The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-17
ARMY POST SITE DELAY
ANNOYING SECRETARY ROOT
Estimate of 5000, 900 Will Not Be
Sent to Congress Until All
Titles Are Perfected.
STATE A MAY WAIT
Congressman Opposed to Pushing
Claim for Damages to the Fair
Grounds Building.
special to the Indianapolis journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 16.-Representative
Overstreet is hopeful that the visit of
Major French to Indianapolis will result in
a settlement of the difficulty over the army
post site. The department officials are be-
ginning to display some annoyance over
the failure to secure title to the land and
are inclined to ~criticise Rassman and Dyer,
the real-estate dealers who effected most
of the purchases. The detail of Major
French to Indianapolis was made at the re-
quest of Mr.. Overstreet, who has made
every effort during the past few weeks to
s~traighten out the tangle. Secretary Root
absolutely declines TO forward to Congress
the estimate of $500, 900 for the building of
the Indianapolis post before the govern
ment has secured title 10 all OF the tracts
embraced in the site. Mr.. Overstreet ex-
presses the belief that the deeds will be
finally secured, but the department policy
is against starting on any plans until titles
have actually passed to the government.
Representative Overstreet will leave for In
d~ianapolis OF Friday. While at home he
will lend his aid to the efforts now making
10 ADJUST the difficulties over the army
post site.
There are radical differences of opinion
among the Republican members of the In
diana delegation as to the propriety of ury-
ing the passage of the bill relating to the
claim of the State Board Of Agriculture for
damages wrought to the buildings at In
dianapolis by reason of their occupancy by
Indiana troops during the Spanish war. The
measure introduced for this purpose by
Representative Holiday has been reported
favorably to the House. The matter be-
comes prominent at this time on account Of
the arrival here of Attorney A. L. Wishard,
of indianapolis, who is interested in the bill
in behalf of the State board.
Il think it will be a mistake to press this
measure" said a member of the delegation
to-day. 1T will discredit the State and put
the members In an awkward position. Any
one who attempts to argue this claim be-
fore the House will be required to answer
some embarrassing questions. We will be
put in the position of asking money from
the federal government for damages TO
State buildings following their occupancy
by Indiana troops and it seems to ME that
1t is unbecoming the State, through the
Board OF Agriculture to present such a
claim 10 Congress. L shall do nothing to for
ward this claim and trust that 1t will be
withdrawn" Mr.. .Wishard asserts that the
claim is a just one. From present ipdica-
tons the bill introduced by Repre- sentative
Holiday will not be passed.
Secretary Hay, of the State Department,
will report favorably on the proposition
to extend the work of the commission which
is now engaged in the task of establishing
an international exchange. The commits
sion is composed of H. II. Hanna, of In
dianapolis. and Messrs. Conant and jerks.
Representative Overstreet called at the
State Department to-day to ascertain when
the letter OF secretary hay would be for.
action would be taken as soon as Mr.. Hay
has recovered from his present indisposi-
n tSa con T mi;,s matter att will will come ONE up before before
Representative Hemenway is chairman, i'm
mediately after the holidays.
XXX
The Senate committee on pensions has re-
ported favorably the bill introduced by
Senator Fairbanks granting a pension of
$50 a month to Mrs. Minerva Mcmillan,
widow Of James w. Mcmillan, late colonel
Of the Twenty-frst Indiana Volunteers.
xxx
Senator Fairbanks will not leave Wash
ington till the latter part of the month.
He will then go to Indianapolis to attend
the Republican love-feast to be held on the
S0th inst.
Representative Lands has accepted an
invitation to address the Republican Club
of Philadelphia at it's annual dinner on
Feb. 6.
Senator Beverage left for New York to-
night on business pertaining to the publi-
cation of his new book. He will leave for
indianapolis Friday. and will remain there
till Congress reassembles in January.
Representative Fred Lands to-day intro
duced pension bills for Mrs. Thomas II.
Bringhurst. of Logansport, and Matthias S.
Friend, OF
4 y 4
Miss Alice Barnard, daughter Of Justice
and Mrs. Job Barnard, formerly of Porter
county, Indiana, and John Reed Swanton,
OF this city. were married tonight. Repre-
sentative and Mrs. Crumpacker were among
the Indiana guests present.
The r-earrangement of the army divisions
under orders just issued by Secretary Root
places Indiana in the northern division.
with headquarters at st. Louis.
Senator Beveridge has introduced pension
bills for Indianians as follows: Alpheus
Fawcett, New Castle; w. w. Dawson, Car
pentersville; Samuel R. Glenn, Greensburg:
Alfred Cunningham, Portland; William A
Mathes. Bedford; Harriet D.. Cotton, In
dianapolis.
Rural carriers have been appointed in In
UioAo as oOoucus <TlnuT +. Mer-
rill, H.. A. Merrill; North Vernon. Wilber
l.. Mcclure. Lowell Whitmore, Giles Grant.
Louis p. Wetzel, John Becher, Elmer r
Cant; Sullivan, Charles 2. Lucas. Arthur
h. Willis, Levi N. Willis, Charles e. Tate
Arthur b. Lucas, Willie B. Willis. Cardia
n. Willis. ID. +. Tate; Glenwood, Edward
Farlow, John F. Mapes; Liberty, James M
Wilson. Clyde Corrington.
XXX
The meeting of the Republican national
committee here the past week developed
unusual interest among the politicians In
the workings of the organization. Although
the national committee meets but twice In
four years, once to name the convention
city and once at the national convention To
vote for the nominee, an effective organiza-
tion Is maintained during the entire four
year period The lines connecting the chair
man and the secretary with the individual
committeeman are always intact. The ma
tional ommitte is supposed to keep a
watchful eye on conditions In it's respective
States. and to communicate the general
situation to the chairman.
The committeeman from the Southern
States are kept buster than their Northeru
associates. In States that have neither a
Republican senator nor representative al
4 NVacbinufou tho natrapooa a. l;.s.,l.