The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-13
FIGHT IMMINENT OVER
RURAL CARRIERS PAY
Authorized Increase Unsatisfactory
to Many, but Committee Will
Oppose Further Advance.
MINOR INDIANA NOTES

| Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12-There promises
to be an interesting fight on the floor of
the House when the item in the postal
appropriation bill increasing the pay OF
rural carriers is reached. Dissatisfaction
is expressed by many members. including
two or three Indiana men, that the House
committee did not agree on a greater in
crease than that which will be reported.
The present maximum salary of the rural
carrier is 5000. The committee decided TO
increase II to 500 a year. This. in the
opinion of many members, is inadequate
for the service performed. An amendment
will be offered providing fiat figure of
$3.50 year. This will undoubtedly precipi-
tate a fight, as the committee. headed by
Representative Overstreet, will doubtless
resist any effort that may be made TO in
crease the salaries of the. carriers beyond
$40 a year Even with the increase OF
only Sl20 a year 100000 will be added to
the cost of the service, making the total
on account of rural free delivery 800 200, 600.
-
The First National Bank of Columbia
City, Ind, has been authorized to begin
business The capital is $4,000. Henry
McLallen is president, Elisha Lillian Nc
Lallen vice president Walter Field Nc
Frederick Joss. of indianapolis. and l..
Fl. Bond. of Richmond who have been here
on business before the Postoffice Depart
ment, left for home to-day.
There is a stronger demand for the Pan
anna speech of Senator Fairbanks than any
other that has been delivered on the sub
ject in this session of Congress. The de-
mand comes from every part of the coun-
try. The belief is expressed by senators
tnat his address on the Panama canal
question is one of the most notable that
has been delivered by Mr.. Fairbanks since
he became a member of the upper house.
+
Samuel Bright, of Angola employed In
the money order division of the Postoffice
Department, was recently given a respect
able promotion. Bright is one of the men
who fell under the wrath of August w.
Machen, former superintendent of free de-
livery. 1t will be recalled that Machen was
whitewashed by two or three congressional
committees. Charges were repeatedly pre-
ferred against him, and on two occasions
an investigation was made by congress
sional committee. In each instance Machen
was cleared or any wrong doing. 1t Is note
worthy that the Democrats joined the Re-
publicans in reporting that there was alb
solutely no foundation in the charges
II.
witnesses against Machen before the COM
mittee which made the second investigation
AS q result of his testimony, Mr.. Bright's
friends allege, he dismissed from the
service. Some time ago Mr.. Bright was
reinstated at the request of prominent cit
liens of Steuben county.
While no appropriations will be made at
this session for river and harbor improve
ments, Representative Hemenway is max
ing every effort to secure favorable reports
from the War Department on the projects
In the Ohio and Wabash rivers. Mr.. Hem
enway has been in frequent conference dur
ing the past week with the board of army
officers who recently visited Indiana to col
lect testimony relative to the Ohio and Wa
bash. In the interests of the rapidly grow
ing commerce 1t is urged that expendi-
ture of 2,WO,OOO should be made in the
Ohio between Louisville and Evansville,
and especially between the latter city and
Henderson. The plan proposed would give
good harbor facilities to Henderson, Owens
boro and Evansville. 1t is probable that
supplemental survey will be made of this
stretch of the river. From present indlca-
lions the department will not approve the
project for the Improvement OF the Wa
bash.
Senator Fairbanks has been deluged re-
Gently with invitations to make public adj
dresses. Owing to pressure of public busi-
ness in the Senate, he has been compelled
to decline most of them, including one to
attend the Marion Club ball in Indianapolis
the 18th instant, another to deliver Lin
coin day address before the Ohio Repub-
lican League at Cleveland, and the third
to address a Republican organization in
Peoria, ILL.,, on the 21st instant.
Representative Watson was one of the
principal speakers at a meeting of the
Loyal Legion here tonight. The title of his
address was After Forty Years." Repre-
sentatives Hemenway and Crumpacker
were among the guests.
J, Z. NJ