Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-20
CANNON WILL Be HERE SOON
0maha's Relic of the Spanish War to Be
Forthcoming Before Long,
MERCER CUTS DEPARTMENT RED TAPE
All that Now Remains to re Done
is for Omaha 20 Get the
Big Gun Transported
Here.

"ApIilNb lON, May lV.-NSpeClal lele-
gram)-The judge advocate general Of the
army has decided that the secretary of war
has authority under an act passed by congress
in 1896 to loan condemned cannon including
trophies taken in the Spanish-American war,
to municipalities, Grand army posts and be-
nevolent institutions. Many applications for
loans of Spanish cannon for exhibition pur-
poses in parks, cemeteries and other public
places have been received by the War de-
partment, but Secretary Ager has held that
he has no authority to dispose of these tro-
phies without the consent of congress. The
Navy department, on the other hand, has
held that the act of 1896 did not restrict
the distribution of condemned ordnance, and
they have gone ahead endeavoring to locate
cannon captured in Spanish fortresses, with
view to their loan to various cities
throughout the United States.
The Army and Navy departments of the
government made an equal division of can
non captured from the Spaniards and it is
one of the Navy departments cannon which
will be sent to Omaha. The department is
now endeavoring to locate the captured can
non, many of which were brought on trans
ports and placed either at the Watervlet
arsenal or the New York navy yard, and
just soon as the location of these can
non is known Congressman Mercer will be
have it transported from it's present location
to Omaha 1t is Senator Thurston's nten-
tion to ask the War department for one of
its cannon, which may also be sent to one
of the public parks in Omaha should the
city decide to bear the expense of trans
portation and he is successful in securing
the loan.
Senator Thurston today presented the
name of John ]. Pershing for major and as
sistant adjutant general of volunteers, vice
John A. Logan, jr., resigned to the presi-
dent. Major Pershing was military in
structor at the University of Nebraska sew
eral years ago and claims the Antelope state
as his home. He is a member of the Tenth
cavalry.
Rural Mail Delivery.
Special Agent Houpt of the rural free
delivery service who has been in Omaha
the past week looking over new route
with Elk City and Benson, Douglas county,
as the principal points, was expected to
leave Omaha today for Colorado to take up
similar assignments. Upon completion of
his work in Colorado he will probably re-
turn to Nebraska, as he has in his posses
sion papers and petitions requesting the es-
tablshment of rural free delivery systems at
Fairmont, Wymore, Falls City and Fremont.
At one time Agents Rathbone and Houpt of
to the establishment of a route at Elk City
and Benson, but Congressman Mercer stayed
with them until he eventually was able to
secure consideration at the hands of the
first assistant postmaster general relative to
those two points in his district. and the visit
of Special Agent Houpt grew out of Con-
gressman Mercer's work for his district
An additional letter carrier has been al
lowed Kearney, effective September l. For
several years past the people OF Kearney
have been endeavoring to secure an extension
of their free delivery system, but We're un
successful until Senator Thurston t5ok the
matter up personally last week with the
postoffice department, with the above result.
An additional $50 has been allowed the Ok
ford postoffice for clerk hire, making $1,000
in ALL due to representations made by the
postmaster that the force as at present con-
stituted was wholly inadequate to perform
the requirements of the service, Oxford be-
ing at the junction of both main lines of
the B. and NJ. railroad.
War Exhibit for Exposition.
Representatives of the Greater America
Exposition had an interview with Assistant
Secretary Meiltlejohn Quartermaster Cen
eral Ludington and Colonel Burlington of the
ordnance department in relation to a War
department exhibit at Omaha. 1t was agreed
would put up bonds for the safety of the eX-
hibits and pay the transportation to and from
Omaha that creditable exhibit might be ar
ranged. Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn will
submit the question to the president on his
return and if he authorizes the secretary of
war to prepare an exhibit both Ludington
and Burlington said they would do all pos
sibe toward repeating the exhibit Of last
year. In the event of an exhibit being sent
1t is expected that quartermaster sergeant
and ordnance sergeant will be sent to Omaha
to look after the property. 1t now remains
for the officials OF the exposition to say how
much OF an exhibit they want.
AN order was issued today authorizing the
removal OF the pcstofice at Rock Springs, |
Wyo., to a building on the corner of and
South Front streets at rental of $500 year. |
An order was issued today establishing a
postoffice substaton, No. /, in Cedar Rapids, |
Ia, to be known as the West Side. The |
contract for furnishing the public building at |
Cedar Rapids, Ia, with fuel for the coming |
fiscal year was awarded to Hamilton Bros |
at $645. Mrs. Ann Monaghan was today ap- |
pointed postmistress at Gallant, Lee county, |
Ia.