The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-01
Both Houses to Adopt the Report To-
Day, and the Measure to BE at the
White House This Afternoon.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL
MUCH CREDIT DUE TO MIR. OVER
STREET AND SENATOR FAIRBANKS.
sfxty-One Bills I'm All Rushed Through
the House, Calling for Appropria-
tion of $o,352, 900.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special 10 the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.-Indianapolis
will get the federal building for which she
has been praying and working for many
years. A combine" of members of the
House to-day rushed through a long list of
building bills, crushing down opposition and
carrying everything before it. Mr.. Dockery
and a few other economists undertook to
block the passage of the bills, but were
Obliged to throw up their hands and stand
aside. The current was too strong for them.
The Indianapolis bill was reached at
O'Clock and was acted on by the House in
side of two minutes. The House bill pro-
vided for & building to cost 81 100000. a
$4,000 smaller than the amount mentioned
I'm the Senate bill. The conference report
which was agreed on later in the afternoon,
raised the limit to s1,5OO,OOO, and in that form
both branches of Congress will place their
Endorsement tomorrow. The bill will be on
the Presidents table early tomorrow aft
ernoon.
Representative Overstreet did some very
clever work this afternoon in conjunction
with Senator Fairbanks, which placed the
nlI at the head of the procession. Within a
very few minutes after the House passed
the measure 1t was quietly taken out of the
pack on Chairman Mercer's desk and mes
saged' to the Senate Senator Fairbanks
had been notified previously of the passage
of the bill and was in waiting. He promptly
moved to nonconcur in the House bill and
ask for a conference, which action was
''messaged' back to the House. The House.
on being notified OF the Senate's action, at
once appointed conferees
CONFEREES LOST NO TIME.
The conference committee was at once
made up of Representatives Mercer Hicks
and Bankhead, and Senators Fairbanks,
Wellington and Marble. Within a very short
time conference report was agreed on and
by O'Clock everything was completed ex-
cept to report TO the Senate and House. This
formality will be gone through with the first
thing tomorrow morning and by 1 or 2
o'clock Senator Fairbanks and Representa-
tive Overstreet will be their way TO the
White House with the bill. If they are urg-
ent the President may be prevailed on to
affix his signature to 1t at once.
The bill directs the secretary of the treas
ury to acquire. by purchase, condemnation
or otherwise. site, and cause to be erected
thereon a suitable building for the use and
accommodation of the United States post
office. courthouse, custom house, internal
revenue office, pension office and other gov
ernment offices. TO cost not to exceed the
sum OF sl.5Oo.00o Proposals for the sale of
land suitable for site Will be invited by
public advertisement. Proposals in res ponse
TO advertisement will be addressed to the
secretary Of the treasury. who shall cause
said proposed sites and such others as he
may think proper TO designate to be exam
ined and reports made thereon He is also
authorized 10 make a supplemental investi-
CATION IL necessary and to appoint a commits
sion Of not more than three persons TO ex-
anime and report on sites. 1t is also pro-
vided that no money appropriated for the
purpose OF carrying out the provisions of
the act. except for the purpose OF paying for
preliminary expenses, shall be expended un-
I'll valid title to the site OF said building
shall be vested in the United States. nor
until the State OF Indiana shall have ceded
10 the United States concurrent jurisdiction
over the same during the time the United
States shall be or remain the owner thereof.
for al! purposes except the administration
OF the criminal laws OF said State and the
service of civil processes therein.
MAY ADD TO PRESENT SITE.
The building shall be uncxposed to danger
from fire by an open space Of at least forty
feet on each side. including streets and al
leys. The secretary Of the treasury is au-
thorized. IL 1t shall be deemed in the best
interests and economy of the public service
to purchase. at cost not TO exceed $50 eco
1900 square feet OF ground adjoining the
present site and to cause the old United
States courthouse and postoffice building tc
be torn down and removed. and to cause
TO be erected on the site OF the old building
and the additional ground purchased new
public building. In the event OF the pur.
chase OF a site elsewhere the secretary OF
the treasury is authorized TO sell the rea
estate now known as the indianapolis post.
office site and apply the proceeds derived
from said sale toward the payment for the
purchase OF the site selected. And the sum
OF $4,000 in this act authorized together
with the unexpended balance, IL any of the
proceeds derived from the sale OF the pres.
ent site. may be expended in the construc-
tion OF the building provided for ir Sec
tion / OF this act
The Indiana Legislature. having under &C,
OF June .. 1883. ceded concurrent Jurisdiction
10 the United States over all lands held b,
the government for federal buildings. O,
which might thereafter be acquired for .hat
purpose. no additional local legislation viii
be required 10 meet the provision Of the act
passed to-day by Congress. The az author.
izing the construction of the Jad!anapoll:
federal building does not appropriate money
= merely commits the gosSrnment TO ths
TX. and the money VIII bs provided By