The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-05
COMBINATIONS BY SENATE
MISS ALICE ROOSEVELT To VISIT
GENERAL WOOD AT HAVANA.
President RoOsevelt's New Book Al
most Ready-Heavy Transfers OF
GOId-Wireless TeIegraphy.

Special 10 the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. March 4.-The bill IA
thered by Representative Loud. of Calfor-
mia. TO place the rural free delivery carriers
under the contract system received many
a hard knock to-day from both Republicans
and Democrats. Tonight il is the general
impression that when the vote is taken a
small minority OF the House will express
itself in favor OF the scheme. one of the
most forcible arguments OF the afternoon
was made by Representative Lands. of
Indiana. He stated that Mr.. Loud had al
ways been unfriendly TO rural free delivery
and that his arguments were prejudiced.
and that his new scheme was not intended
for the good of the service. but TO cripple
it. He said further: THE contract system
for rural mail delivery reminds me OF the
convict contract system, the only difference
being that the convict contract is let 10
the highest bidder. while IT is proposed to
let the rural free delivery 10 the lowest
bidder. The gentleman from California
wants TO place rural free delivery carriers
on the same level as the Chinese of Cali
fornia. insist this should not be. and that
it shall not be in Indiana. The rural free
delivery was an experiment four years ago:
to-day 1t is an absolute fixture and mil
lions OF people requesting that IL be
given TO them. You should be just in your
promises and place rural free delivery car
riers on the same footing as carriers. In
the little city OF Kokomo the free delivery
carrier receives $3.50 a year salary and 500
additional for horse hire. The rural carrier
travels twenty-five miles each day, has no
annual leave, no sick leave, no legal holi-
days, furnishes two horses and a cart, and
yet II is proposed to place his salary at
500 year, not more than a dollar n day.
j am opposed to such bill. / would rather
see the service abolished than to make IL
a cheap service AS long as / am in this
House hope to see the appropriations for
rural free delivery increase year by year,
as IL means much for the American farmer
The greatest blessings they have received
is daily mail service. and hope il will con-
tinue."
Representative Overstreet will be the
unanimous choice OF the members of the
Indiana Republican delegation to represent
them as a member of the Republican con-
gressional committee. Mr.. Oyerstreet at
present is secretary of the committee, and
is being talked of as the successor of Rep
resentative Babcock. of Wisconsin. in case
he refuses TO accept the chairmanship for
a fifth time. He would like very much 20
retire, but the committee may insist on
his reelection. Representative Overstreet
says that under no consideration would he
accept. He promises. however. that should
Mr.. Babcock be reelected he would be will
ing 20 serve another term as secretary. ia
fact. the committee would almost demand
4 that Mr.. Overstreet continue as secretary
I'm case he is not made chairman.
The signal officers of the War Depart
( telephony with marked success. The army
officers report 10 the War Department that
they have been able 10 telephone $50 feet
without the use Of wires. The present In
tention is 10 perfect the apparatus along
military lines and prepare 10 make use of
the system in transmitting orders.
The President has accepted for his daugh-
ter Alice an invitation from Governor Cen
eral Wood of Cuba for her to pay a short
visit to his home i'm Havana The Prcsi-
dents family and that Of General Wood
are the most intimate terms. and the
/ visit has been considered for some time.
She will go very soon and miss some Of the
bad Washington March weather
George W. Biegler. nominated by the
President TO be a second lieutenant
/ OF cavalry, was to-day confirmed by the
Senate. Lieutenant Biegler while captain
of volunteers in the Philippines won
medal Of honor for distinguished gallantry
( in action. The nomination OF ID. Overman.
T 10 be postmaster at Fairmount Ind. also
was confirmed.
Under the present arrangement for car.
ing for the historic battIehelds there are
+ five commissions. This represents between
fifteen and twenty sinecures. as the three
or four members of each commission have
but little 10 do and draw good pay Rep
resentative Stevens OF tho House military
affairs committee, has introduced bill
providing for the consolidation OF all these
commissions. lie thinks the work Of caring
for the historic battle grounds could De
better accomplished II IL were in few in
stead Of many hands.
Xxx
President Roosevelt has just completed
the copy Of book entitled The Deer OF
North America" II is needless 10 say the
preparation Of this work. which involved
"A large amount of scientific research and
I exhaustive investigation. began before he
assumed the duties Of chief magistrate.
The manuscript is still IN the hands OF a
competent man for revision before IL passes
20 the publisher.
The controller OF the currency today
approved the application OF W & Bald
ridge j. L. Lloyd, f. j. Jennings W. V
Jennings and Thomas j. Walls 10 orsanizs
the National Bank OF Farmersburg. Ind.
capital 5000
The census bin will be signed by Presi-
dent Roosevelt just as soon as he has de-
cided on the best means OF preventing the
employees Of this department from crovding
I out other applicants for government po-
sitions who have passed the classified serv-
| Ice and are now the wrong list. He
thinks ne sees his way clear 70 prevent