Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-28

ably tell you that not another con-
gresham could have engineered the
project through both houses. Your
correspondent was present upon the /
floor of the house a considerable por-
ton of the time during which MI.
Hull was endeavoring to steer the bill |
through series of rapids literally .
mass of rocks. In the end if the
truth were told, those members who
for what to them We're wellgronnded
reasons for opposing the measure !
laid down out of sheer admiration for
the author of the bill. After securing
a favorable report from the commit
tee, which was a most difficult PROPOSE
ton, notwithstanding the fact that the
author of the bill was chairman of the
committee the measure was obliged 10
run the gauntlet of the house. 1t
would be long story to narrate the
troubles that the bill encountered
there but it is enough fo- Des MONIES
and Iowa that the bill passed ana be-
cane a law. 1t passed because Mr..
Hull, with infinite patience, good hu-
nor, politeness, .andor, argument and
persuasion, finally disarmed opposition
and the house simply said: We'll,
HUI has earned the right to his plum;
he shall have it.
Second Reason.
The second reason lies in the fact
that Des Moines made certain propo-
sitions, including site, water, trans
portation. etc, chat naturally aided in
securing the passage of the bill.
Cash Waits on Des Mones.
The cash appropriated for this post
has been lying idle in the treasury
vaults for many months awaiting the
counter signed warrant OF the proper
disbursing officer. The officer has
been ready, the department has been
ready and anxious, but it could not
move. Des Moines had not made
good" There was hitch about this
and another about that; not on the
part of the war department, but be-
cause when it came to the actual de-
| livering of the goods, Des MONIES
found it had undertaken heavier
contract than it could we'll perform.
| The government simply held Des
| Moines to it's agreement, to the letter.
That is a. popularity OF the govern
ment; the man or corporation enter
ing into a contract with Uncle Sam,
finds the last farthing eXacted. There
were all sorts Of rumorS as to what
the government would or would not do
but there was nothing in all the talk.
The war department said nothing, eX-
cept that work would begin when Des
Moines signed the contracts. That Is
where the matter stands today.
Legislature Must Help.
The moment the Iowa Legislature
legalizes the acts OF the city OF Des
Moines in borrowing the $4,000 with
which to meet it's obligations to the
government in the army post PROPOSE
ton, the war department will begin
active operation upon the first build
r ing.
Built for Full Regiment
; A misapprehension seems to have
: arisen in connection with what the
1 government proposes to do at Des
4 Moines. 1t has been asserted tina
r quarters for but one squadron will b'
r constructed. This is literally a bit o
). fancy on the part of some one. Sue
# information has not emanted from tn
j. department and has no foundatio
whatever On the contrary quarter
will be built for three squadrons;
full regiment, and the work will be O
the most approved and modern cor
" struction and equipment.
q Department Knows Business
l. The quartermaster in charge OF tn
IS matter was requested to furnish est
e mates and other data for building
st for one squadron, and he proceeded t
IS do the work cut out for him and sui
y. mitted his findings to the war depar
h ment. 1t is possible this constitute
a the ground for the story that the pos
is is to be but one-squadron affai
ID war department has way OF dom
n business that appears to be prodH
u tive of satisfactory results, and or
a of these peculiar styles of procedul
10 is to ask for estimates upon sing
ST quarters before going ahead and secu
1T ing estimates upon the whole.
Be Not Afraid.
The people of Des Moines, howeve
I'd need have no apprehensions. The d
It. partment will execute every agreemel
Id to the last detail.
n, Will Build Rifle Range.
N The purpose of the department nc
~ is to build fine rife range, purcha
" ing additional land for it. IT
&C contract stipulated that land was
or be furnished for $40 per care. Co
n. gresham Hull explained the situate
n. to Secretary Root; pointed out t
ID general advance in value Of land, a.
81 that land would cost $50. The secl
ra tary at once said that the departing
1t, would pay $50 then.
lc- Allison is Shy.
H. Senator Allison has expressed
preference that there should be no
monstration commemorative of
his election to the United States sc
% ate for the sixth consecutive ter
ic. even by his Iowa friends, and the M
m. ter has been dropped. Senator A
I'll. son feels keenly, the good will felt
Ily ward him by all Iowans, whether
,ly Iowa or in Washington, and app
90 ciates the disposition to honor him
lis the way proposed. However, he sa
We the kindly feeling Of his friends
IS. all the expression he desires, and
at Difference to his wishes the Iowa
,st sociation has permitted the propos
te reception to lie upon the table.