The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-04
Few Complaints of Rebate Paying
Now Received by the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
HEMENwAY AT WHITE HOUSE
PRESIDENT WANTED INFORMATION
ABOUT EXPENDITURES.
Postal Statistics of Interest to In
dfanians-Items OF Especial In
terest TO HOLSTERS.
special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. Dec. 3.-The efforts OF
the shippers associations and the influence
OF the Interstate-commerce Commission, so
far as such influence is felt In matters of
legislation pending before Congress. will be
devoted during the present Congress to-
ward securing the passage Of the bill
strengthening the hands of the commits
sion. and giving power to establish rates
which shall remain I'm force until a case Is
made out by the offending railway COM
pany. The Importance of this statement
rests in the fact that so successful have
been tile operations of the Elkins law.
passed in the closing days of the last Con-
gress, that it is not believed anything fur
ther is needed in the way Of guarding
against rebate paying. 1t Is the opinion OF
the commission that the changes made by
the EIkins law. abolishing imprisonment.
and penalizing the acceptance as well as
the granting of rebates. has proved very
effective. and there are comparatively few,
IL any. complaints on the ground of rebate
payments. Issues still arising, how
ever. on account of alleged favoritism, or
advantages obtained by great corporations
who own their cars, or the tracks around
corrective influences of the commission.
and possibly further legislation. Many
commercial bodies in Indiana have petit
toned Congress I'm this connection. The
opinion was expressed by a member OF
the commission to-day that the excellent
business conditions, together with the
workings of the laws relating to interstate
10 shippers and carriers that the laws are
wholesome and general acquiescence has
objeetion one ana and discontent with regard to
the law. In times Of great business pros
perity there IL not the necessity Tor grants
OF favors to secure business
Representative Hemenway called at the
White House to-day in response TO an In
vitation from President Roosevelt. 1t is
understood the subject of appropriations In
the regular session was under considera-
ton. The President had no suggestions to
offer in this connection, but he desired to
secure information from Mr. Hemenway
relative to questions to be discussed i'm his
annual message involving the expenditure
OF public money.
''The policy OF Congress in making APP
preparations this year." said Mr.. Hemen-
way, twill be the same as In the past. Elk
penditures will be made where they are re
the congressional budgets as long as they
are made UP of expenditures that are meri-
lion-dolar Congress attracts attention. The
government Is growing rapidly and govern
ment works must be improved to keep pace
with the progress OF the times.
Mr.. Hemenway was asked as he was
leaving the White House to-day II he had
renewed his oath Of allegiance TO the Pres
ident.
at Is not necessary" he replied with a
smile. II discussed various matters with
him. and politics was only incidentally
touched upon during the conference"
XXX
More than a hundred kilograms were re-
ceived by members of the Indiana delega-
ton to-day from Marion, Montpelier, Alex
andria and other cities in the State with
reference to rights soon to be granted by
the Interior Department permitting the
construction of oil tank lines in Indian Ter
ritory. They came from the Prairie Gas
and OIL Company. The question of grant
ing such privileges in the Southwest Terri
tory has been under consideration for sew
eral weeks and Secretary hitchcock Is ex-
pected to hand down a decision at an early
date.
More than 100000 pounds Of second-class
matter were handled i'm the Indianapolis
postoffice during the fiscal year 1903. The
exact figures for 1902 and 1903 as follows:
1902, 3.19S-6S5 pounds; 1908, 4.045,S9S pounds.
This is a gain of s4726s pounds or nearly
"a per cent. In 1902 the postage collected
amounted to $s1.ss6. Last year it increased
TO $40, As. an increase of sS,472 over the pre-
ceding year. These figures are contained in
the report OF the third assistant postmaster
general made public to-day. City letter
carriers in Indiana registered 1858 pieces
of mail In the fiscal year June 80, last. This
f. a decline of 707, the carriers in the State
having collected 1850 pieces of mail for
registration In the preceding year. In In
dianapolis there was an increase Use of S52, the
mail In the fiscal year 1905 as compared
with 1942 in the fiscal year 1902
The report of third assistant shows that
Individual registration of mail Is becoming
more popular ,proportionately on rural
routes than in IN the sc cities In Indiana r for
tered by the rural carriers in 1903, as COM
pared vsth 6ss26 pieces in 1902.
xxx
The civil-service committee and the post
master general have approved new regula-
tons to govern operations Of carriers in
rural free delivery service. the regulations
to be effective Feb. /, 1904 The most i'm
portant change made by the new regula-
tons is the elimination OF the examiners
report concerning the applicants fitness
as part OF the examination. the service
having grown to such proportions as to
prevent the examiner making careful per-
sonal inquiry as to the applicants. Under
the new plan simple competitive exanlina-
ton will be held TO develop only those
lutely essential in a carrier, and the names
OF those passing the examination will be
placed on the register in the order of
their ratings and certified accordingly In
order that patrons OF a given route may
have some voice in the matter the new
regulations provide that whenever five or
more patrons OF a rural free delivery route
submit in writing sworn statements that
applicant Is unsuitable for appointment
giving specific reasons therefor. each fam
lily patronizing or residing the route may
be requested TO express opinion as to
the applicants name being stricken from
the register. No objections that do not
touch essential qualifications will be con-
sidered- Under the new regulations resi-
dence OF the applicant near the route and
possession of. or ability to furnish the nee
essary equipment are made conditions pre-
cedent TO eligibility and not elements in the
examination, as at present.
People In Indiana have an interest in the
fight that is about to be made by Senator
Penrose. OF Pennsylvania. I'm opposition to
the ratification of the treaty with Cuba pro-
vfding for the recognition OF the sovereign
ty OF Cuba over the Isle of Pines. The fight
of Senator Penrose is based on the grounds