The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-23
Government VIII Hereafter Pay
Checks and Warrants When In
dorsement Is Guaranteed.
NEW WAR VESSELS PROPOSED
TWO I6.OOo-TON BATTLEsHIPs, TWO
CRUISERS, TWO GUNBOATs.
Bill i'm the Interest of General Miles
II. 4. Barnes Made Assistant Sec
rotary to the President.


the Treasury Department was announced
to-day and will be welcomed by the bust
ness men of the country as abolishing an
annoyance that had persisted in connection
with government business. Heretofore the
government has insisted, through the sub
treasures that all government checks and
warrants not only must be fully and COM
pletely Endorsed in the regular way, but
also must be accompanied by a certificate
showing the authority of the indorser so
TO ndorse the check. This has frequently
given rise to vexatious delay and sort of
red tape which has annoyed bankers and
business men everywhere. The govern
ment heretofore has not deemed ordinary
Endorsements accepted by banks as suni-
cient unless accompanied by this certif-
cate of authority to indorse. BY a ruling
OF the department made to-day subtreas-
urers throughout the country will here
after pay government warrants and checks
when Endorsed and Endorsement guaranteed
by the banks presenting the same for pay
ment. This reduces the proposition to one
OF simple business caution, and hereafter
the government will pay warrants much
as a cautious business man or banker
would pay similarly Endorsed paper.
XXX
The House committee on naval affairs
to-day completed the naval appropriation
bill. The most important item as to new
ships left until the last. and as finally
determined on was as follows: Two battle
ships of about 5000 tons displacement, TO
| cost. exclusive of armor and armament,
A22,O00 each; two armOred cruisers Of
| about 1880 tons displacement each, to
| cost, exclusive of armor and armament.
about $4.659. coo; two gunboats of 1000 tons
each. to cost $3.50 each.
The following provision is made: That
the secretary of the navy may, in his dis
erection and far in his Judgment is
practical, direct that any or all of the yes
sells herein authorized be built in such
navy yards as he may designate" Pro-
vision is also made for building one of each
class of ships on the Pacific coast, and that
no contractor shall build more than one
battleship cruiser or gunboat.
The 5000 tons battleships will be the
largest ever authorized for the American
navy and among the largest war ships
afoat. The armored cruisers will also be
exceptionally large for their class, cOnsid
erably exceeding the New York and Brook
bill is slightly above $4,000, 600. There was
sharp parliamentary contest and many
votes before the final decision on ships and
on building In government yards was
reached.
The President to-day appointed Benjamin
F. Barnes, OF New Jersey, assistant secre-
tary, to succeed o. l.. Pruden, deceased.
Mr.. Barnes was born abroad of American
parents, Dec. 3, 1868. He removed to New
Jersey in 1876, educated in the public
schools of that State and the Chicago High
School. was appointed a clerk in the Post
Office Department in October, 1887, promoted
in 1889 TO be private secretary to the first
assistant postmaster general, later left the
department TO enter private business, but
was compelled by Ill health TO relinquiSh
| returned department
1892. In January, 1898, he was appointed TO
position in the executive office, promoted
July !, 1898, to executive clerk; appointed
| by President Mckinley as assistant secre-
tary to the President May l. 1900; was
transferred TO the Treasury Department i'm
January. 1902, but has remained at the
White House detail since that time as
an assistant to Secretary CortelyOu; is a
graduate of the law department at George
The President to-day sent the following
nominations to the Senate: United States
attorney, Joseph Lippman. district of Utah;
United States marshals, Henry Il. Osborne,
Southern district of California and John
H. Shine, Northern district of California:
Rear Admiral Henry c. Taylor, chief of the
bureau OF navigation.
XXX
Senator Hawley. chairman of the Senate
committee on military affairs, to-day in
troduced a bill ito increase the efficiency
of the army" The most important section
of the bill is as follows:
Subject TO the command of the Presi-
dent and general direction of the secretary
of war, the lieutenant general shall exer-
else general command of the military
forces of the United States shall issue
army orders and direct inspections of the
troops. He shall be charged with the in
StructiOn, training, discipline and diStribu-
ton of the army, with the preparation and
maintenance of detailed plans for the mobi-
Iization of the military forces. with the
preparation and maintenance of schemes OF
offensive and defensive operations and with
collecting and compiling military informa-
ton. II will be his duty to see that the
army is at all times suitably and amply
tons of war are of the best material and
of suitable character. He will recommend
suitable persons for promotions and for
military honors and rewards. He will lie
assisted In his duties by and his orders will
be conveyed and executed through the
agency of the general officers holding com
mandS and the general staff of the army
The above provision Is intended to give
the commanding general legal status
which at present he has not and is under
stood to be I'm the interest of General Niles
/ Other portions of the bill relate to details
of the administration of the affairs OF The
/ the President TO direct that the funds ap-
propriated for the quartermaster's, sub
sistance or pay departments may be placed
| TO the credit of the dsbursing officers of
| either of these departments.
A committee of negroes, composed of ex-
| Governor Pinchback of Louisiana. Bishop
A. Grant of Indiana, +. W. Hampton of
Mississippi and w. Mckinley of South
Carolina. called on the President to-day
and asked his support Of the Crumpacker
resolution and the bill introduced by Rem
resentative Irwin providing for the aI-
pOintment of a commission to investigate
the conditions of the negro. They declined
TO discuss the details of the interview but
said IL was very satisfactory one.
Xxx
The report of Colonel Crowder who in
vestigated the shipment of horses and
mules to South Africa from the port of
Chalmette. La, was laid before the Cabi-
net to-day by the President While the
report is incomplete. il developed that the
conclusion reached by the President
from what he had seen OF H. that there is
not sufficient evidence 10 show past or
present violation of neutrality and cOnse-
quently there is no warrant for interVen-
ton. Colonel Crowder will GO over the
matter very thoroughly with the President
and attorney general.
The commissioner of internal revenue has
| held that where a testator. citizen of the
| United States dies abroad, leaving prop
| erty in the United States. his estate is
prima facie liable 20 inheritance tax. To
| exempt the property. that OF a non