The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-24
SECRETARY ROOT WILL
SOON RENDER DECISION
IN ARMY POST SITE CASE
General Humphrey Now Prepared
to Submit All Papers in Regard
to the Matter.
MAJ. FRENCH'S REPORT
VIII Recommend that the Gene
terry Tract Be Secured Through
Condemnation.
MAJ. FRENCH'S REPORT
OFFICIALS ARE ANNOYED
Want the Complications at Indian
apolis Adjusted with Little
Further Delay.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

will reach decision on Saturday or early
next week as TO what course shall be taken
by the War Department relative to the In
dianapolis army post site. Quartermaster
General Humphrey has collected all the
papers bearing on the subject, including the
report of Major French. who went to In
dianapOlis to make an investigation, to-
gether with the correspondence in the Rob-
erts case, and he will submit the whole
matter 10 Secretary Root tomorrow or Sat
urday. The head of the department will
determine whether condemnation proceed
ings shall be instituted to acquire the Rob-
erts tract and the land embraced in the
old cemetery. He also will decide whether
the department can dispense with the GEM
etery tract. and If so whether such step
would interfere with the full development
of Fort Benjamin Harrison. General Hum
phrey believes the department can do with
out the cemetery, although he states that
1T is desirable the land should be acquired
by the government.
IL the cemetery Is secured through pro-
ceedings in the courts otherwise 1t is
probable General Humphrey may recon-
mend favorable action a proposition that
has just been received at the department.
II is that an entrance to the cemetery shall
be afforded through the level lying between
II and the main roadway, thus obviating the
necessity of reaching the cemetery through
the post grounds. Major French has recon-
mended that the cemetery be condemned
and that three years time be given in which
to remove the bodies inferred there.
1T is expected by the officers of the quar-
termaster generals department that Secre-
tary Root will come to a speedy conclusion.
They desire that the matter shall be closed
In order that they may know approximately
when the actual work of building shall be-
GIN II is their belief that Secretary Root
will authorize decisive action. and that it
will be in the nature Of condemnation pro-
ceedngs to acquire the Roberts and ceme-
terry tracts.
AS recently stated In these dispatches,
the impression had prevailed here that
steps had been taken which insured COM
promise IN the Roberts case. General Hum
phrey states, however. that Roberts still
has a string on the property. The COM
plications arising from the efforts to ac-
quire title TO all the land embraced in the
post site has caused great annoyance in
the department Blame is placed upon the
indianapolis real-estate firm which failed
to secure options on the two tracts in con-
troversy. General Humphrey, cooperating
with Representative Overstreet. has made
every effort to expedite settlement, but
he admitted that he had done verythng
possible to settle the problem without any
material success IL Is his purpose now to
put the question before Secretary Root and
let that official decide what shall be done
In case Secretary Root decides to con-
denim the two tracts IL is a mooted question
whether he will authorize payments TO the
other property owners pending the proceed
lnSs In the courts. A strong recommended
tion that he take such course will be
submitted to him by General Humphrey.
: =
Orders are being prepared at the Civil
service Commission providing for the estab-
hshment OF a central board of examiners at
Indianapolis. This Is in accordance with a
plan to facilitate the work of the commits
sion ard to accommodate the thousands of
applicants for examination who desire to
enter the federal service. The details as far
as Indianapolis concerned have not yet
been Perfected. bet the plan as outlined in
the rough will give the board to be estab-
hshed at Indianapolis jurisdiction over
practically the entire State of Indiana. The
commission recognizes the fact that with
the greatly increasing number of demands
for examinations, running up into MANY
thousands for the current year. Ii is desr-
able tn facilitate the work OF the local
boards as much as possible and bring them
into Close contact with the commission and
bureau here. The proposed board will be
esiabpshed in indianapolis early in the new
year.
auditor, Is out Of the race for the auditor-
ship of the Postofice Department. The Min
nesota delegation has practically decided
upon a man for this place. and the nominal
ton viii be sent to the Senate soon after
Congress reassembes. Mr. Chew has NOT
made an active campaign for the promo
tion, merely expressing a desire that IL be
given him IL an official in the department
were selected.
10 sfa foH AZ fF,a
Colonel Samuel r. Jones. who has lust been
detailed for duty at Atlanta. Ga will re-
turn to Jeffersonville to transfer the affairs
at the quartermaster's depot to the new
commander. Colonel McCauey. Colonel
Jones will remain at Atlanta several days in
connection with the reorganization of the
Department of the Gulf. Reports received
at the department indicate that the recent
trouble at Jeffersonville has been adjusted
and no further friction is anticipated
L. F. Sulday and Charles w. Glosshemer
OF Jenersonville. have been appointed
watchmen IN the quartermasters depot in
that city.
A warrant for S. $50 has been forwarded
from the treasury TO the United States dis
trict attorney with instructions to deliver
IL TO Mary j. Voyles and Harvey Voyles
owners OF the site purchased at Bedford
Ind. for the public building to be CON,
structed there.
Frank Davidson. of indianapolis is here
on business before the departments.
Senator Fairbanks will leave for Indian
apols Friday. He will remain in the State
till early IN January unless recalled by de-
velopments in connection with the Panama
question.
Addison f. Harris has been appointed
regular carrier and John NJ. Mitchell SUBJ
stitute in the rural free delivery service
At Farmersburg. Ind: also Abner W. Pool
and Joseph w. Pool. ElIzaviie, Ind
Some OF the leaders OF the administra-
tion are framing a bill. which. If enacted
into law. they believe will make IL impos-
sible for strike OF any magnitude to con-
finue for any length of time. The measure
which Is said TO have the approval OF Pres
tdent Roosevelt. will be presented In both
houses OF Congress after the holidays The
author OF the DILL Is Volney w. Foster, as
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