The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-04

The price paid by the general was $50 a
cover for sixty-three people. This was, per-
haps. one OF the costlieSt banquets ever
given in Washington, a place which is rec
ogniZed as a banquet city, but the caterers
claim now that there Is little or no money
IN banquets unless on a very. large scale.
Besides the food, lowers are always an ex-
pensive item.
Now and then persons file claims against
the United States for service in the Con-
federate army. A Chicago man named
Taylor asked Congress for several sessions
to give him $4,000 for having suggested to
President Lincoln the idea of issuing green
backs. One Colonel De Almond made re-
peated demands for $4,000 for having shown
General Grant how to capture the town of
Paducah. Ky. One man wants 5000 for
cutting corns OF the soldiers during the re-
bellion; another wanted S25 for a pair of
trousers which were eaten off a clothes
line by a government goat; a Brooklyn, n.
Y, man thought 500 would satisfy him
for a calf killed by a cattle inspector, who
put a tin tag through his calfs nose, caus-
Ing blood poison; the sum OF 500 would set
tie the claim Of a Minnesota man who says
he had a sky-blue horse taken by the SOL
diers; and hundreds Of Just such claims
from people in every State IN the Union are
on file. PROFESSIONALLY many claims against
the government are Just ones. but IL Is dill
ficult 10 get them considered by Congress,
and lives have been ruined and fortunes
wrecked in efforts 10 get settlements. Many
OF these claims are handed down from gen.
Grafton TO generation and are now no nearer
a settlement than when first filed. Nothing
is more difficult than 10 get consideration
from Congress-. Even If favorably acted
upon by committees. the chances are against
favorable consideration in the House. and
even IL successful there, a miracle must in
terpose to secure its approval by the Sem
ate and the Presidents signature.
Chief Yoeman Wills. OF the Navy Depart
rropf urho hos orraa1 ~ toEo tho narf Of
Uncle Sam in the peace jubilee here this
month, is the tallest man in the navy. meas
uring six feet seven inches in his stocking
feet. He is a native of Scotland, but claims
Florida as his home. and IL was from that
State that he enlisted at the breaking out
of the war with Spain. Having previously
served as a p1rser on a merchantmen, he
was soon promoted TO quartermaster. and
when the war closed was called 10 Wash
ington.
Extensive preparations are being made by
the saloon keepers for the coming peace
jubilee in this city. and there viii be no
need for any resident or visitor to go
thirsty. The saloonists have been liberal in
their contributions 70 the jubilee fund. and
they expect good returns. Washington Is
a liberal place, and the fellow who gets on
simply a plain jag without any rimming
will not be required To- pay a fine. He will
only be locked up and fed at the city's eX-
pense until thoroughly sober and able to
navigate. There IL no law here providing
a fine for a plain drunk
Publ Printer Palmer continues to use
the s~calping knife in his department. and
assigns as a reason that the appropriation
Is short and there Is little work on hand
requiring immediate attention. Many of the
faithful who have been waiting the lifting
OF the civil service blanket from this Office
still hope that the President will issue his
order before the 1st OF July, at which time
the A-a-day pay to printers and bookbind-
ers goes into effect. There Is a feeling
among some OF the printers that the in
crease IN pay will foot up so much that II
will result I'm an effort being made 10 place
typeSetting machines I'm the office-the larg-
est i'm the world. W. G.. NICHOLAS.