The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-10
SERVICE PENSION LAW
WOULD ADD LESS THAN
10000 NAMES TO ROLL
Representative GibsOn's Estimate
OF Cost of the Proposed
New Measure.
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Again Doomed at Washington,
but Opposed by Methodist
Church Leaders.
.ciaI to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-Some interesting
and instructive facts regarding the prob
able cos; 10 the government Of a service
pension law and as 10 the number of SOL
diers now in the country not on the pen
sion rolls. are furnished by Representa-
tive Gibson, OF Tennessee, OF the House
committee on invalid pensions He says:
when we consider the age of the Union
soldier and the infirmities consequent upon
age. and when We consider the inclination
OF a man TO get what the government Of
fers 70 him, / question very much whether
there are as many as 10000 ex-Union SOL
oilers now drawing pensions to-day. But let
US put them at 10000. A great many OF
them never served ninety days and a great
many of them have defective records, and
these two facts explain why many men are
not applying for pensions. But put them
at 10000 and how will IL figure out? There
are $1,000 soldiers now drawing pensions at
s. a month. Suppose we raise them to $l2,
that adds 81 SEA. 900 to the annual pension
payments. There are $4,000 soldiers draw
ing S month; put them up to $12, and
that adds 81, $4,000 TO the annual pension
payments. There are 24.OOO soldiers drawing
so a month, put them at S12 and that will
add $4,000 TO the annual pension pay
ments. Adding these three classes to-
gether, the aggregate Is $4.s72,00O added to
the annual pension payments. Now let US
suppose there are 10000 men not drawing
anything who would be pensiOned under
service law giving every of them $12
a month That would add S14, 400.0 900 to the
annual pension payments. But when We
cut out the men who served less than ninety
days-when we cut out those with defective
army recOrds-when limit the age to
sixty years and perhaps require them to
have served six months in the army, how
many thousand do you think conservative
pension will add 10 the pension ro1I7 1t
will never add $1,000 names. Before they
all get on that roll $1,000 of those now on
will drop off by death"
The agitation for the establishment of a
national university Of the United States has
been renewed. and will be brought promi-
nently TO the attention of Congress at the
current session. This project has been dis
cussed for many years, and is in charge of
prominent educators. 1t Is proposed that a
national university shall be erected in
! washington. whose form of constitution
shall secure it against partisan contrcl-a
hing not difficult as shown by the success
bf the leading State universities and of sci
entific institutions controlled by the general
government; whose internal management
bhall be with its educational members;
whose conditions of admission shall be char
acter and competency; whose fellowships
shall be duly endowed and open to the best
qualified; whose departments OF letters, sci
ence and philosophy shall be centers for
the grouping Of postgraduate professional
schools OF every class; whose beginnings
shall be with such means as befit the great
undertaking and shall encourage liberal en-
dowments from other than governmental
sources; thus making it the leading uni
versfty OF the world. In this laguage is
outlined the purpOseof a national university
By those who are behind the project. Elk
Governor John w. Hoyt is In immediate
charge OF the movement. 1t appears that
the national university project is opposed
by the founders Of the Methodist University
which Is now being esta blshed in Wash
ington. The Methodist University proposes
that its school OF learning shall be national
IN scope and purpose. but, as IL is a sec
tartan institution, there is opposition to the
idea that 1t shall be considered national
institution.
In a memorial just presented to Congress.
the reasons for the creation of a national
university are stated as follows: Wash
ington was designated by the Father of His
County i'm his bequest Of property in aid Of
its endowment and by his selection OF land
for site. Washington Is the only sufficient
and convenient spot where the government
has both exclusive and perpetual jurisdic-
ton"
1t is demonstrated that in the early days
OF the republic Washington and other great
Americans urged the establishment of
national university. The memorial gives
the following summary Of efforts hitherto
made In this connection: by Washington
Franklin and others in the Constitutionai
convention. BY President Washington
John Adams, Jefferson, Monroe, ]. Q.
other distinguished statesmen in all periods
OF our national history"
Washington selected a site for the nation
al university. 1t Is located near the old
naval observatory, just outside of historic
Georgetown. In the last session of Con-
gress a bill was passed providing for the
erection Of a hospital on the site 1t is
contended by those behind the movement
for the national university that the act
was inspired by those who are opposed to
their pet project. The fight over this ques-
ton will come up this month before the
Senate committee on public buildings and
grounds. of which Senator Fairbanks is
chairman. bill having been presented pro-
viding for the repeal OF the law using the
national university site for naval hos
pitaL
Gen. James Miller, the hero OF Lundy's
Lane. participated in the campaign OF Har-
rison. which terminated in the battle of
TippecanOe. A bill is pending in Congress
providing for the erection in Washington
or statue 20 Miller's memory. The report
submitted in connection with it by Senator
WetmOre. OF Rhode Island. is OF interest.
1t says in part: Gen. James Miller was
born at PeterborO. n. H, April p, 1776 He
was educated for the law and admitted to
practice In 1903. Shortly thereafter he COM
mandsd a company OF artillery in the mill
tia Of New Hampshire where his military
bearing, aptitude and skill in maneuvering
and drill attracted the attention OF Gen.
Benjamin Pierce, at whose earnest recon-
incubation Captain Miller was appointed
on July !. lSOo, major in the Fourth In
fantry. In 1911 the Fourth Infantry was
ordered 10 Vincennes Ind. and took part
IN Harrisons campaign. Major Miller
however. was left at Vincennes during the
campaign because OF severe and continuous
illness. but the regiment which had been
disciplined and instructed by him received
the very high praise for its share in the
campaign and crOwning battle. IL was at
the battle OF Niagara, or Lundy's Lane
fought on the 18th OF July 1914 that he rem
dered his most conspicuous service. The
key point OF the British position was the