The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-01
Members of the Judiciary Also Al
legged to Have Attempted to In
huence COngressmen.
OF MR.. FAIRBANKS
HE OPPOSES INCREASE IN SALARIES
OF LEGISLATORS.
War Revenue Tax Repeal Bill to Be
Pushed-Payne's Cuban Rec
iprOcity Statement.
,ecial to the IndianapoIis journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-Senator Fair
banks spoke out very Strongly to-day
against consideration of any measure look
ing TO the increase in the salaries of SEN
ators and representatives. The matter
came up for debate in connection with an
amendment to the bill of Senator Hoar to
increase the salaries of federal judges.
Senator Fairbanks said he was familiar
with the hard work done by judges of the
Federal Court and thought it only fair that
their compensation be increased. He said
the United States reached out for the
strongest men that could be found for the
judiciary, and it was only fair that the gov
ernment should give proper compensation
for services rendered
There is a disposition among the know
ing ones to regard the vigorous executive
letter of the President to-day, relating to
government employees seeking raise in pay
(printed elsewhere), as an intimation TO
high officers of the government TO cease
trying to influence Congress. 1t is known
that some of the judicial officers have writ
ten to congressional friends. asking them to
give consideration to Mr.. Hoar's bill. I'm
der the practices this is not improper, but
1t is known that the President has no
friendly regard for such intercession. The
order of the President is especially aimed
at army and navy officers. who seek to
use congressman to obtain special assign
ments and details. This has grown TO be
something of a nuisance to the legislators
as we'll as to the heads of executive de-
partments. The President goes back to
simple army regulations for an inspiration
for his vigorous letter of to-day. That is
to say, each officer must make his requests
of his immediate superior and let them
take the regular official channel.
Representative Watson is confident the
committee on postoffices and post roads
will report his bill creating the office of
fifth assistant postmaster general The
main object of the measure is to create a
special department for the handling of the
rural free delivery and the city carrier
systems. 1t is expected that if the bill
passes Mr.. Machen, now general superin-
tendent of carriers, Will be given the place.
He has had more to do with building up
the rural free delivery business than any
other one man. Mr.. Watson hopes to have
a report in few weeks.
Xxx
The Senate committee on public buildings
and grounds to-day authorized Senator
Fairbanks to make a favorable report on
his bill providing for the erection of new
department building in Washington on the
site of the old Corcoran art gallery at the
corner of Seventeenth street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue. The bill provides that the
building shall be devoted TO the use of the
State Department and the Department of
Justice and that space shall be allotted in
the building to the clerical force under
the immediate control of the President
and which now finds working space in the
White House. No appropriation is made
but authority is given to acquire the site
and erect the building. The supervising
architect estimates that a suitable building
can be put up for 100000.
The Treasury Club, an organza ton of
officials of the Treasury Department, gave
a farewell dinner tonight at the Shoreham
Hotel to Lyman j. Gage, the retiring secre-
tary. Covers were laid for sixty-fve, the
succeeds Mr.. Gage. former Assistant Secre-
taries Vanderlip and Howell and Admiral
Farquhar. Speeches were made by Gov
ernor Shaw, Secretary Gage and Assistant
Secretaries Allies, Taylor and Spalding.
&Rx
The controller Of the currency to-day an
proved the Fletcher National Bank. of In
dianapolis. as a reserve agent for the First
National Bank. of Martinsville. Ind.