New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-30
PROTECTING GOVERNMENT PROPERTY
Treasury Departments Request for Troops at
Chicago Explained.

,r-,-f,,+o- Anrfl .e-Assistant Secretary Tay-
Tor Of The Treasury Department in an onclal
statement issued to-day made IL clear thar 'hs
action Of the department yesterday IN requesting q
,bs War Department protection for the express
cor1uanv in transporting government funos rum
tbe baltimore and Ohio Railroad station IN IN
csro 10 the Sub-Treasurv IN that city was io'
taken for the purpose of interfering IN me lsa'i
STEERS strike, but merely 10 protec'
property -.
Mr. Tavlor said that yesterday, when he was ACT
ing Secretary Of the Treasury. owing 10 the tenn
porary absence Of Secretary Shaw, he received a
request from the vice-presdent ana general man
aeer Of the United States Express Company. winch
has a contract for the transportation Of govern
rnent money that military protection be gwen 10
the company in Chicago owing % the fac- thet
there was a strike among the teanstefs, anu II
was thought the same condition existed as pre-
vailed in 81. Louis last year when it became neces-
sary 10 call for troops 10 deliver the money from
the railroad station 10 the Sub-Treasury in the
strike there among tie express drivers. MI ray
Tor called up Secretary Taft and asked whether
In case II was found impossible for the express
company 10 deliver the money with its own teams
the War Department would furnish army Wascps
with escorts TO make the deliveries. Secretary
Taft replied that he woull comply with the re-
quest and would order the military authorities in
Chicago 10 be readiness call, which, II seems
he dir and which gave rise 10 the report puohshea
to-day. Fortunately. the express company was
able handle its own business yesterday, and
there was no necessity for government interference
What conditions may prevail hereafter 1t is I'M
Mr Taylor says that n red tape methods are
prscsed in the transaction Of business N the war
Department s is sometimes charged, they We're
not manifest in this matter either In the case or
the trouble al ST. Louis last year or in what
occurred yesterday. be says that last ian. When
the ST Louis trouble occurred, he was Informed
that government money was being held up at the
railroad stations and could not be delivered 70 me
by the express company. He called
Up General oliver, then Acting Secretary OF War
and made a request similar to the made CT
Secretary Taft yesterday. and within ten minutes
q message was on the way 70 the St Louis military
authorities 10 AFFORD the protection requested, ana
within an hour answer was received that the
Wag and soldiers ready and the money
was delivered without any delay or disturbance.
Tie same prOmptness Was shown yesterday By Sec
rotary Taft
Did YOU Mr.. Taylor, was asked include any
other money or property than that belonging the
government in your request that il be transported
under government protection"
No Mr. Taylor replied 7 stated definitely
that no money or property Of any sort other than
that belonging 10 the government should be han
died. There was no purpose TO interfere in any
way with the strike, but simply that the govern
ment assert its right TO protect its property.