Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-09-14
"Those Court House Guns. +"

In our issue of Aug. 31st, the PRESS,
upon information given us by a gentle
man connected with Lieut.. d. W. Tag
CART Post, No. 241, in an official capacity,
stated, two guns had been received from
the Navy Department and would be
placed in the Court House park; also ad
ding that they were obtained through
the courteous efforts of United States
Senator Penrose." Last weeks Inde-
pendent takes us to task for giving Sena-
tor Penrose the credit and publishes
letter from Congressman Sibley, under
date of August Both, addressed to Mr..
j. F. Parsons, informing that gentleman
that the request had been granted and
CONDEMNED guns had been shipped. We
knew nothing about the transaction and
it matters not to us who secured the war
relics, yet We do not desire that injustice
shall be done our always courteous
Junior Senator and hence have investi-
gated the matter. We have before us the
official correspondence in the matter and
from the evidence from the department
at Washington, it appears that Congress
lan Sibley was written to by Mr.. A.
Chapman and others, making application
for the guns. In accordance with the
law this application was endorsed by MIR.
Sibley and as it appears from the follow
ing letter was forwarded to United States
Senator Penrose by Mr.. Sibley's clerk
Mr.. Sibley at the time being at his sum-
mer home in Canada
June 49, 1899.
1. The act of Congress approved May %, 1896
Public No. 146), authorizes the Secretary of the
Navy, in his discretion to loan give to soldiers
monument associations, posts of the Grand
Army of the Republic, and municipal corpora
tions, condemned ordnance, guns and cannon
balls which may not be needed in the naval
service. The act provides that such loan or gift
shall be made subject to rules and regulations
covering the same, and further, that the govern
ment shall be at no expense in connection with
any such loan or gift
2. The Bureau of Ordnance has prepared the
annexed list of guns, mounts, and pro!ectiles
available for issue in accordance with the above
mentioned act. There are no guns mounts or
projecties obtanabe other than those enumer-
ated in the list and for this reason it is useless
to make applications for articles not mentioned
therein.
3. In making applications, state the particular
kind of gun, mount, or projectile desired, and
fran what Navy Yard shipment is preferred
When applications are granted, arrangements
must be made by the parties to whom the articles
are donated, by correspondence with the Navy
Yard and with express transportation COM
panies for removing them from the yard, placing
them on board cars, and for transporting the
same to destination. The Bureau is unable to
give any information in regard to the cost of re-
moval or transportation.
4. Applications for cannon, etc, must be en-
dorsed by the Member of Congress representing
the district in which the organization is located
or by one of the Senators representing the State
CHARLES O'NEIL,
Chief of Bureau of Ordnance
To HON. ]. G. SIBLEY,
Franklin, Penn'a.
NorE.-The above is sent in answer to letter of
Hon. Boies Penrose, of June %, 1899.
The Press does MT desire to deprive
Mr.. Sibley of the credit due him in this
matter, still from the evidence in the
case it is clear that Senator Penrose was
the channel through which the grant
was secured. For the sake of peace and
harmony we are willing to divide the
honor between our Congressman and
Senator Penrosc. Now let our citizens
aid the Post (and our townsman j. f.
Parsons, who is SO greatly interested in
this matter) in properly mounting the
guns and adding ornaments to the Court
House lawn. 1t has been suggested that
the guns be located with suitable cere-
mony.