The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-14
His Amendment Adopted by Commit
tee Of the whole, but Must Yet Run
the Gauntlet in the Open.
SORE AGENTS RESPONSIBLE
CIRCULAR ISSUED BY PROMOTERS
OF THE VALLEY MILLS SITE
Charge Made that the Government
Has Agreed to Pay Too Much for
the Lawrence Land.
az correspondence OF the journal.

gtaf Correspondence Of the Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-The amendment
which Is to make it possible for the govern
ment to purchase the Lawrence site for the
military post near Indianapolis was made
q political issue in the House this after
noon, and the Democrats, with their usual
readiness to object. together with nat
ural characteristic to obstruct, voted
against the measure. Party lines were
tightly drawn. and much to the surprise
OF Representative Overstreet, who intro
duced the amendment, the. opposition was
led by Mr.. Zenor, the Democratic repre-
sentative from the Third Indiana district.
He was supported by Representative Miers.
the other Democrats from Indiana, Messrs.
Robinson and Griffith, being absent. The
objection OF the Democrats did not prevail,
however and for the time being the amend
ment is safe.
Mr. Overstreet introduced his amendment
late this afternoon while the House was
sitting as a committee of the whole to
consider the sundry civil appropriation bill.
The work Of going through the bill was
practically complete when Mr.. Overstreet
was granted unanimous consent to return
TO that part of the bill where it would be
proper 20 insert the amendment He then
offered his amendment for $4,000 to be ex-
pended in completing the purchase price OF
the Lawrcnce land after the arsenal is
sold. Mr.. Overstreet explained what has
already been done regarding the establish
ment Of a post at Indianapolis, and showed
that 1t will require something like $4,000
to make up the amount necessary to buy
the Lawrence site. The remainder of the
amount was to be used in paying the ex-
penses of the sale of the arsenal and for
the payment of other expenses
ZENOR's EXPLANATION.
Representative Zeaor made point of or
der, but did not press IT. He afterward ex-
planned that he wanted the House to know
what there was in the amendment. and he
desired the members to use their own pleas
ure about voting for it. Mr.. Zenor ad-
dressed the members at some length, de-
claring that the government was paying
too rnuch for this land He asserted that
the law made 1t possible for the secretary
of war to sell the arsenal and buy land
for q post at indianapolis, limiting the
amount to be expended for the land to the
amount to be received for the arsenal Mr..
Eenor said it seemed to be the purpose to
purchase 1888 acres Of this land. which is
valued on the tax duplicate at an average
of not to exceed 5000 an acre at its excess
value. Mr.. Zenor contended the land would
not be worth more than $4,000. Admit
ting" said he, that the valuation placed
on the land is below its cash value. 1t cer-
tainly would not be contended that it was
assessed at less than two-thirds its value.
and at this rate. adding SIS acre to its
essessed value, making it s45 an acre, the
land would only be worth $4,000. And yet
pay 500 an acre, or 900, for the land
The House voted on the amendment as a
committee of the whole by rising vote. The
Republicans voted for the amendment and
the Democrats against it, the measure car
rying by vote OF "A to 35.
TEST VOTE TO-DAY.
Some Democrats evidently voted against
the amendment who have a very vague idea
OF the situation. They seem to feel it was
proper to try and defeat the measure be-
cause a Democrat led the opposition. One
member, when he found the amendment
had carried. announced that when the
amendment comes before the House to be
finally passed the Georgia members of the
House will insist on a yea and nay vote.
If there is an ordinarily large attendance
of members when this is done the amend
continued as party measure" Mr.. Over
street expressed the fear last night that
If the matter came up tomorrow. Saturday
being pension day this week. there might
be slim attendance and the amendment
may be defeated.
Mr.. Overstreet expressed surprise that
Representative Miers should vote against
the amendment. 1t is a welI-known fact
that Mr. Zenor has uyapta5 a ,,,tl;t.~.- ,.,..
at Jeffersonville. and there is suspicion
that he does not feel kindly toward Indian
apolis. His remarks evidently were based
on the typewriter circulars sent on to
Washington by real-estate firm, which. IL
is understood here. is agent for the Valley
Mills site and is sore over its defeat Diff
ferent Indiana members received these cir
culars, and IL is said that REPRESENTATIVE
Cannon. chairman OF the committee ON an
propriations, got one. Among other things
the circular declares that I'm a short time
we understand. you will be called on TO vote
an appropriation of sl50.ooo. in addition to
the s154.o00 already voted. to purchase. some
cheap. rough. hilly clay land. much of IL
in its wild state OF cultivation, In this coun-
ty. for the new army post" The circular
goes on to say how the firm has made in
vestigation of 2.s77.s9 acres in the sections
I'm which the army post is to be located.
which shows an average assessed value OF
t30.i3 per acre. THE army post is TO take
1.s33 acres out OF this-which 1883 acres we
do not know" the circular continues, but
on the same valuations OF $D.4s per acre
the appraised value will be S55.77s.i9. This
Il what the government is asked to pay
e1sosoo for. VIII you support such an APP