The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-20
Senator Fairbanks DeluGed with Let
ters as a Result of Recent News
paper RumOrs.
MORE CLERKS FOR P0sT0FFICES
SEVERAL INDIANA POsTMASTERS TO
HAVE ADDITIONAL HELP.
Two More Rural Free Delivery Routes
to Be observation-disclosures
ment of Carriers.


WASHINGTON, March 19.-Willia.n Dud-
ley Foulke, of Richmond, md, has made
another contribution to the controversy
that has been waged between him and
Charles B. Murray of Cincinnati, over the
charges made by the latter on behalf of
the National Board of Trade that political
influence prevailed to large extent in
appointments made by the commission in
the statistical division of the Department
Of Agriculture. This controversy, which
has been carried on in the newspapers, has
attracted considerable attention, and on
account Of the charge that politics has ex-
ercised an influence over appointments has
been closely followed by civil-service re-
formers. The letter made public by Mr.
Foulke Is in reply to one written by Mr..
Murray on the 18th inst, in which the state
ment was made that any one having suffi-
cient intelligence and discretion to appro-
priately perform duties in the civil-service
commission can readily ascertain all that is
needful to the political influence recog-
nized In the inquiry committee (National
Board Of Trade) report without appealing
to any one outside of Washington"
Mr. Foulke prefaces his letter with this
statement: "Dr. Johnson once said that he
could give a definition, but not the ca
pacity to comprehend 1t. / think gave you
reasons which justified the commission In
making the inquiries it did, but am unable
to illuminate the mind of one who does
not desire to understand them." Mr.
Foulke adds: II am quite content to accept
your own confession as to the meaning of
your own words and to interpret them,
not as ordinary English words, but In the
harmless and Pickwickian sense you now
give them." Mr.. Foulke then informs MUIR
ray that the commissions investigation
develops that the political influences spoken
of do not exist, "a conclusion which they
are happy to find is confirmed by your own
disclaimer as well as by your refusal TO
furnish evidence The opinion here is
that SO far the Indianian has the best of
the argument.
A question has been raised in the Office
OF the supervising architect Of the Treasury
Department which is of interest in Indi-
ana and all States where public buildings
have been authorized by Congress It is
In relation to the Tarsney act under which
public buildings construction is let out
to private architects. So far this law has
been applied only to buildings of the first
magnitude, but only in rare instances, one
OF them the Indianapolis building, according
TO treasury officials, has 1t proved a success
A move has been inaugurated by the Amer
lean Institute of Architects to have the
provisions OF the Tarsney act tried on build
ings or the smaller class in order that its
efficiency may be fully tested. The depart
ment officials contend that IL the plan of
letting out public-building construction un-
DER private contract Is extended IL must
be modified in many respects. Under the
present system friction Is engendered by
the dual authority provided by the law,
and in many instances this has resulted in
interminable delays. The officials are in
clined to believe that only the plans for the
buildings should be made by private archi-
tects and that the actual work of construc-
ton should be carried on under the juris-
diction of the department. While the off,
Gals will not discuss the subject II is un-
wedge in the direction of a policy to have
all government building construction done
under private contract No action has vet
been taken on the suggestion that an exper-
iment be made with the Tarsney act on
the smaller buildings provided by Congress.
Senator Fairbanks Is willing to grant
the educational value Of the public press,
but recently he has formed the opinion
that the newspapers are at times prolific of
a great deal OF trouble to public men, Since
the publication of the rumors that the
senator contemplated purchasing newspaper
properties he has been deluged with letters
from type foundries. printing press COM
panies and paper supply houses. The SEN
ator is hopeful that his denial of an inten-
tion to go into Journalism will be accepted
as a reply to all who have communicated
with an intention to sell him the various
commodities that go to make up a news
| paper plant.
Additional allowances for clerks in Indi-
ana postoffices have been authorized as fol-
| lows, to take effect July /:
Bedford-One clerk at $500 to $780, one at
| 500 to $500, one at $500 to S9O0
Bluffton-One at 800 to $500. one at 5000 to
| $780, one at 500 TO $500.
Observation-Disclosures at $500 to $780, three
| at $500 to s7O0. one al s70O TO $780,
Evansville-One additional clerk at $500,
| two at $500 to $780, one at 5000 to 500. one at
| 500 to $500. two at $500 to 500, one at $500
| TO $1,000.
Frankfort-One at $500 to $780, one at $500
| TO $500.
Lafayette-Two additional clerks at $500,
two at $500 TO 5000. three at 500 to $780, three
81, 900 TO sl,l0o.
Madison--Two at $500 to $780, one at $500
! Marion-Two additional clerks at $780, one
at $500 TO $780, four at s1oO to $500, two at $500
to $500, two at 500 to $1,000 ~
| Rochester-One at 800 to $500, one addi-
| tional clerk at $500.
seymorr-One additional clerk at $500.
| three at 500 to $500
An additional rural free delivery service
| will be established at Kokomo. Howard
county. Indiana on Nay l. with one carrier:
length Of route. 24ss miles: area covered, IS
square miles: population served, $40; num-
Der OF houses on route, 40.
| Also additional service at Wilkinson.
| Hancock county, Indiana, with one carrier;
length of route. % miles: area covered. u
| square miles: population served. 4S1: num-
ber OF houses on route, 107.
Postofiices at Maple Valley. Henry coun-
IL. and Miners Corners. Hancock county.