The Indianapolis journal., 1903-02-12
Says He Was Not Representative of
the state, Like the Late Ex-Presi-
dent Benjamin Harrison.
BARCUS CASE ARGUMENTS
INDIANA PUBLISHER DEFENDED BY
CONGRESSMAN HOLIDAY.
Fears of Technical Institute Promo
ters-Mr. Overstreet's Efforts to
Secure Money fOr-POst Site.
Staff Correspondence of the Journal.

WASHINGTON, Feb. u.-Representative
I. h. Lands, of Indiana, is opposed to
placing the statue of George Rogers Clark
In the national Capitol. II think the statue
of some man whose life and achievements
were identified with Indiana should share
with that of Oliver p. Morton the illustri-
Gus company in Statuary Hall. George
Rogers Clark is not sufficiently representa-
tive of the State. Other States have just
as much right to claim him as Indiana.
of our State would feel that a mistake had
been made. l can see no reason for rushing
this matter at this time. 1t will keep. In
diana will still be entitled to another statue
two years hence. and four years hence, and
until the selection is made. If the matter
is to be determined now / do not see how
any one can question Benjamin Harrison's s
right to the honor. He was in every way
representative Indianian. He was a
splendid soldier; he was probably the great
est all-round lawyer in the United States,
and he was great President. His name
and fame will grow illustrious with the
years, and the time would never come
when perplexed Indianians would stand be-
fore his statue In the national Capitol won-
dering who he was and why his statue was
there. Neither would they be puzzled If
the statue of Hendricks were placed there.
He was Governor of Indiana, he was Vice
President of the United States. he was one
OF the greatest lawyers of his time, and
always an ideal American gentleman. And
think how many States there are whose
people would wait reverenty for that SOL
emn hour to come when 1T would be appro-
pirate to place the familiar figure of the
author of 'Ben-Hur' among that group of
immortals He is a great author-has been
a great soldier, great diplomat. During
the dark days of the war, when the Con-
federate hosts were within sight of Wash
ington, he improvsed an army and threw
1T in the very teeth of the enemy, and with
the desperation of despair fought until REIN
forcements came and saved the national
capital And then the day will come when
we will not have James Whitcomb Riley
with US. Think of the men and women and
children who would gather around his
statue if it were placed in that hall some
day, and recite lines that would bring tears
of sorrow and joy. The people of Indiana
cannot possibly make mistake by waiting.
BY unanimous consent the matter should
be postponed until later day.
Representative Holiday, of the Fifth In
diana district, appeared before the House
committee on printing this morning in de-
fense of Senator James s. Barcus and his
Messages and Papers of the Presidents :"
The fact that Mr.. Barcus has been a strong
political rival of Mr.. Holiday and fought
him hard through two campaigns cut no
figure with the Fifth district congressman.
He appeared before the committee repre-
senting constituent, although he had not
been requested to do by Mr.. Barcus.
The committee heard the statement of H.
{. Smith, of Michigan, who introduced the
resolution to investigate Senator Barcus' s
mr. nfi
Mr.. Smith stated his case practically as Ii
has been stated before, charging that the
manner in which the Messages and Papers
or the Presidents are now being printed
is likely to deceive the public into believing
the work is being done under government
authority. Mr.. Smith thought Congress
should make some provision for printing
more of these documents or that the work
be open to competition.
Mr.. Holiday in his remarks regarding
the resolution said he objected to the gov
ernment going into the book printing busi-
ness. He pointed out that it would lead to
no end of demands for these documents IL
they were distributed promiscuously, and
he thought that as long as Senator Barcus
had invested his money in these plates and
had built up business he should not be
interfered with. Mr.. Holiday thought the
plan now being pursued in the printing of
these documents would deceive no one of
ordinary intelligence. He pointed out that
it would be ruinous to the Barcus people
for the government TO take up this work
and distribute the documents free.
Representative Overstreet was ready
with his amendment to the sundry civil
appropriation bill all day, but. the time
did not arrive when he thought it was
policy to present it. He will ask for $4,000,
and will explain to the House that about
$4,000 of the amount will be used in pay
ing for the military post site at Indian
apolis and the remainder to defray the sx-
pense of selling the Arsenal. 1t will take
quite a sum to pay these expenses, includ-
ing the compensation for the board of ap-
praisers. Mr.. Overstreet has had talk
with the secretary of war regarding the
pay of the appraisers, but no amount has
been fixed.
Mr.. Overstreet has decided that il will
not be wise to ask for more than $50 OOO
for the post, as it will be necessary within
the next few days to get an appropriation
of 100000 through Congress for the Indi-
annapolis federal building. 1T is the plan
now to wait until the entire sundry civil
bill has been passed on and then bring
out the amendment. IL the amendment is
not successful I'm the House, Senator Fair
banks will take care of 1T in the Senate.
The War Department is not encouraging
outside bids on the Arsenal property. The
department will simply comply with the
law in advertising the property for sale
TO the highest bidder" 1t is reasonable
to suppose that If some one would offer
SJc,VO more ior the property tnan the
technical institute people il would be sold
to this bidder. However, the department
expects to sell the property to the institute
promoters for sl54,V0, and some time ago
the secretary of war expressed the hope
to Representative Overstreet that the in
stitute people would secure the property,
and intimated that the department. hoped
there would be other bidders. How
ever, the fear has been expressed by some
of those interested in the matter in Wash
ington that an outside syndicate of some
sort will step in at the last minute and
outbid DIR. Dckey and his friends
General Corbin said to-day that he knew
nothing of any one being sent from Chicago
to examine the water supply at the Law
renee site. He said If il had been done il
was under the direction of General Mac
Arthur The latter officer Is In Washing
ton tonight, but could not be found at his
hotel.
Representative Crumpacker has been
watching the sundry civil appropriation
bill closely for two days. He Is prepared 10
object to one of its provisions, new one
that will affect the pensions of soldiers
The government pays to those State Sol
diers' Homes that take care of veterans
homes the sum of 800 a year for each
veteran taken care of. The government
homes will not admit the wives or families
OF veterans, but State homes will. On this
account many veterans who would other
wise be in the government institutions &c
| to the State homes because they can take
| their wives there. In all of these cases the
government pays 500 toward the main
| tainence of the pensioner. The new sundry
| civil appropriation bill about to be passed
| by the House provides that the State Sol
| diers' Homes shall turn over TO the govern.
ment half Of the amount collected from sol