The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-01
Bill Before Congress That Provide,
for the Use of Coupon Envelopes
and Postal Cards.
REPORT ON MAIL-WEIGHING
INTERESTING FIGURES FURNISHED
BY MIR. SHALLENBERGER.
Admiral Dewey Opposed to Building
More Gunboats-NavaI Bill AdvO-
Gated by Secretary Long.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.-Business men
who use the mails freely in the develop
ment of trade are taking a very lively in
terest in the progress of the bill now be-
fore the Senate and House committees on
postoffices and post roads to put into
operation plan under which a large per
cent. of millions of dollars will be saved
which are now wasted annually in stamps,
stamped envelopes and postal cards
thrown TO the winds as 1t were. AS it is
now those who solicit trade or information
through the malls by inclosing stamps,
stamped envelopes or postal cards TO CORE
spondents say that only 10 per cent. are
returned. The loss is, therefore, 80 per
cent. This immense percentage of loss
discourages the use of mails for trade pur-
poses and cuts down the governmental
revenues. The plan under which it is pro-
posed to avoid this waste and afford the
business world the advantage of an en-
larged use of the mails is embodied in what
is known as the economic postage bill"
which provides for the employment of
coupon envelopes and postal cards. BY the
method described in the bill the sender
of cards or envelopes in the solicitation of
trade will pay the full rate as required
by law. but will not pay return postage
unless the card or envelope is actually re-
turned. The coupons serve in lieu of
stamps and will be redeemed by the United
States Economic Postage Association.
which owns the patents and which will
manufacture and sell the new style card
and envelope.
The system has been five times favorably
reported on by congressional committees
and has twice passed the Senate. 1t would
appear that the proposition has the in
| dOrSpmpnt of business wherever thew
have been made acquainted with it's prin-
ciples. The pending bill authorizes and di-
reefs the postmaster general to give the
plan thorough preliminary test before
permitting its adoption a general adj
junct of the postal system. such test to be
at the expense of the promoters. There is
feeling in Congress in favor of giving
the plan trial. inasmuch as those who
are behind the project seem perfectly will
ing TO take all the chances without COM
hitting the government to it until it shall
have proved in every way satisfactory to
the administrative officials of the Post
Office Department.
Information has reached the State De-
partment of the death of Edward Turner.
ar American engineer, who had been in
carcerated in Jail at Orizaba, Mexico. for
about ten months on charge of criminal
negligence in connection with the wreck of
a train on the Interoceanic Railroad. Tur-
ner's home was in Kansas, and he had re-
mained in prison probably six months be-
fore the attention of the American authori-
ties was called to the case, the prisoner
not having made any complaint. His iden-
tity and condition became known to them
through newspaper clipping. and Ambas-
sador Clayton at once took steps to ascer-
tain the facts and to render what assist
ance he could TO the imprisoned man. Tur-
ner complained of the unnecessary delay in
trying him, and was assured the case
hoxvn fnr,ffA hut For
waiting several months and before the time
| for the trial arrived he died. The legal diff
! ficulties in Mexico, ii is explained. are SIM
! liar to those often experienced in the
United States, where the federal govern
| ment exercises no direct supervision over
| crimes committed in a particular State, but
| the matter is left to the officials of the jur-
| isdiction in which the crime may have been
committed. The other engineer, Clark also
| from Kansas. who was imprisoned about
| the same time as Turner. ii is said, on a
| somewhat similar charge, is still alive, and
| his case is reported to be progressing with
view 10 prompt settlement.
The investigation of the course of the
United States military authorities in con-
| nection with the Couer d'Alene mining trou-
bles was resumed to-day by the House
| committee on military affairs. WILDER H.
| Stewart. publisher of paper in a town
-
| considerable length He said his paper had
no official connection with the miners, and
| nc had no part in the riots at the time of
| the blowing up of the mill. subsequently,
however. he was arrested without warrant
at his office by State Auditor Bartlett Sim
| clair and an army officer. Mr.. Sinclair
| stated TO the witness that he was accused
of publishing seditious matter. A special
| train took him to Wallace, and after a
night in Jail he was put in the bull pen"
The officer who arrested him wore the uni
| form of the United States army, and was
in charge of the military forces. The gen.
eral treatment of the men in the pen was
| revolving, he said, to an American citizen.
The President to-day sent the following
nominations to the Senate: +. M. Mellow
| ell to be postmaster at Winamac, Ind; Maj.
4. NJ. O'Reilly, surgeon in the army, to be
deputy surgeon general, with rank of lieut.
enant colonel, Capt. W. j. Wakeman. as
sistant surgeon. TO be surgeon, with rank
| of major; Second Lieutenant C. II. Whip
| pie, jr.. First Artillery, to be second lieut.
enant of infantry.
| Secretary Root to-day announced his in
tention of making a flying trip TO Cuba.
He will leave here on Friday. He wishes
| 10 personally examine present conditions in
| the island
The party will consist of Secretary Root,
| Mrs. Root. Miss Root. Edward Root. Col.
Carter, assistant adjutant general. and
w. s. Coursey, private secretary TO Secre-
| tary Root. The original plan was to include
Porto Rico in the trip, but this idea has
| been abandoned, owing to lack of time.
-
| The Senate committee on foreign rela-
| tons to-day agreed TO repor. favorably on
the treaty between the United States and
Great Britain prescribing regulations for
the settlement of estates of American citi-
zens who die IN Great Britain and of Brit
ish citizens who die in the United States
The Hay-Pauncefote treaty was not con-
sidered. -
All chance of saving any of the Spanish
| armored cruisers sunk off Santiago, Cuba.
has gone. Word has reached the Navy De-
partment that the Cristobal Colon, which
was pushed on the beach by the cruiser
New York, after the battle with Cervera' s
command, has slid into deep water. The
department long ago gave up the idea of
saving the Colon. Private persons have
been writing 10 the secretary of the navy
for permission to raise the vessel, but as
they could not met the departments re-
quirements. or imposed impossible condi-
tons, favorable action on their requests
has not been taken.
Maj. Gen. John r. Brooke. who has been
in this city since his recent detachment
from duty as governor general OF Cuba.
has been slated for the command of the
military Department of the East, with
headquarters at New York city. The
change in that command will not occur
until June next when Mai Gen. Wesley