The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-22
Wants More Money for His Tract of
Land than the War Department
Agreed to Pay.
RURAL TELEPHONE SERVICE
MAY BE OPERATED IN CONNECTION
WITH FREE DELIVERY SYSTEM.
Senator Fafrbanks's Plan Meeting
with Favor-site for the benjamin.
Harrison Statue.
.scial to the indianapolis Journal.

WASHINGTON, Nov. H.-There IS a pos
sibility that the plan OF the War Depart
ment to expedite the work Of establishing
the proposed army post at indianapolis
may be retarded by the attitude OF John
Roberts. one of the owners Of tract en-
braced in the site selected. Roberts has
been here for the past week. and is evident
ly determined to secure more money FOR the
land than was agreed upon between him
and the officials. Through the efforts of
Representative Overstreet everything had
been placed In readiness for the transfer
Of all the tracts to the government when
Mr.. Roberts put In an appearance ard made
known his demands. While the Roberts
tract Is not Indispensable. the officials de-
sire that 1t shall be secured for the purposes
OF the government. and they will make ev-
cry effort to induce the owner to sell. 1t
appears that through some technical error
the option OF the government became in
valid, although some OF the officials believe
the government can enforce the contract
II the matter is taken into the courts
Representative Overstreet called at the
department. to-day just before he left for
Indianapolis to confer with the secretary
Of war and quartermaster general He ex-
pressed disappointment that there should be
any trouble at this late day. in view OF the
fact that IL the plans OF the department are
held back 1t may not be possible to secure
funds at this session to authorize the con-
struction OF buildings. Representative Over
street feels certain that the present COM
plications will be adjusted as to permit
OF active building operations during the
coming year, as planned by the secretary OF
war.
Senator Fairbanks to-day conferred with
Postmaster General Payne relative to the
establishment OF telephone service in
connection with rural mail delivery. The
senator has a plan. which he proposed in
the last session OF Congress-. providing a
special delivery service on rural routes cor
responding to that employed In cities. In
the case Of the rural routes It Is proposed
to deliver special messages by means Of
the telephone. If the scheme is adopted 1t
will require an entirely new issue Of stamps
of a distinctive style for use only by those
who desire messages communicated from
O postoftice TO patron on route. The
idea is regarded as an excellent one. and
II Senator Fairbanks reintroducss his bill
Il will probably be approved by the post
master general
The BENJAMIN Harrison statue will be
erected In front Of the Indianapolis public
building II the memorial commission 50 de-
cides. It Is suggested here that the COM
mission may not be disposed to take the
privilege offered by the government. in
view of the fact that 1t will be extended in
the form of a revocable license. This is
an uncertainty. some Indiana people think,
which may nots strike the commission >fa-
yorably. But Supervising Architect Taylor
said to-day that IL the monument Is erected
on the government tract the license would
never be revoked. While IL IS unusual TO
permit the erection OF statues or memorials
In or near public buildings, the present In
stance Is regarded as one where the gov
eminent should make an exception. BenJa-
min Harrison having been one or the most
eminent men Of his time. The authorities
are inclined to encourage the idea Of plac-
ing the statue in front OF the Indianapolis
public building for the reason that II will
make the spot more attractive.
Xxx
Postal officials are disappointed at the out
come of the trial of Daniel ". Miller. Of
Terre Haute, and Joseph NJ. Johns, of
Rockville, who were acquitted yesterday
at Cincinnati While IT has been admitted
for some time that the case against the
Indiana men was weak, It was believed
among postal officials that the second trial
to conceal the disappointment felt over this
case. The opinion is freely expressed here
that the government Is a little uncertain
about It's case against Machen and the
Croft brothers. Machens trial has been
postponed twice various pretexts, and
This has given rise to the report that the
authorities desire more time In which to
strengthen their evidence before going into
THOSE much advertised documents. the
Bristow report and the Bonaparte-Conrad
report, have not yet seen the light OF day.
"A conference was held at the department
to-day concerning them. Postmaster Gen
eral Payne and Fourth Assistant Bristow
hour but the date OF publication Is as IN
certain now as IL has been for many weeks.
XXX
There are indications that efforts will be
made at the regular session OF Congress
10 secure the passage OF bill framed on
lines following the recommendation of the
Grand Army at Its last annual encamp-
ment. This organization urged that all
soldiers over sixty-two years Of age should
be paid a pension Of sl2 month. and that
the widows of such soldiers shall be placed
on the pension rolls. Representatives Of
the Grand Army OF the Republic, who are
in charge of the matter, have received much
announcement from members OF both
houses OF Congress. The Indiana Repub-
licans, especially Representative Holiday,
who will be a member of the pension COM
rnittee are much interested In this proposed
legislaticn Doubt Is expressed that GER
tain action can be secured at this time on
account OF the fact that such measure
would increase by many millions the expen-
ditures on account OF pensions
XXX
Telezrams received from Indiana people
from Halifax are to the effect that Col. w.
r. Holloway is improving, and he is now
believed to be out of danger. AS soon as
hs ,s able 10 report for duty Colonel Hollo-
way will undoubtedly secure a long leave
OF absence. He VIII then proceed to In
dianapolis.
A decision will be reached at the War
Department early next week in the case
OF Captain Hoyt McClain. of the Indiana
Guard. who is an applicant for place on
tthe staff OF the judge advocate general of
the army II any one out OF the regular
service secures this appointment Captain
McClain will undoubtedly have first consid-
will be given the vacancy.
The plans for the public buildings at
Muncie and yincennes are nearing COM
pletion. They will be ready I'm time TO
permit OF building permissions early In the
spring.
Frank L. Jones, former superintendent
of public instruction In Indiana. Is In
shfp Ia cornes here 10 confer with