The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-03
Authority Granted Mr.. Gage to Con-
tract for Construction Up to Full
Limit of Cost, S1,5OO,OOO.
AN ENTIRELY NEW METHOD
THAT WILL RESULT IN sPEEDIER
ACTION THAN UNDER OLD PLAN.
Further Local Gossip Regarding the
Site of the New BuiIding-views
of Hon. L. ID. MartindaIe.
70 the Indlananolls journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. March 2-Embodied in
the conference report on the sundry civil
bill appropriatiEg s25OOOG with which to be-
gin work on the indianapolis federal build
ing Is provision giving the secretary OF the
treasury authority to contract for construc-
tion up TO the full limit of the cost of the
building. S1.50OOoO. This provision applies
not only to Indianapolis, but to all other
buildings for which appropriations have been
made. This is new departure in legisla-
ton for public buildings and insures much
sharper action than under the old methods.
The conference committee agreed on this
portion of the bill this afternoon, and it will
be reported in that form to the Senate and
House for concurrence tomorrow.
The provision mentioned was inserted in
the bill in committee at the instigation of
Representative Overstreet The people Of
Indianapolis cannot give Representative
Overstreet too great credit for the part he
has taken in securing legislation for the
building OF the new postoffice. He has been
working for it from the day he entered Con-
gress, and he has made hardly a move in
the cultivation of alliances on the floor that
did not lead up to the present elimination.
Mr.. Overstreet was the prime mover in
organizing the combine" which put the
public building bills through. He worked
quietly and in many directions. AS re-
suit of the successful manipulation which
led to the passage of long list of building
bills he ranks to-day, in the estimation of
the members Of the House, one of its
leaders in practical work.
The act which is now law authorizing
the new building. although 1t bears the
name of Turpie as its author was drawn
by Mr.. Overstreet. Senator Turpie and Mr..
Overstreet introduced bills Identical in Ian
guage but after the Turpie bill passed the
Senate Mr.. Overstreet added TO his bill the
paragraph authorizing the sale of the old
postoffice IL such a step might be found
advisable. In order TO gain a little time after
the matter got into conference Mr.. Over
street permitted the body of his bill to be
substituted for the Senate bill after the
enacting clause. The explanation Is deemed
necessary at this time that there may be
no mistake in assigning credit where il
properly belongs. 1t should be known in
local history as the ''Overstreet bill" But
for his untiring energy and mastery manip-
ulation no building bills would have passed
Congress this session. Not only does In
dianapolis owe him vote of thanks. but
he is entitled TO equal honor at the hands
country. Mr.. Overstreet will remain in
Washington the greater part of next week
in order to give an impetus to the pre-
Urinary work looking to the building of the
new indianapolis structure. There are
many things to do in this connection which
can be better attended to at close range
than at distance. Mr.. Overstreet ap-
preciates this and will remain here in the
hope that he may put Indianapolis al the
head CT the procession OF new buildings.
A meeting OF the Republican caucus COM
mittee. of which Mr.. Overstreet is a men,
Der. which was created TO prepare a plan
OF monetary legislation for the next Con-
gress, will be held here the first part Of
next week. At that meeting a plan of cam
paign will be decided and the committee
will determine when and where 1t will begin
its work Several members of the committee
having planned summer trips il is the de-
sire OF the most of them to begin sittings
In April In order that they may complete
the business before the hot weather fairly
sets in. The majority OF the committee have
already fairly clear idea OF what they
want and II is thought that a satisfactory
settlement may be reached in three or four
weeks. IL Is the desire of all who have been
talked to on this subject that the place for
holding the meetings OF the Committee be
away from Washington. Mr.. Overstreet will
urge the claims OF Indianapolis and that
city may be selected. He will present its
advantages as a spring resort in glowing
terms
W. A Depew. Of Edinburg Ind has been
appointed member OF a governmental sur
veying party which will start for the North
west in couple of weeks. The position is
one eagerly sought after and has a nice
salary attachment