Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-19
OMAHA BIDDERS INCREASE
Much in Evidence in Opening o. Bids fol
Supplies for Indians,
MATHEwSoN HAS A TALK WITH JONES
Com missioner of Indian Affairs says
He Does Not Know whether
WinnebaEo Agent win
stay I'm Service.
From a STAFF Correspondent.

From a staff Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, May 1S-,special Tele-
gram.)-W. A. Jones, commissioner of In
dian affairs, has returned to Washington
from Chicago where he has spent the past
four weeks experimenting the opening of
bids for Indian supplies for the use of his
department during the coming fiscal year.
Mr.. Jones said today that the bids received
were more numerous than during former
years and also that prices were consider
ably lower upon a number of staple articles.
He stated that there were more Omaha
bidders than ever before in the history OF
the service.
AS you probably know" said Commits
sioner Jones, the government buys for the
Indians almost everything from needles to
threshing machines. and you can see what
multiplicity Of material 1 have to pass
upon.
While in Chicago Agent Mathewson
came to see me and we had long talk. 1
do not know whether Mathewson will be
retained in an official position after July
or not He may be continued as superin-
tendent of schools, which is a position in
the classified service, but really I do not
now have any definite information as to
what will be done in his case"
Commissioner Jones leaves Washington
tonight for New York to be present at the
opening OF bids for supplies of clothing for
the Indian service during the coming fiscal
year, which will commence May 10 at 8
o'clock. Mr.. Jones will practically be alb
sent from his desk during the greater por-
ton of the coming three weeks overseeing
the opening of bids in New York.
Routine of Departments.
Peter L. Connolly of THIN was today
| awarded the contract for carrying mail
| from THIN to Curtis, Ia
Under annual readjustment of preeiden-
tial postmasters' salaries the salaries of
the postmasters at Lake Park, Linevile
Lohrville and North English, Ia, will be
increased 500 each after July / next
B. 7. Van Cleave was today appointed
regular and Jesse Van Cleave substitute
rural free delivery letter carrier at Well
man, Ia.
The Iowa National bank of Des Moines
was today approved as reserve agent for
the First National bank of Emmons, MINI.
F. S. Dotson of Lincoln, Neb., was today
appointed an engineers aid in the geo.
logical survey.
| A postoffice has been ordered established
| at North View, Converse county, Wyo.,
with Florence 1. Clark as postmaster.
Head on Mail Clerks Claim.
Second 4. Assistant Postmaster General
Shallenbarger today directed that Svend
Schibsby, a railway postal clerk at Kan
sas City, show cause why he should not
be dismissed :or promoting suits against
the government for travelling expenses OF
postal employees. There are 5000 railway
mail clerks in the country and the purpose
| "a N q MID o.
prosecute a claim which the department
regards as preposterous.
The position of the Postofiice department
is that the designated headquarters of these
clerks is the route on which their runs
are made, and not the city or town where
they may happen to live.
Press Work on COnIins station.
The United States is going ahead steadily
with plans to acquire the naval base al
Guantanamo, and has taken steps TO have
the land surveyed and channels marked
This work, in advance of the approval by
the Cuban government of the formal treaty
proceeds with the sanction of the Cubar
government. although the treaty proper
cannot be finally disposed of before mex
year.
Root Orders Court-MartiaI.
Secretary Root today ordered a court
martial on Second Lieutenant Oliver p
Robinson, Thirtieth infantry, on charges
OF being short in his accounts of canteer
money. board of survey was appointed
to examine the shortage and exoneratec
Robinson, but the findings were dsap
proved by General Davis, commanding II
the Philippines.
Cuba Claims Spanish Guns.
Secretary Hay had conference at tn,
War department with Secretary Root to
day regarding the disposition of ordinances
In Cuba which formerly belonged to Spain
The property not having been taken ava!
during the American occupation, IL is nov
claimed by Cuba, but Cuba does not wan
to purchase and pay for It. The two secre
taries and some army officers went over tn
matter today and the matter will be fur
ther reported by General Crozier, chief o
ordnance,
, western Union Must Pay.
The supreme court today afirmed
judgment of the supreme court of Mis-
souri, upholding the validity of taxes levie
! by Jackson county. Missouri against tn
J Western Union Telegraph company.
Manila Walls TO stand.
A delegation interested in preserving tn
walls of Manila today protested TO secre
tary Root against the removal Of an
portion OF the wall. The secretary sal
> only a small portion of the wall along tn
river front was to be removed and the "a
PLANTATION was entirely satisfactory