The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-07
CONGRESS TO INQUIRE
INTO THE BASIS OF AN
INDIANA DAMAGE CLAIM
Amount of Injury to Agricultural
Buildings to Be Certified
for Reimbursement.
RETURN OF MR.. WATSON
He Bears a Message to the Presi-
dent and Is Congratulated by
His Colleagues.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

SpcCtai 10 tne 1uOldudpOnS JOuIIdl
WASHINGTON, March 6.-There has
been some criticism over the introduction
of bill in Congress for the relief of the
Indiana State Board of Agriculture. The
measure has been modified, however, and
in its present form is approved by the dele
cation. The bill as originally presented
provides for the payment by the govern
ment of an amount sufficient to cover dam
ages to the agricultural buildings in In
dianapolis following their occupancy by
Indiana troops during the Spanish
The bill it recently passed the House.
and is now pending in the Senate, directs
the secretary of war Ito cause to be in
vestigated by the quartermaster' depart
ment of the United States army the circum-
stances, character and extent of the al
legged use. occupation and damage by the
United States military authorities, for
government purposes during the with
Spain, of the buildings and grounds of the
Indiana State Board of Agriculture. and
the actual value of the use, occupat ton and
damage TO same, and TO find and award
and to certify to the secretary of the treas
ury what amount. If any is equitably due
TO said Indiana State Board of Agricul-
ture A. w. Wishard, who has represented
the State here in connection with the claim,
ESTIMATES ngs that the damages to the build
contended that the claim was a just one,
and his argument made a good impression
on the members of the Senate committee.
Representative James E. Watson returned
from Indiana to-day. He was the recipient
of many notes of congratulation from his
colleagues in the House on his fourth
nomination. Mr.. Watson will call on Presi-
dent Roosevelt tomorrow and formally
notify him of the Endorsement by the Sixth
district convention and the Republican
| State committee.
THE service pension law and increased
salaries for rural carriers are two ques-
| tons widely discussed in the State" said
Mr. Watson The old soldiers are anx-
iously awaiting the action of Congress rela-
| tive 10 the service pension law Among
| the rural carriers 1 find that sentiment is
strong for increased pay for carriers. Most
or the carriers approve the amendment in
| the postal appropriation bill which pro-
| hibits them from soliciting or acting as
agents for hire"
| Harry c. Stopper. of Fort Wayne. is an
| applicant for a clerical position with the
| isthmian canal commission.
| The killing of fur seals on the Pribilov
| islands of Alaska is again causing alarm
| in government circles. Representative Rob-
| inson. of Fort Wayne. has directed atten-
| ton to the matter in bill which he has
| introduced directing the secretary of COM
merce to suspend at once the killing of fur
| seals in Alaskan waters. There is a pro-
| vision in the Robinson bill that the Secre
| tary may permit the annual killing, under
| his direction and supervision. to provide
| food for the natives of said islands, to the
! number of $500 young male seals on st.
| Paul island and 1900 on st. George island,
| the skins of which shall be carefully pre-
| served and sold by the secretary, the pro-
| ceeds to be covered into the treasury of the
| United States.
The provision in the pension appropria-
| ton bill. just reported to the Senate, in
creasing to 500 a month the pension to
| soldiers totally blind, is generally COM
mended. There are 600 such pensioners in
the United States. At present they re-
ceive $l2 a month. An increase of $2S a
| eminent $2Ol6OO year. In reporting this
item the committee states: The deplOr-
able condition in which a man finds him
| self who is totally blind requires COM
ment, and when 1t is considered that this
| condition Is due to causes occurring in his
service of the United States there is moth
ing left for the government TO do but to
| compensate him reasonably for the great
| hardship he is compelled to endure"
Attention is then called to the act of
| Congress providing that all persons who,
| in the line Of duty. shall have lost both
| feet shall receive a pension at the rate of
500 per month. The committee firmly be-
| of his eyes in the service is suffering as
great If not a greater hardship than the
| soldier who has lost both feet
|
General authority for the issuance of OBJ
| solete ordnance and ordnance stores for
the use of educational institutions is de-
sired by the secretary of war. A bill for
such a purpose has just been introduced
in the House, and it will doubtless be re-
| ported favorably by the committee on mill
| itary affairs. This is of interest TO many
| educational institutions in Indiana which
| have from time to time made efforts TO Sc
| cure equipment from the War Department
| not In use. On the recommendation of Rep
| resentative Hemenway a supply of rifles
| revolvers and other equipment has been
| ordered sent TO the Culver Military Acad-
| envy. Mr.. Hemenway made several efforts
to secure this equipment for Culver Acad-
| envy, but his application was rejected two
| or three times the ground that the sec
| rotary had no authority to turn over the
| arms TO a private institution If the bin
| just introduced is enacted into law much
| OF the equipment of the department not
| in use will be turned over to the various
| military academies and institutions
| throughout the United States 1t is pro-
| vided that the secretary of war shall re-
qulre from such institutions a bond in
| each case in double the value of the nron-
| erty issued, for the care and safe-keeping
| thereof, and for the return of the Same
TO the United States when required
| j. L. NJ.
JUMPERS TTV COCTC