The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-25
Members Of the House Committee Say
indianapolis VIII Get Desired
Appropriation.
BRYANs NoToRIETY WANING
PUBLIC NO LONGER INTERESTED IN
THE NEBRAsKAN.
ment in the Army as second
Lfeutenants.

Staff Correspondence of the Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-The omnibus
public building bill is again with the COM
mittee on public buildings and grounds and
probably will be reported to the House to-
morrow. 1t is said by members of the COM
mittee that the Indianapolis item of $40O, 900
is safe. Representative Miers said to-day
that If the committee decided to amend the
bill and put in new Sites the Bedford ap-
preparation of $500 will be part Of the
amendment.
The War Department has made a deci-
sion in the of Marion young man
that will be a sad blow to young husbands
who are seeking to enter the army from
private life. Representative Steele. of In
diana, some time ago requested the War
Department to consider the application of
Ross Z. Watson, of Marion, who desired to
become a second lieutenant in the regular
army. To-day Major Steele went over to
the department and was told that Watson
is ineligible to appointment because he is
a married man. The department has rule
against appointing married men to the posi-
ton of lieutenant because it requires addi-
tional quarters for them. A half-dozen un-
married officers can occupy one set of
apartments, but each married officer re-
quires a separate apartment.
The devotion of a wife to a husband in
distress has been portrayed most vividly in
Washington the last week by the presence
here of Mrs. Bird, whose husband has been
sentenced to be executed in Alaska on
March 6. Mrs. Bird accompanied by her lit
tie daughter. spent several days in Wash
ington last week trying to secure executive
clemency for her husband. Much of the time
she was at the Capitol pleading with the
members of Congress to do something for
her husband. Failing in her efforts to se-
cure executive clemency, and being told by
members of Congress that they are power
less to aid her, Mrs Bird wrote letter to
the Washington Post. making a last ap-
peal to Congress. She begged that a joint
resolution be passed, abolishing capital
punishment and limiting the extreme pun
ishment to life Imprisonment. MY dear
husband has not received Justice she
wrote. Moreover, the verdict sentencing
him was brought in on Dec. 25. Christmas
day, and not on Dec. "A, as has been
printed and for that reason / think his con-
viction illegal 1t is true my husband was
in bad company, but that is no crime. Near
ly every one at his home would have signed
a petition for his pardon. but his lawyers
persuaded me not to circulate one. Surely
Congress will do the act of justice | ask,
and save my poor husband"
While William Jennings Bryan, of Ne
braska. was in Washington last week. he
rode to the Capitol on the street cars sew
eral times. but did not attract near the at
tention that he did two or three years ago.
In fact he was permitted to get on and off
the cars without the slightest inconvenience
that a big crowd following public man,
usually causes him. In the corridors of the
Capitol Mr.. Bryan was frequently recog-
nized by an old acquaintance, but he was
not the hero of a staring multitude. What
a difference there is in the publics attitude
toward this man." was remarked by some
one the other day. 1.-The difference is on the
publics part" suggested James Z. Wat
son, of Indiana, who is usually ready with
some sort of satirical explanation ..Mr.
Bryan has not changed a particle-it is the
public that has changed
w. F. Mitchell of Williams, Lawrence
County. Indiana, thinks he has discovered a
deposit of ''lithograph stone" Representa-
tive Miers received a specimen of the stone
through the mail on Sunday, with a request
to have Ii examined at the Bureau OF En-
craving and Printing.
xxx
The secretaries and clerks of Indiana
congressman are busy sending garden and