The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-08
Attorney General Taylor Prepared to
Make Strong Argument for
Payment of Interest.
LUCKY BIDDER TO BE NAMED
CONTRACT FOR THE INDIANAPOLIS
BUILDING TO BE LET TODAY.
Almost Certain to he Constructed of
Indiana Limestone Bills Pre-
pared by Senator Fairbanks.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, April THE auditor for
the War Department expects to complete
tomorrow his report on Indiana's war
claim, which he will turn over TO Con-
trolIer of the Treasury Tracewell, and that
official and his deputy will give an imme-
date hearing to Attorney General w. L.
Taylor. 1t will require about a day for
Mr. Taylor to make his arguments. The
attorney general will make his strong argu-
ment for the claim for the interest money
as he is of opinion that the controller will
not hesitate to allow the discount claim
of si59, 9,S659O. The law recently enacted pro-
vdes only for the reopening of Indiana s
claim as it was presented by Governor
Baker thirty-four years ago. AS is known,
THAI claim rejected in every detail and
the legislation permitting the reopening Of
the claim was made possible by the United
States Supreme Court decision in the New
York case The attorney general has
therefore been compelled to produce hum
dreds of pages of evidence to prove the
claims of interest and discount. the inter
est claim, of course, having accumulated
since the Baker claim and therefore not
included in it and the settlement of which
is rot really authorized by the recent act
The discount of S159, $3.50 has always been
represented to be about $4,000. The diff
ference results from the fact that some of
the bonds were redeemed below par. To
prevent any excuse on the part of the
treasury officials for not allowing the
claim Mr. Taylor has filed an entirely new
claim and new evidence and testimony to
cover the interest claim, which is placed
al $4S3, ,51372 His evidence shows the cost
of the war to the State of Indiana for
every month, from month to month, from
1861 to 1868. II shows that the State paid
out in cash during that period $5,075.9lS
He has all the vouchers showing for what
purpose this money was expended. He
also has the books and report OF Governor
Morton, who during his term, from 1863 to
1865, had kept a private set of books show
ing the expenditure Of about s1.00O,000 It
was necessary. for the government being
in the hands of the Democrats, he found it
impossible TO secure and expend the money
as he desired and thought best.
Indiana is the first State To present to
the officials a complete line 90 evidence
vouchers, etc. the other half N States
are now having prepared their claims. but
if there is TO be favorable action by the
controller, Indiana 5 claim Will be settled
and out of the way before the other States
have commenced.
1t was intimated to-day that the contract
for the Indianapolis public building would
be awarded tomorrow Inere seems TO De
no longer any doubt that ii will be con-
structed of Indiana limestone.
Xxx
Senator Fairbanks seems to be much in
demand as an orator for commencement ex-
ercises. He has accepted invitations at
Bowling Green. KY. and Bloomington Ill.
and has been invited TO Beloit College and
one other university.
The controller of the currency to-day au-
thorized the First National Bank Of Rock
port, Ind. 10 begin business. Capital, Ss5.-
600. K. NJ. Payne is president and William
/. Rudd cashier.
Senator Fairbanks has prepared and will
introduce bills TO correct the military rec
ord of Isaac Thompson, of Churubusco;
Jacob Rinehart. OF Patricksburg, and Jo-
seph II. Johnson, of CoTngton. He will in
troduce bills to pension Miss Julia A
Bassett. OF Indianapolis; W. F. Bunger. of
Bloomington; Rev. j. w. Dashiel of
Moores Hin, and Mary II. Mattingly, of
Plymouth.
Capt. f. F. Branch. OF Martinsville. is
visiting i'm Washington. en- route from New
York. where he was visiting his brother.