The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-23
CAPTAIN CASTLE WILL
REPLY TO CRITICISMS
Will Answer the Charges in the
Report of Messrs. Bonaparte
and Conrad.
TRACEWELL'S ATTITUDE
Indianian May Decline to Notice
the Allusion to Him-Wash-
ington Gossip.
TRACEWELL'S ATTITUDE
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Castle, auditor of the Postoffice Depart
ment. will soon reply to the criticism of his
administration contained in the report OF
Messrs. Bonaparte and Conrad. r. j. Trace
well, of Indiana. controller of the treasury.
was also criticised in mild terms in the
Bonaparte-Conrad report. Up to this time
Mr.. Tracewell has declined to comment on
the conclusions reached by the investigation
commission appointed by President Roose-
velt except to say that he was willing to
stand or fall on his record. Mr.. Tracewell
will doubtless continue to refuse to reply to
Messrs. Bonaparte and Conrad. But Cap
tain Castle will not pass in silence the stric-
lures made on him by Bonaparte and Con-
rad. He has stated repeatedly that none of
the men mentioned in the document was
given opportunity to appear before the in
YeStigatOrS and that the criticisms OF Bona
parte and Conrad were made by men who
did not take the trouble to go fully into the
official acts of which complaint was made.
Friends of Mr. Tracewell make the same
assertion, but the controller himself cannot
be induced to talk on the subject The re-
ply of Captain Castle to Bonaparte and
Conrad is looked forward to with great
deal of interest here.
No definite action relative to the army
post site at Indianapolis will be taken I'M
til the return to Washington of Repre-
sentative Overstreet. In the meantime
every effort will be made by the quarter
master generals department to induce Sec
rotary Root to authorize payments to the
property owners who have turned their
land over TO the government. AS soon as
condemnation proceedings are authorized,
and there appears to be no doubt now that
such step will be taken, the officials be-
lieve that Secretary Root will authorize the
payments and put the machinery in motion
toward
building OF the post.
The architects in Hammond. Fort Wayne
and Chicago who were recently invited to
submit designs tor the proposed public
building in the first named city have sig
nified their intention of entering the com
petition The designs will be examined by
the treasury board on March 1.
E. L. Williams, of Indianapolis recently
appointed assistant clerk of the House
committee on postoffices by Representative
Overstreet, has arrived here, and entered
upon his duties.
James c. Irwin has been appointed regu-
lar carrier and c. c. Beard substitute in
the rural free delivery district at Liberty,
Ind. Also William F. DunkeIberger and
Edward Frymier at Warsaw, Ind.
Announcement is made by the control
Ter Of the currency that Oakley Bright
has been made assistant cashier Of the
place OF Samuel g. Van Malta.
Four rural free delivery routes have been
ordered established at Churubusco on rec
ommendation of Senator Beveridge.
xxx
To some of the senator's who have par
ticularly interested themselves in the pend
ing Wood nomination with an eye espe-
cially 20 the protection of some of the vet
eran officers of the army, the President has
expressed himself very plainly to the eff
feet that these officers have nothing to
fear In the immediate future. AS ii was
pointed out TO him that there was consid-
cradle apprehension among the friends of
these army officers lest upon the retire
ment of General Chaffee with the rank of
point Major General Leonard Wood to be
lieutenant general, involving the Jump
ing" of a number of distinguished general
officers who never would have chance to
attain the highest rank by reason of Gen.
eral Woods incumbency in the place for
fifteen years, the President has expressly
declared that he has no such intention.
At the request of Governors of the States
indicated. and in conformity with the pro-
tia BILL the secretary of war has detailed
the following officers of the army for duty
with the organized militia for a period of
four years, unless sooner relieved: Briga-
der General Aaron s. Daggett retired Ne
braska; Brigadier General Charles w.
Miner, retired, Ohio; Major William Ger
ZACH, retired. Minnesota, and Major Robert
w. Dowdy, Arkansas. While serving on
these details the officers named will receive
the full pay and allowances of their grades.
In reference to the alleged interview at
tributed to Major General H. c. Merriam
to the effect that the proposed promotion
Of General Wood would be harmful to the
army, Secretary Root has received a tele-
gram from General Merriam, dated Dem
yer. in which he declares that he has not
authorized any publications the subject
1t is understood that the generals state
ment Will be regarded as satisfactory at
the War Department.
After two weeks confinement from an
attack of grip and cold. Secretary Hay is
at last able to leave his bedroom and spend
most of each day in his library where he
transacts good deal of business reouir-
ing his personal attention or In which he is
particularly interested He still suffers
from hoarseness incident to the rather Sc
we're bronchial attack. which yields very
attack of the same kind from which he
suffered last winter, involving a trip TO
Thomasvflle, Ga. for recuperation. How
ever, the approach of the Christmas holt
days and the necessity of entertaining the
diplomatic body at the annual New Years
breakfast at his own home, probably will
prevent the partaking IF like trip at this
time.
The attention of Senator Warren was
| called to-day to a purported interview with
| him in which he was quoted as saying that
the President had given assurances that
| General Wood would not be promoted 10
| the position OF lieutenant general during
his (the Presidents) term of Office IL re-
elected Senator Warren said of the mat
| ter: president Roosevelt has not to my
| knowledge announced what he would do II
| reelected regarding General Woods pro-
motion, or what he would do about any
other matter which might arise in the flu
| ture, and. of course. L have not attempted
| and would not attempt TO speak for him.
No Cabinet meeting will be held durine
the holiday recess. Both President Roose-
Welt and his official advisers will observe
| the recess so far the public service will
/ permit Such business as the several Cab
| met officers may have with the President
| will be brought to his attention by them
| as individuals. unless some emergency
| should arise which would render il neces-
| sary for the Cabinet TO assemble a body
| for its consideration.