Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-07-17
FROM WASHINGTON.


FROM WASHINGTON.
Especial Correspondence of the Alexandra aasette
WASHINGTON, D. c., July II, 1884.
Mr.. Mertens, of Cumberland, is in the
city to day. He says that had the board OF
directors of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Company reduced the tolls on that canal to
% cents, one million tons Of coal would have
been brought to market by the canal this
season, and the receipts been enough to
have paid the outstanding claims against
the company and left nice little sum for
interest account. Owing to their refusal to
do so, he says, but little coal will be trans
ported by the canal this year. He says
that two thirds of the boats on the canal
are tied up, the stock running loose along
the tow-path, and the families of boatmen
suffering for the barest necessaries of life.
He also says that if Messrs. German, Bar
rett. Mcclure, and the other directors of
the canal who refused to consent TO a re-
duction of tolls would resign, others
would be appointed to their places who
would reduce the tolls, and that a
a reduction to IS cents would so increase
the business Of the canal that the receipts
would be amply sufficient to keep tin good
indeed, he says, that he, Mertens, if he had
control of the canal, could run it for cents
ton, but that be would not carry on its
rolls a long list of saaried officers. Mr..
Mertens saws that in a conversation with
Governor McLane, the latter told him that
though the present directors of the canal
are his personal friends, if they would not
manage the canal satisfactorily he would
remove them. Mr.. Mertens is of the opin-
ion that the present directors want to sell
the canal and turn it into railroad, but
that the coal companies are opposed to
such scheme, and that should the canal
b, sold it is likely the companies will buy
it and keep it in running order, so as to Sc.
cure themselves against railroad monop-
oily.
1t is said here to day that both Wickham
and Callahan, straightout republican mem
bers of the Virginia State Senate, either
have or will sign the call for an extra ses-
sion of the Legislature of that State, though
but one of their names will be required to
make up the two thirds requisite for that
purpose, as republican member of the
House has already signed the call. 1t is
also said that the Governor will issue the
call upon the request Of the two thirds Of
the members referred to ; but that should
he refuse to do so, the Legislature will
meet any how, its acts be sustained by the
courts, and the Governor be impeached ard
BIZ forever disharred from holding any Office
under the State government, or under any
county or municipal government within the
State.
Mr.. Riddleberger is in the city to-day and
will be here day or two. He will take the
stump for Blaine and Logan at an early
day, though it was but short time ago
that he dared any man TO stand before him
and say he was not democrat. Mr.. Rid
deberger is one Of the Mahoneitcs who is
willing to make some concessions to the
straighout republicans, but is overrued by
his boss, who will not listen to such prop
osition. Regarding the concessions referred
to, it is said by those who are in the inner
tub, that they will never be made, that Gen.
eral Malone will persist in refusing to re-
cognize the political existence of the repub-
licans Of bis State who will not agree to &C.
knowledge him as their lord and master,
and that the result will be that most, if not
all, of those now known as straightouts will
bow the knee to the late boss and vote his
electoral ticket, and that, too, though Of all
the twelve men on that ticket only one
ever voted republican ticket in his life,
and he is Van Auken, federal Office
holder.
Mr.. Hill, democratic member of the
House from Ohio, who has just arrived,
says the Cleveland and Hendricks ticket is
highly satisfactory to all the democrats in
his State, and that while Ohio is not
democratic State, he should not be surprised
if it should 60 democratic at the State elec-
ton in October, and If that should be, he
says the national election 10 November will
be clean sweep. General Joe Johnston,
as usual, is not satisfied with the ticket,
and thinks better one could have been
selected. but will support it. And this,
too, as though dozen people of
he will support il or not. Some of the
Bayard men who have returned here,
while cheerfully supporting the ticket and
its triumphant success, are by no
means pleased with the way in which their
favorite's affairs at Chicago were conducted
by the men to whom they were entrusted,
Senators German and Mcpherson, who were
among the first to go over to Cleveland.
"Col." Perry Carson's U. S. flag still flies
across Pennsylvania avenue, in defiance of
the order of the District Commissioners,
but its Blaine and Logan annex has been
removed or been blown away.
1t is now pretty we'll understood that a despe.
rate effort will be made by Elkins to carry the
State of West Virginia for Blaine, but that it will
be defeated by the counteracting means the DEM
ocrats will employ. In this connection great i'm
portance is placed upon the selection of the chair
man of the national democratic committee, who
will not only have to superintend the election in
West Virginia, but that in all the other States.
Among those spoken of as the possible chairman
are Mcssrs. Barbour of Virginia, Barnun of Con-
nectiCut and Wallace of Pennsylyani
MAKING CHEESE DIGEsTIBLE.-An Eng
sh chemist suggests this as a remedy for
he indigestihility of cheese Cut the cheese
nto shreds, grate or chop it I'D fine like suet.