labor everywhere will be glad 10
learn of Mr.. Mecham's preferment.
The Navy Department has received a
letter from the Armstrong Ship Building
Company. of England. containing the in
formation thai the recent fire in its ord
nance plant at Newcastle would some
what delay the completion of the cruiser
Albany, which this country purchased from
Brazil just prior to the outbreak of the
CDdlllSL- AilcIlCdH Ndl- II hIC GU
about 100000 worth of ordnance and cleo
trical apparatus. some of which was de-
signed for use in outftting the Albany. The
letter did not contain specific
as TO the length of the delay and further
on this point is expected short
~. The Albany was TO have been COM
pleted and ready TO sail Oct l.
Lieutenant III. G. Gilmour, assistant naval
constructor, who is inspecting the progress
OF the work on the Albany, writes the de-
partment as follows: 1T is to be hoped that
the delay in the completion of the vessel on
account OF fire may not be very great One
AZ inch, four 4-7-inch guns, the mountings
of two field carriages and the armatureS
aged. AS the machinery in the electrical
shop was destroyed the delay In completing
and installing the dynamos will probably
prove greatest"
With regard to the question OF mainte-
nance of canteens at United States arm
posts. the acting secretary Of war to-day
said that so far as the department is con-
cerned the matter Is settled in favor or
maintaining the present system. When the
subject was brought up by the case or the
Camp Meade c~anteen. the matter was thor
oughly Investigated by the department and
reports from officers in all branches OF the
service showed that from every STANDPOINT
the army canteen. as now operated, Is IN
finiteIy better for the interests OF the SOL
der than the old system Of post traders
and low groggeries on the outskirts of the
posts. The regulations under which the can
teen operates are already formulated and
there will be no need for further action by
the department
The contributions to the Dewey home fund
to-day amounted to s177., making the total
20 date s10,30S.
Acting Secretary of War Meikeljohn an
nounced to-day that the receipts from all