The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-18
WANT CLEAN RECORDS
MANY ALLEGED DEsERTERs ASKED
TO HAVE STIGMA REMOVED.
Preliminary Report OF the Industrial
COmmissiOn-Applic for Or
ganixatiOn Of New Banks.

civil war have filed applications TO the
Navy Department to have removed the
charges of desertion which now stand
against their names. This action was taken
In anticipation Of the bill extending indefi-
nitely the provisions of the act of 1883 rel
alive to what are known as innocent de-
sertions" becoming a law. For ten years
Judge Advocate General Lemly has been
seeking to secure this legislation, and the
bill has passed first one house and then the
other, but only yesterday succeeded In
passing both in one session. 1t now goes
to the President. At the close of the civil
war sailors and marines numbering many
thousands reported at Philadelphia to be
mustered out. The receiving ships did not
afford accommodations for more than a
small fraction of them, and, after waiting
many days for the mustering-out off1cer,
being told that they were not wanted, the
men drifted off to their homes. Technical
ly every one of these men was deserter,
and the act is intended to remove that
stigma from their names. q
The division of customs and insular af-
fairs of the War Department made the
receipts In the island of Porto Rico for the
three months ended March 81, 1900, was
S197, S32. The total customs receipts in the
island for the same three months or 1879
was 1854 S22.
The preliminary report of the industrial
commission on transportation, including a
review of evidence, topical digest OF EVIL
dence and testimony taken up to May l.,
1900, was presented to Congress to-day.
The report contains no recommendations
for legislation. Senator Kyle, chairman OF
the commission, In his letter of transmits
sion, states that owing to the incomplete
ness of its inquiry the commission Is not
prepared at present to make recommended
lions to Congress or to the state leg1sla-
lures. but contemplates the making Of
such recommendations hereafter.
On the question of discrimination be-
tween individuals the report says That the
general consensus of opinion among wit
nesses is that the railways still make
them, and, perhaps, to as great an extent
as ever before. They also say the EVIL
dence is clear that the great terminal ele-
vators in Chicago and, to less extent, IN
other grain markets are owned by COM
paratively few persons; that the owners
of the public elevators also control great
private elevators; that they themselves BUY
a large proportion of the grain which
business of handling grain on commission
has been very greatly reduced by this
practice 1t also is claimed that these
men own most of the country elevators.
The commission concludes on this point:
I'm view of the quite general acknowledge
ment among railway men that discrimina-
ton in favor of large shippers is still con-
spicuous there seems to be considerable
probability that the claim that these large
elevators receive favors from the railways
in one way or another has some basis.
On the question of grain rates and flour
shipments it is stated that the evidence
seems conclusive that the effect of dis
elimination has already been disastrous to
our milling interests. and that probably
even with the difference in rates reduced
as already shown it will continue to be in
furious"
Other questions discussed are: Discrim-
ination between places. pooling. freight
classification, railway consolidation and
capitalization, government ownership, tax
alton, wages, labor organizations, etc. The
conclusion is reached with reference to the
mission that they are more limited than
was intended by the trainers of the inter-
state-commerce law.
The House bill relating to game birds
was to-day favorably reported from the
Senate committee on interstate commerce.
The purpose of the bill is to preserve, dis
tribute, introduce and restore wild birds
In the United States, and the entire ques-
of agriculture. The Importation of the
mongoose, flying fox, English sparrow and
other animals or birds destructive of the
game birds is prohibited by the bill.
XXX
Senator Pettus, from the committee on
military affairs. to-day reported favorably
the bill authorizing the appointment of
thirty dental students in the army.
Commissioner General Powderly is taking
active steps to establish a system of i'm
migrant inspection in the Hawaiian islands,
and to that end he has detailed Mr.. F. H.
Larned, the chief clerk of the immigration
bureau. to proceed to Honolulu and make
a careful examination of the conditions
there and establish a system, in all impor-
tant particulars, the same as is now in
operation in the United States. Mr.. George
E. Baldwin, also of the immigration bu-
reau, has been appointed immigrant inspec-
tor at Honolulu, and he will sail for there
in few days. Mr.. Roman Dobler, an in
spector at New York. will also go to Porto
Rico to make an inspection Of the situa-
ton on the islands. He will secure statis-
tics of the number of arrivals from other
countries, their character and condition,
and will make report as soon as possible
10 MT. FOWueriy. congressional action
will be necessary. however, before an i'm
migration system can be established at
Porto Rican ports, with authority to ex-
anime and deport Objectionable aliens.
President Mckinley signed the "free
homes bill' at 1922 o'clock this afternoon
There were present Delegate Flynn, of Ok
lahoma, and Representative Gamble, of
South Dakota, both of whom made brief
speeches in support of the measure A num-
Der of others interested in the fate of the
bill also were present, and the function as
sumed unusual proportions for an occasion
of the sort. The President said his best
reply to the representations made could be
put in writing at the foot Of the bill, and he
then affixed his signature.
inc and butterine concerns of Chicago
Kansas City and other points were before
the House committee on agriculture to-day
in general defense of their industry and in
strictions. Professor Wiley, chemist of the
Agricultural Department. was heard fur
Their in general support of the proposed re-
strictions.
The report of the controller Of the cur
rency shows that from March IA, the date
on which the new financial bill became a
law, TO May II. 229 applications have been
received for authority to organize banks
.skI {4n1 Nf lno1 hnx Oh.