Indianapolis Journal, Volume 48, Number 201, Indianapolis, Marion County, 20 July 1898 — Page 4

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William McKinley is the advance agent of prosperity new. Spain is in no hurry to make peace. Well, Spain is the cne to lose by delay. As Santiago is now the only open port of consequence In Cuba, it ought to have a good trade. If the Cuban insurgents could be shipped along with, the Spanish soldiers it would be a great gain ftn* the island. It took Spain three yeans to send 200.000 troops to Cuba. The United States will send back the survivors in much less time than ’ that. The way the Cuban insurgents about Santiago behave is likely to lead our soldiers to wonder if the Spaniards didn’t treat them about as they deserved. A delay of a day or two in the starting of the Porto Rican expedition would not be 6erlou3. The island will not get away, and Spain is not sending any reinforcements. Like Havana and Santiago, San Juan de Puerto Rico has its Morro Castle. It was built in 1584, and, like the other fortresses, is probably stronger in imagination than it is in reality. No doubt American missionaries can give valuable information regarding the Philippine and Caroline islands, but they should not expect the United States to enter on a policy of religious propagandism. When the Spanish Governor of the Philippines In ah official proclamation described Americans as “the scum of mankind” he did not expect to become indebted to them for personal protection and favors. After the surrender of Santiago had been completed the Spanish officers gave General Shatter a banquet. There was a quantity of wine, but a conspicuous lack of solids, ehowdng that the city could not have held out much longer. The high numbers of the Indiana regiments in this war will be as puzzling to the reader of history as they are to the reader of current events. Beside the First Ohio or the Second Illinois, the One-hundred-and-lifty-eighth Indiana appears colossal. All accounts of the recent fighting before Santiago agree in praising the colored troops. A member of the Rough Riders, writing to a friend in New York, says; “There is not a man in the Rough Riders but takes off his hat to the negroes. They not only fought like devils, but they were the readiest to come to our help when we •were wounded.” President McKinley’s letter of instructions regarding the government of Santiago furnishes anew illustration of the adaptability of the Constitution to circumstances. The Constitution docs not make any provision for such an emergency nor confer any authority on the President to act, yet the emergency having arisen, he does not hesitate to exercise the power. Notwithstanding the sacred doctrine that the Just powers of government rest on the consent of the governed we continue to govern many thousands of Chinese in the United States without consulting them in the matter. And, by the same token, they are all paying war taxes cheerfully without having a vote. What is this but taxation without representation? We should revise our maxims or our practice. It will probably be found that most of the business men in Cuba are Spaniards or Cubans who have been loyal to Spanish rule more because they were afraid of the revolutionary element than because they preferred foreign control. It should and probably will be the policy of the United States to enlist the co-operation of this class in establishing anew government under American instead of Spanish control. The belief entertained from the beginning by a good many people of the United States that Cuba under the government of Cubans would be in little better condition than under the government of Spain is being confirmed by the conduct of tie Insurgents about Santiago. They did r.ot fight when fighting was necessary; they would not work nor in any way aid the American troope; they do steal and they are greatly

dissatisfied because they are not allowed to enter the town of Santiago, which it was their purpose to loot. Self-government as they will practice it is not likely to be satisfactory to the United States. AN IMPORTANT PAPER. President McKinley's letter of instruction regarding the military government of Santiago is the first state paper of the kind ever Issued by this government. It is typical of the new kind of history we are making that the President should be called upon to issue a document so entirely without precedent, so unique in itself and so important in what It involves. The instructions are issued by the President as commander-in-chief of the army, through the secretary of war, to the commander of our forces in Santiago. It is, therefore, essentially a military document and establishes military government, yet its dominant purpose evidently is to establish the supremacy of civil government, civil rights and law and order. The document was evidently prepared in the State Department, and very carefully prepared. This appears in the pains taken to draw the line between the rights of a victorious belligerent and those of local civil authorities, and also in defining the status of individuals and the rights of public and private property. lines are drawn in strict accordance with established principles of International law. The paper is practically an instruction to our military authorities in Santiago to co-operate with the local authorities in the establishment of civil government. “It will be the duty of the commander of the army of occupation,” says the President, “to announce and proclaim in the most public manner that we come not to make war upon the inhabitants of Cuba, nor upon any party or faction among them, but to protect them in their homes, in their employments, and in their personal and religious rights.” In other words, our army is in Cuba only to make war upon the Spaniards, and when their authority is broken and they expelled from the island, to assist the Cubans, in establishing and maintaining stable government. This will not be an easy nor a brief task, but however difficult it may be or however long it may take, we are committed to Us accomplishment. The paper is the first official indication of the line of policy the President will pursue in the establishment of stable government In Cuba, and no doubt the same line will ba followed in Porto Rico. A CONFUSION OF TERMS. If Canada produces any article of which we do not produce more or as much as we can consume or dispose of, we might give her, as a neighbor, the advantages of a lower duty, on the condition that the United States produces something which Canada desires and will admit at a lower rate of duty than similar products of competing countries. That would be reciprocity. The trade treaty of 1854, which Mr. Howes is pleased to call a treaty of reciprocity, was not reciprocal. Canada got our markets for everything she produced, but we got no advantage over other competitors for the products we most desired to sell to Canada. The result was that long before the period specified for the termination of the treaty by giving notice, the farmers, lumbermen, fishermen and other producers in the border States demanded the abrogation of the treaty at the end of the specified ten years. It was abrogated. There has been no change in the situation since 1866, except that cheaper transportation enables Western farmers to supply the Eastern markets at lower prices than in 1854-64. There is no reason why the farmers in the United States who are paying war taxes for the support of the government in tne prosecution of the war should not, in return, be given the advantage in the home market. There is no good reason w'hy Canada, with cheaper land and labor, should not pay for markets in this country by a duty imposed upon her products. So far as the commercial organizations of the West are concerned, it cannot help them to favor Canada by affording her opportunity to sell Eastern dealers the merchandise which is shipped by merchants in the cities of the West. When Canada can make us a lower rate of duty on all of our manufactures that she needs than she does to any other competitor, reciprocity that is reciprocity can be considered, and not until then. So long as Canada is a dependency of Great Britain she cannot make such an arrangement. Any arrangement which would give Canada free markets for what she desires to sell us and does not give us free markets for all we desire to sell Canada is free trade for Canada in the United States and high-duty trade for the United States in Canada.

ALLEGED DEMORALIZATION OF TROOPS. An Associated Press letter published in the Journal yesterday describes an alleged incident in the first day’s fighting in the advance on Santiago which has not been referred to before. The alleged incident is said to have occurred during the advance of our troops along a road which was bordered with a thick growth of underbrush from which the Spaniards kept up a deadly fire. The account says: A certain regiment, which I shall not name until the official reports of the battle are accessible, lay down in the road leading through the timbered plain, and all but one battalion refused to move on when ordered. Officers of other regiments were heard to upbraid these soldiers and to ask them to act like men. If their own officers had thus spokes to them, it is not to he doubted that they would have promptly responded. The way was so blocked by their inaction that for a little while the advance was stopped. Then two regiments of regulars pressed forward over the prostrate forms of those ahead of them, some of the soldiers nbver touching ground for yards at a time. It is but the merest justice to say that the regiment which had lain so obstinately In the road, afterwards, through at least a part of Its number, helped to carry the most difficult position in its front. This statement lacks verification as yet, and may prove to have little or no foundation. If true, the incident can hardly be overlooked in the official reports, and unless mentioned in them it may be dismissed as not true. Nevertheless it would not be strange nor unprecedented if it had happened as described. The history of our wars, especially the civil war, shows that a volunteer regiment, perhaps but partially drilled and disciplined and coming under fire for the first time, may become demoralized and panic-stricken. It does not argue cowardice so much as the existence of a factor in human nature which must always he taken into account and cannot be wholly controlled. In this case the troops were in a very trying position, subject to a galling lire from an unseen enemy and with reason to think there was still greater danger ahead. Under the circumstances it would not have been remarkable if they had broken and fallen back, instead of lying down on the road, as this account .says they did. The statement that a portion of the regiment afterward rallied and assisted in carrying the most difficult position in its front shows that the troops were only temporarily demoralized and may have been.

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, WEDNESDAY. JULY 20, 1898.

acting under wrong orders.of their officers, as was the case with, the Second Indiana Regiment at the battle of Buena Vista, where a whole regiment was made to suffer for the blundering if not cowardly order of its colonel. In that case, also, as in this, a large part of the regiment rallied after a period of demoralization and rendered valuable assistance in the battle. No doubt such incidents have often occurred, and they should not receive too much prominence. THE "WATER WORKS QUESTION. There are indications in some quarters of a disposition to rush the water works purchase scheme through without careful investigation of the various questions involved. This disposition should not be allowed to prevail. There is no emergency in the matter and no occasion for hasty or precipitate action. Municipal ownership of the water works is only desirable if it can be accomplished on terms advantageous to the city, and any proposition on the subject should be thoroughly investigated as to its legal and financial aspects. The pending proposition, formulated and submitted by a New York lawyer, really emanates from the company and doubtless covers a large margin of profit both to the company and the promoter. The city is not obliged to accept that proposition nor any other the company may make, and should not without being thoroughly satisfied that the terms are the best obtainable. The company’s charter contains the following provision: Section 7. At any time, on giving six months' notice, the city shall have the right to purchase from the company all the buildings, machinery and ‘ pipe of said water works, and ali its corporate rights and privileges (but not including any franchise herein granted or that may hereafter be granted to the company, nor including any estimated value of this charter) at such price as may be agreed upon by the Common Council and the board of directors of the company. In case of disagreement between said parties the price shall be ascertained by five disinterested persons, nonresidents of the city, two of whom shall be chosen by the Common Council, and two by the board of directors of the company, and the fifth by the four thus chosen. Said ascertained price shall be subject to the acceptance or rejection of the Common Council. The company shall not be allowed to sell to any person or company whatever without first giving the City Council the refusal to purchase at the same rates as offered to others: Provided, That no purchase shall be made by the City Council until the terms agreed upon or settled by arbitration, as aforesaid, shall be ratified by a majority of the legal voters of the city at a special election to be held for that purpose. This section provides one mode in which the water works may be purchased by the city. If the proposed plan of acquiring the property is a purchase it is illegal in that it disregards all the provisions of the foregoing section. If it is not a purchase it leaves the door wide open for future litigation. There is a provision in the city charter under which the Board of Public Works is empowered to purchase or hold a majority of stock in such a company, an 1 it is understood that the city authorities propose to secure possession of the water company's plant under this provision, ignoring the conditions set forth in the company's charter. Such action might possibly raise questions that would lead to extended litigation. The financial part of the pending proposition and the physical condition and money value cf the plant demand equally careful consideration. The section above quoted provides a better means of ascertaining the value of the works than the ex parte action of the company or the judgment of a New York promoter. There is nothing in the past history of the company’s dealings with the city to justify the city in accepting any proposition it may make without rigid investigation in every part and firm assertion of the rights of the city. In short, the situation is one in which, as far as the city is concerned, there should be great deliberation and thorough investigation of every point by competent and disinterested experts.

The Boston Herald had this to say a few days ago: Ex-President Cleveland is much too big a man to be out of sight in the eyes of the Nation. The suggestion of him as a possible candidate for the presidency again would seem to be too wild to be seriously made, but it has reared its head in intelligent quarters. It is a tribute to the most remarkable personage who has appeared in this country since the war era. This is a distressing effort to drag Mr. Cleveland out of the obscurity into which he naturally gravitates. On his only public appearance for months he expressed his hostility to the war and then went into retirement again. If there is any man the Nation can forget more easily than another it is this same G. C. The misguided Boston paper should cast that presidential chestnut into the waste basket. It is evident that the American poliev will be to revive business at Santiago and put the second city of Cuba quickly on its feet, commercially speaking. American capitalists and companies with interests in the province have been assured that they can depend on stable government there, and movements are already on foot for a resumption of business. When the business men of Cuba find that military occupation by the United States means a revival of trade they will soon fall in with the new order of things. During the last two hundred years the custom house at Santiago has contributed ah enormous sum to the support of Spanish tyranny and corruption. History has turned over anew leaf and hereafter the customs receipts will be used “for the purpose of paying the expenses of government under the military occupation, such as the salaries of judges and the police, and for the payment of the expenses of the army.” The army referred to is the one of which William McKinley is commander-in-chief. The auxiliary cruiser Resolute sailed from New York yesterday with $750,009 on board, to pay the United States troops at Santiago. This is the amount due General Shatter's army for June, ar.d it. will all be paid in coin—gold, silver, nickels and cents. It is a good idea to introduce a stable currency simultaneously with the new government. When Cuba ceases to be a Spanish colony American money will scon displace the depreciated Spanish currency all over the Island. “Talk about men that are fighters.” says a Santiago correspondent of the Springfield Republican, “you want to see the negroes. They let out a yell and charge and then the fight is over.” Other reports have been of like character. After the civil war there was no reason to doubt that the negroes would fight, but the generation grown up since has lately expressed a lack of confidence in tlieir soldierly qualities—a misgiving that should iiow t be dene away with. The reorganized educational board appointed by Mayor Harrison, of Chicago, as Its first official act elected as superintendent of city schools a man who has no experience in public school work, and, as its second move, recommended “that an effort be made to increase, the number of men teachers in the city schools, and to this

end a larger salary be fixed for them than for women in the different groups under the schedule of salaries.” Here's liberality and progress for you! The world does move, doubtless, but a considerable part of it is very slow to learn that work done should be paid for without regard to the sex or condition of the worker. Evidently the board is doing the bidding of the mayor, understanding that he has more men to reward for political favors than he has places to fill. Naturally the sort of men appointed under such conditions will not. be distinguished as educators. The Chicago schools ate in a fair tvay to become notorious. A letter from Consul General Holloway, at St. Petersburg, dated July 4, says: It is a matter of interest to note that the only foreign tlag that fioats from any building in the city of St. Petersburg is that of the United States of America, which can be seen for a mile up and down the Nevsky Prospect, the Broadway of St. Petersburg, floating from the office of the consul general of the United States of America. Heretofore flags of other nations have been displayed only on Russian fete days or on holidays of the country displaying the same, but the consul general asked permission to fly the flag of his country each business day of the year, which was promptly granted, and its display created a decided sensation. . People kept the telephone of the Equitable Life Assurance Society. in whose building the consulate is located, busy all day, asking if there had been a victory for the Americans over the Spanish, they taking it for granted that the display of the flag was intended to rejoice over a victory, which, with the steady progress made by the army and navy, has had the effect to give expression to the latent feeling among the educated classes and active business men, who sympathize with the United States, and there is a decided change in public sentiment in favor of America, which the ambassador and the Amerieah colony are laboring to increase. When Captain Chichester, of the British cruiser Immortalite, w T as asked by Admiral Von Diedrichs what he would do if the Germans interfered with the bombardment of Manila the captain replied “Nobody knows but Dewey and me.” Where are the war poets now? That sentence is a refrain ready-made—somewhat suggestive of a familiar “gospel hymn.” to be sure, but not necessarily with offense. The county clerk says marriage licenses do not have to be stamped because they are not official documents, but what about death and birth certificates? Do they come under that general clause of the law whicn says: “Certificates of any description required by law, not otherwise specified in this act, 10 cents?” It looks as if the man who dies would have to increase the revenue in the sum named. Spaniards are learning that the Americans are long on obedience to at least one scriptural command—“ Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do. do it with thy might.” When the Americans fight they fight like demons, and when the time for cessation of hostilities comes, and mercy and humanitarianisir. are demanded, these same Americans are unsurpassed in their display of tenderness and care. The soldier boys down at Tampa who have been disappointed so many times in the hope of going to the front amuse themselves with speculations as to where they are likely to spend the rest of the summer. One wild tale set afloat by a humorist is that one regiment will be ordered to Asheville and will use Biltmore for barracks. There is a Kipling couplet that might well be parodied in.rconnection with the insistence of the Spaniards in the matter of side arms: “Keeps Ms side arms awful—lyin’ all about— Up come the 'Merikens an’ puts th’ Spaniards out.” We. are hearing less from the loquacious Blanco since the cables were cut, and he can talk only over censored wires. There’s a man that’s bottled up, sure enough. It is not patriotic Cos 'buft# castles in Spain this year, but one~ reacly-Tnadb castle in Cuba is ours to keep. There will be others later. “If anybody asks you. tell them you don’t know,” is the equivalent of what the British captain said to the German admiral over at Manila. The poor old Pelayo! The dragging her down into the Suez canal and back was another instance of , Spanish cruelty. General Chinchilla is giving the Madrid editors a chilly time. He is censor and they are censorious Now that the -Hoosier regiments are going right straight at ’em, will the Spaniards bo good?

DUIIDLES IN THE AIR. Seeming: Paradox. “I would not let my wife wear bloomers.” “Ner me, neither. No man would who was not the victim of petticoat government.” The Substitute. Barflie—How do you like this new beer tax? Schmitz—lt don't hurt my pizness alretty, unless they put some tax on glass. Which. Watts—Briggs is either the vainest or the most modest man among my acquaintance; I can’t decide which. , Potts—What is the matter with Briggs? “He says he knows more about his business than he does about how r to conduct the war.” Proof. “It is going to be a long war,” said the professional theorizer. “Got special information, have you?” asked the sarcastic man. “Why, no; not exactly, but, as is well known, a man is what he eats, and the Spanish have begun on mule meat.” CONFEDERATE REUNION. President McKinley's Picture AlongHid c Lee's and Nuvnl Heroes. ATLANTA, Ga., July 19.—Atlanta to-day welcomed the first arrivals in attendance cn the Confederate reunion. The city is gay with bright colored bunting and flags, the decorations of the Capito!, executive mansion. Capital City Club, the principal hotels and buildings being especially elaborate. Pictures of the heroes of the war with Spain mingle with those of the Confederacy’s historic figures, and in a prominent restaurant the faces of President McKinley and Robert E. Lee look down upon a group composed of Commodores Dewey and Schley, Fitzhugh Lee, Captain "Bob” Evans and Lieut. Hobson. Every train which reached Atlanta to-day had extra cars attached, and the crowd which is expected to-morrow will number, it is believed, 50,000. Prominent among today’s arrivals were Gen. Stephen D. Lee, of Mississippi; Gen. *W„ A. Cabell, of Texas, and Gen. J. I. Dickerson, of Florida, all department commanders; Gen. Robert A. Smyth, of Charleston, S. C.. commander-in-chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans; Adjutant General Moorman, of New Orleans; Senator Clay and Congressman Livingstone. General Smyth brought with him a large-sized boom for Charleston, and says the next encampment will go there. There Is a strong boom on for Gen. Stephen D. Lee for commander-in-chief. General Gordon, who has been the commander for ten years, will probably decline re-election to-morrow, owing to failing health, and if the gathering will listen to him and not repeat the remarkable demonstration at last year’s reunion at Nashville, when they refused to hear the general speak of taking his leave. Genera! Lee will probably be chosen. However, there are many who say General Gordon will be commander-in-ehlef as long as he lives. The exercises proper begin tomorrow at 10 o'clock at Exposition Park.

PRICE SEEMS TOO HIGH SOME INFORMATION' OX PROPOSED WATER PLANT DEAL. Reported It Was* Offered for a Million Dollars Less than the Figure Named. ♦ ■ The proposition for the purchase of the water works by the city is being discussed in many quarters, and some objections to the company's offer are occasionally heard. The contract between the city and the water company, made in l£7u, explicitly states that when the city desires to purchase the plant it may do so, regardless of any franchise values, the right to which is specifically reserved to the city. The Water Company’s charter provides that if the company and the City Council are unable to agree on a price a commission of live shall be selected to fix the value of the works. is a strong belief prevalent that in fixing $3,500,000 as the price fin the Hold plan) the stockholders are using the earning capacity of the plant for a basis, while the true basis of a sale to the city Should be the actual value of the plant. itse'lf, regardless of what it might earn. Some of the city officials seem to think that the expert employed by the city is sufficiently well versed in such matters to arrive at an accurate idea of what the plant is really worth. Others think that it is unwise to take one man’s estimate on such an important transaction, and assert that a board of experts should have been employed, as has been done in other cities. As to the value of the Indianapolis plant, it can be stated on the authority of a man well versed in deals of this magnitude that the plant was practically, though informally, offered within the last year at SI,OUO,IXX) less than the price now’ asked the city, and at the time this otter was made all the new pumping machinery had been placed and was to be included in the purchase price. There are a number of other tacts which seem to indicate that the price named in the Hord proposition is excessive. First of au, it may be significant to make a comparison of the price put on the Indianapolis plant and the price which the stockholders of the Des Moines, la., company are seeking to obtain ‘from the lowa city for the plant there. This lowa offer is now hanging fife, and the stockholders are much more anxious to dispose of their holdings than the Indianapolis stockholders, as pictured by Mr. Hord. In the Des Moines piant is a total of ninety miles of mains, and the net income from the enterprise is about SIOO,IXX> a year. This plant is offered at $8,,0,000, the city to arrange any methods of deferred payments it may choose, and on these deterred payments it is only to pay 4 per cent, interest. That the comparison of these two plants is very fair is evidenced by the statement that the Indianapolis plant has IM> miles of mains, with a net income of about $300,00), making the size an l the profits just twice as much as those of the lowa plant; but instead of asking just twice as much for the Indianapolis investment, which would be $1,700,000, tne Hord proposition calls for $3,350,050, or four times as much as the amount demanded for a plant onehalf the size. Besides, the rate of interest on the deferred payments in the lowa case is only 4 per cent., while here it is 5 per cent. It cannot be claimed the lowa investment is anyway inferior proportionately to the one in Indianapolis, for the mains were put in at a later date and are said to be in a much better condition. Some time ago the Newburyport, Mass., water company asked s6oo,txiw for its investment in a deal with the city, basing its proposition on an alleged income of 6 per cent, on SBOO,<XK). However, when' the city obtained control of the system it only paid sMi,od. The Kansas City case is one of much more prominence among those familiar with the water works business. In that city the company, which furnishes a great deal more water sthan Indianapolis obtains, claimed to be earning 6 per cent, on $4,500,000, and demanded that price, but after getting a decision of the Supreme Court the city purchased it at $2,1)00,000, which is $450,0*8) less than the Hord proposition for Indianapolis. It is urged in this instance that it was far more costly to lay mains in Kansas City, for there, in many places, solid rock had to be blasted before the mains were laid. It is worthy of note in this connection that in Kansas City the company demanded $4,500,000 for its plant, claiming that it had been built up until it was earning 6 per cent, on that amount. The Supreme Court of that State held that under a contract which Kansas City had with the company, similar to the one obtaining here, the city was entitled to purchase the plant at its fair cash price, and construed this to mean the price of the actual physical plant regardless of any franchise rights, which were held to have expired. In the Indianapolis contract it is explicitly stated that the city shall not pay any consideration for franchise or other theoretical rights, only for the actual plant. It is asserted that the demand of the Indianapolis company for $3,350.000 is based on some fanciful alleged rights aside from the actual value of the plant itself, as was the demand of the Kansas City company.

THE RATE REDUCTION. The city officials had very little to say with reference to one very important subject that is most always advanced by those who favor municipal ownership of public utilities—that is the reduction of rates to patrons. It is generally urged that under municipal ownership of water works, lighting plants, street car plants and things of that sort, the public reaps an immediate advantage in lower prices, as well as collateral advantages in the way of better service. The whole Hord proposition is based on the theory that the revenue of the water company (estimated at $216,430 from private consumers) shall continue at that figure. If the revenue were to fall off it would be impossible for the scheme to go through, as it has been figured out to do so nicely in twenty-five years—by Controller Johnson in twenty-three and one-half years. The theory of the administration—and it is frankly admitted to be no more than a theory—is that with municipal ownership will come an increase in the number of patrons that will allow of a reduction of rates. If the patronage were not increased, however, it is admitted that until the plant is paid for no immediate advantage would accrue to citizens in their individual capacity. Hence, it is argued that, so far as the private consumer is concerned, the ordinance pending, providing for the reduction of rates from 10 per cent, to 15 per cent., would be a better thing than ownership by the city. The Hord proposition gives the water company all the best of it. It proposes that the city shall pay $120,000 a year for fire bvdrants. The city is now paying s£o,ooo, at the rate of SSO a hydrant a year. This is the same rate that was paid when the company was first organized, twentyeight years ago, when Indianapolis was not much more than a third of its present size. Although the number of hydrants has increased vastly, the price has not been reduced. Other cities get fire hydrants at from S3O to SSO a year, according to the number in use. The ordinance now in Council did not propose a reduction of the hydrant rates, the author of the ordinance, Mr. Little, being under the impression that the city was bound by a contract that would prevent a reduction in that direction. Those who have favored the Hord plan have gone on the assumption that the water rentals the city would pay in twenty-five years would about equal what the plant is offered for. This was on the assumption that the city would continue to pay the same price for fire- hydrants that it did in 1870, when it was but little more than a town and had but few fire hydrants, compared with the present time. If the more reasonable price of S3O were paid try the city the rentals for twenty-five years would not equal the cost of paying for the plant by about 40 per cent. And if the prices charged consumers were reduced to a figure proportionate to that paid in other cities of equal population, the revenue of the company, with its present consumers, would not pay off the principal of the debt and the interest by any means. RATES ELSEWHERE. Some data has been collected by those interested in the water works question, with reference to rates paid in other cities. In Minneapolis, under municipal ownership, the rate for a six-room house is $1.50 a year, as compared with $5 a year in Indianapolis, and the cost for each additional room there is about one-half what it is here. The average rate for six-room houses in other cities is $4 a year, 40 per cent, cheaper than in Indianapolis. Another thing: In many other cities the owner who pays water rentals for his house has the right to sprinkle a fifty-foot lot without extra charge. Here no such privilege is granted. The consumer must pay according to the number of taps on his premises. It is not believed that the amount of the gross revenue proposed to be set aside for betterments and repairs under the Hord plan is sufficient. Controller Johnson estimates in his report that $337,500 will be required for that purpose in twenty-five years. From an expert source it is gleaned that

the Indianapolis plant will In a very short time require extensive improvements, amounting to a million dollars. Larger mains will have to be put in, and if the supply of water is drawn from wells exclusively, new pumps and -boilers will be required. It is asserted that the Indianapolis Company has found its system of drawing water from wells a white elephant, though the quality of water obtained i said to be potable, but too hard for commercial purposes. Bi t for a city as large as Indianapolis and growing so fast the wells will prove inadequate in a very short time, and some system of filtration, costing between $300,000 and $500,000, will have to be constructed. The successful systems of filtration require filter beds in duplicate, for the beds have to be cleaned, and while one bed is bring cleaned the company has to depend on the other. Instead of establishing some system of this kind, which is recognized as the truly modern way of obtaining good water in sufficient quantity, the Indianapolis Company drilled wells. All over the country where plants depend upon wells, it is asserted the supply is failing, the most noteworthy incident cited of this kind is in Brooklyn, N. Y., where, it is said, a large part of that city's anxiety to merge itself into the corporation of New fork was for the benefit which might be derived in drawing on the Croton aqueduct supply in case of necessity. Grand Rapids is also mentioned in this connection, as well as a number of the Chicago outlying suburbs. The depreciation of the water works bonds, it is further claimed, is largely due to the disposition of municipalities to release themselves from unfavorable hydrant contracts, like the one in this city. In the early history of water systems cities made very liberal contracts with companies on hydrant rentals, but city officials have found how profitable were these contracts to the company. A hydrant rental is "velvet” to the company, and if one stops to think how small is the quantity of water taken from these city hydrants every year, and then considers the amount of rent paid for them, the immense profit is apparent. In a great many cities, where the companies show no disposition to sell to the city, very favorable and long-time hydrant rental contracts are held by the corporations. The increase in water consumption in Louisville since the city purchased the plant has been put before the people of this city as an example of what the plant here would do if in municipal hands. Against this is arrayed another assertion. It is so easy to sink a well in Indianapolis and obtain water at a reasonable depth that the increase in consumption from the water company would never approximate per mile that of Louisville, where a well has to be sunk through hard clay, and is very costly. - THE FIRE PRESSURE. Another matter which an expert might do well to investigate in Indianapolis is the matter of fire pressure. On more than one occasion complaint has been made of fire pressure between 8 o'clock in the morning and 8 o’clock in the evening. The city firemen have frequently commented on this, and it is said the water company absolutely cannot obtain a sufficient pressure to meet all the demands of a city the size of Indianapolis with its present equipment. Only a few nights ago buildings on the South Side were aestroyed and the firemen attributed much of the damage to the failure to obtain proper pressure. All of these things go to show how much money the city would have to expend on the present system, money which might not be begrudged if the plant were offered at a reasonable price. In some quarters there is a strong sentiment that ihe city authorities should have appointed a commission of engineers to examine into the condition of the local plant and not rely upon one expert who is to merely report to the city engineer. There is considerable question as to Mr. Jeup's knowledge of this branch of engineering and of his capacity to pass intelligently on a report such as an expert might bring in. Denver, which has a water works deal on, has a commission, and John W. Hill, who is the expert appointed for Indianapolis, is a member of that commission. When Cincinnati enlarged its plant some time ago it also had a commission. One member of the Board of Works when the Hord proposition was first broached said the price was outrageous. He is now silent on the matter. There has been considerable talk of the Commercial Club taking up the whple matter and investigating it. It appears that the city officials do not intend to submit the question of buying the water plant to the people for ratification. The contract made with the company by the city in 1870 provided that before the plant was purchased by the Council for the city its action should be ratified by a majority of the voters at a special election to be called for that purpose. To avoid this requirement the city officials contend that the Hord proposition does not amount to a sale, and that no ratification by the voters is necessary. There is a provision in the charter, it is claimed, which authorized the city to own stock in a water company. It is not the Intention, according to the officials, to purchase the plant, but it is the intention to purchase tne stock and mortgage the plant for the payment of the balance of the price, so that the city comes into ownership ultimately by absorption, as it were, and not by purchase. Expert Hill Examines Plant. J. W. Hill and City Engineer Jeup, examined the pumping station of the Water Company at White river yesterday and afterward visited the water'gallery. where the capacity of the pumps was measured. Mr. Hill left for Cincinnati last evening, taking with him all the plans of the system of water distribution of this city, and will study them before returning to the city the last of the week

READY TO MOVE. (Concluded from First Page.) Rockwell, chief ordnance officer, and Col. Lee, chief quartermaster, had finished what had seemed the unending task of equipping the first. Corps. There is now, perhaps, not a regiment in the corps that does not feel that it will be among those picked out to go with General Brooke, and when the regiments to go are designated there is, therefore, going to be some sadly disappointed volunteers, for there is not a regiment at the park that does not feel that there are various reasons why it is better suited to go to the front than any other regiment. Col. Lee was in consultation with railroad men this afternoon regarding the necessary ti ansportation for the forthcoming expedition. He will have every arrangement made to move the entire force within four or five days. Having finished with the First Corps, the supply departments began this evening issuing to the Third Corps. Colonel Lee issued considerable wagon transportation to this corps, and Colonel Rockwell handed out some ordnance to regiments of the corps. If there is no delay in shipping stores, it will be only a few days until the Third Corps is thoroughly equipped. Captain Rockwell, of General Brooke s staff, has been appointed a colonel of Infantry. The colonel is .one of the hardestworked men at Camp Thomas. Adjutant General Otto L. Sues, of Colonel Grigsby's cowboys, to-day began the - instruction of the officers of the regiment in saber movements. This practice will be continued every day. Adjutant General Sues instructing the officers, and they, in turn, instructing their men. Adjutant General Sues is an experienced swordsman, he being one of the best in the country. The carbine scabbards for the regiment have been received at the camp and the regiment is now fully equipped, with the exception of a few minor supplies. The men are also becoming \v 11 driiLd, and Colonel Grigsby says his regiment is ready 4o go any moment. It is claimed the regiment is the best drilled of any regiment of volunteer cavalry in the United States. All arrangements have b°en completed for the cavalry brigade review, which occurs one day this week. Those who will be in the review are the cowboys. First Illinois Cavalry and the First Kentucky Cavalry. Twenty-five hundred horses will be on the field at one time, executing the various cavalry movements, and the sight will be quite interesting and well worth seeing. General Compton's men of the Second Division, Third Corps, are now arranging rifle ranges and will get down to practice at once. The general states that the equipment of his division is almost complete, the regiment only lacking a few articles of various kinds. A number of important changes are taking place in the Fourteenth New York. Captain Walton Wagner, of Company L, has resigned on account of disability, and Lieut. Van Dow Mueumber has been nominated to succeed to the captaincy. In turn. Second Lieut. Foley, of Comnany R, has been nominated to succeed First Lieut. Maeumber. Corporal Grant, of Company G. has been nominated to succeed Lieut. Foley, and Corporal Wilhelm, of Company D. has been nominated as first lieutenant, vice Lieut. Hfnry Walsh, resigned. Private John S Hutchinson, of Company 11, Fourteenth Minnesota, died at the regimental hospital to-day from paralysis. His friends <n the regiment made up a nurse and sent the remains to his former home at Howard Lake, Minn., for interment. Re(tirn of General Brooke. CHATTANOOGA. Tenn., July 20.—MaJ. Gen. John R. Brooke arrived here this morning on a delayed Southern train at 1 o'clock, and remained in the city over night. He declined to discus* the plana for the expedition to Porto Rico. TROOPS MI ST LEAVE TAMPA. All thut Do Not Go to Porto Rico Will Be Sent to Fernuadtna. TAMPA, Fla., July 19.—The troops left behind here after the departure of the regi-

ments to be ordered to Porto Rico will bo nrfoved to Fernandina. The camp here was pitched on low ground, and as a number of the men have contracted malarial fever it was decided best to move the camp away trom here. The removal caused reports of yellow lever in Tampa, but it can be stated positively and with authority of the president of tne state board that there is no suspicion of yellow fever here. Vigorous protests against the removal of the troops to Fernandina have been forwarded the Fresiuent by every person of distinction here. Congressman J. A. T. Huii, of lowa, cnairman or the military committee of the House, who is here on a visit to his son. Colonel Hull, on General Coppingei s stats, has demurred against the move to Fernandina, announcing that if the intention is to avoid typhoid the troops should be moved out of tne lever zone, either intt Georgia or the Carolinas. There is no change in the orders to move the entire Fourth Army Corps at once to Fernandina, and the work is progressing to that end. Direct orders from President McKinley to-day admitted of no farther protests, and the officers have gene about the work with resignation. (ioastp About Indlaniuna. Correspondence of the Journal. PORT TAMPA CITY, Fla!, headquarters of the One-hundred-and-tifty-aeventh Indiana Volunteers, July 17.—The kaleidoscopical changes in military circles during the past two weeks have kept the soldier boys in suspense. The fact that Company D, of North Manchester, which has been guarding the water works plant at St. Petersburg since June 21, has been ordered by General Coppinger to return to the regiment at'once emphasises his statement that the One-hun-dred-and-fifty-seventh will be kept in readiness to embark soon for Porto Rico., The people at St. Petersburg have become greatly attached to Captain CTenr>ns’s company and speak of the men ,' t„e highest terms. Captain Ciemans states that tne liberality ot the people at St. Petersburg is one of the truest examples ot Southern hospitality in his experience. This morning at 10 o'clock services held in front of Chaplain Gtwies £. Meubury’s tent. The regimental band furnished the music and a selected choir led the singing. Chaplain Medbury preacher l an eloquent sermon. The men parade* in front of the chaplain’s tent with blankets and camp stoois, and in the scorcning sun listened with great interest to the sermon. .Among the visitors at camp who aiienued were Airs. Col. George M. Studebaker, Mr. and Mrs. Clem Studebaker, ot South Bend; Mrs. Aubrey L. Kuhlmaii, of Auburn, Mrs. Elmer D. Rex, of South Bend; Mrs. Newton W. Gilbert, of Angola, and Mrs. John C. Capron, of Plymoutn. Dr. Reginald W. Garstang's tent adjoins the chaplain s quarters, and the same was occupied during the religious services by Mrs. G. M. Studebaker and Mr. and Mrs. Clem Studebaker. After the services the regimental band played * ine Star-spangled Banner.” Since the assignment of Major Surgeon Eaward Martin to a brigade at Camp Alger, Falls Church, Va., Major Surgeon Walter Barnett becomes ranking major surgeon of Generul Hall's brigade. Private Will Kayser, of Compand G. Fort Wayne, is kept busy at his occupation of tailoring. All the officers and men patronize him, and his pocketbook has swelled to immense proportions since his enlistment. Mosquitoes are the worst ever seen, being able to drill through ordinary netting and preventing the soldiers from getting their much needed rest. B. J. E.

BARNETT'S MEN ALSO. The 150th Indiana Think They Are Booked for Active Service. Special to the Indianapolis Journal. CAMP ALGER, Va., July 19.—The announcement that theOne-hundred-andffifty-ninth Indiana would be inspected to-mor-row by Major Long, inspector general, caused another outburst of enthusiasm today. It is taken as a sure sign of a move to the front. It was said to-day that the One-hundred-and-flfty-ninth was sixth on the list of ten regiments recommended today for service by General Graham. Fifty-two men, members of Company A, Twenty-second Kansas Volunteers, Colonel Lindsey commanding, who are stationed at Camp Alger, were taken suddenly ill shortly after breakfast to-day, Their symptotfis pointed to poisoning and an investigation proved that each had partaken of hash which had been cooked in a copper vessel, in which it had remained over night The hospital corps declared it to be ptomaine poisoning. Antidotes were administered, and twenty-seven of the men recovered at once and were able to resume their positions in ranks. It is reported to-night that all the others are doing nicely and that none are seriously poisoned. D. C. Slocum, who was discharged as sergeant major of the second battalion of the One-hundred-and-fifty-ninth to accept a commission as adjutant, has been thrown out by a decision of the department that adjutants must be detailed from the line, tsiocum was commissioned June 19 by Governor Mount and since then has been trying to be mustered by the officer of this corps in charge of enlistments. He was put off front day to day until the decision was promulgated as given above. Mr. Slocum is a young man ot several years' experience in the business and is a prime favorite among all the officers of the regiment. He has some hopes of finding a piace in the One-hundred-and-sixty-Hrst Regiment. Ho lett for home Monday evening. Lieut. A. W. Dudley, Company B, of Terre Haute, has gone home on a seven-day leave of absence to wind up some business affairs. The officers have come to realize now that they wiil be away from home some time. In case the regiment does not go on the Porto Rico expedition it is expected to remain in camp at least until fall. Captain Coleman’s company, of New Albany, was visited by some home people last week, and-a few' days afterwards a box of toilet soap was received containing one hundred bars. The boys did not know just how to take the matter, but finally agreed that their friends probably thought soap was what they needed first. Owing to the number of cases of drunkenness in Washington among soldiers the pass business has been reduced to a small per cent, again. Some regiments have been refused any passes. The better regiments suffer accordingly. Orders ftere issued from corps headquarters at Camp Alger to-day directing General Butler to move the First Division to Dunn Loring as soon as possible. All the details of the exodus are not complete, there being seme confusion in regard to the disposition of the cavalry and the Connecticut and South Carolina regiments. Everything hinges upon the water supply, but it is thought that by next Monday there will be a sufficient number of wells to supply all needs. The first review of this brigade was held Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock. It is now reported that the One-hundred-and-fifty-ninth will be assigned to a provisional brigade made up of the First Rhode Island and the Seventh Illinois, to be assigned to General Butler’s division. This may be a good guess, but there is, as yet, no official information. By an order from the War Department all officers of a like grade in the volunteer army, whose commissions date on the same dav and who have had no service in the arinv of the Lnited States, must decide thrir rank by lot. The order was announced last night and the officers of the One-hun-dred-and-fifty-ninth were called together in the evening to decide among themselves. A peculiar fact in connection with the drawing was that the rank of each officer remained after the drawing as it was previous to the federal enlistment. The War Department does not recognize previous service in the National Guard organization, but fate, in the shape of slips of paper, did recognize it in this case. Dr. Bob Hawkins, of Brazil, has returned from his home greatly improved in health.Mrs. Simpson, mother of Captain Simpson, of company L, is in the camp visiting her son. The camp monotony wiil be broken this week by the Introduction of rifle practice. Major MeAuliff spent Saturday in a search for a rifle, range, which will be put into use as soon as possllde. Lieutenant McCormack will have charge. McCormack is wearing a fine sword presented by Col. J. R. Ross and other friends, in Indianapolis. Major Louden is confined to bis quarters by sickness. Earl Fisk, Company 1, of Grecncastle, who is dangerously ill of typhoid fever at Fort Myer, is better to-day. G. W B. Preparations at Charleston. CHARLESTON. S. C.. July 19,-That active preparations are being made for a move to the front is evident to all who spend half an hour on the water site. The soldiers are not having a great deal to do with the loading of the transports, but they do guard duty and oversee the work, which is accomplished by gangs of negro laborers. The monster ship No. 21 was to-day receiving into her hold thousands of tons of hay and other stores. Besides the feed the ship is ordered to carry the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Regiment, its wagons, mules and stores. Transport No. I, the Panama, which came Into port Monday afternoon, went out of the harbor this morning and anchored off the jetties. During the day some additional supplies were sent out to the ship and she sailed for the south to-night. The No. 1 carried about 150 negro hands for Cuba.