Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-03-30
R WASHINGTON.
rco,ragnondence of the Alexandria GaHette.I
WASHINGTON, March 80.

WASHlNGlON IudiSA cV
R;sbon John F. Hurst, chancellor o
the Methodist National University, re-
norris that Notwithstanding the business
DEPRESSION existing at present the con-
dition and prospects of the building
funds as well as the general and en-
downment funds are most satisfactory
and encouraging. At the meeting OF
the trustees six weeks ago it was an
nounced that a lady in New York had
laced in the hands of the chancellor
ihe sum of $780, 55 as an endowment
OF the chair of history. 1t was
then determined to raise a fund
of $4,000 with which to erect
a hall of history in which to
house the chair, and $4,000 were
subscribed by the trustees upon con.
dition that the entire sum be secured
by May Is. To-day the subscriptions
amount to S1O1, $50, two subscriptions
of S., 900 and $40, 900 respectively hav-
ing been made this week. The Meth
odist ministers are subscribing to a
fund for the erection of Asbury Hall,
so named in honor of the bishop, and
within the past two weeks the fund
has been increased by the addition OF
$4,000 from the colored conference OF
Kentucky and of s., Jas from the Will
mington, Delaware, conference.
Gen. Ransom will leave here for the
CITY of Mexico tonight to assume his
new position as United States minister
there. He called at the State Depart
ment this morning and said goodbye
to Secretary Gresham, from whom he
received his tinal instructions.
Minister Lewis Baker, the diplomatic
representative of the United States IN
Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Salvador,
has secured leave of absence and is eX-
pected to be home in June. 1t is un-
derstood that his two years stay in
Central America, including the sum-
mers of 1898 and 1894, may have salts
fed him with diplomatic life and that
he may conclude not to return to his
post.
Comptroller Bowler has decided that
the "bullion roll" of the Treasury De-
partment is no longer legal and the Ga
people, mostly women, upon it were
to day dismissed. They were employ
ed in counting money sent in for re-
demption. The work will have to be
done by details of clerks from the sew
eral bureaus. Many affecting scenes
were witnessed to day when the final
discharges were made. The clerks on
this roll were not in the civil service
classification and for that reason the
roll has been a place for favored friends
of statesmen possessing influence.
"Uncle jerry Smith, the old negro
ianitor at the White House, celebrated
Yesterday his "silver wedding and
held a reception last night in honor of
the event. Among those who honored
him with their presence were Post
MASTER General and Mrs. Bissell, Sec
rotary and Mrs. Lamont, and Private
Secretary and Mrs. Thurber. uncle
Jerry'' and his wife received a large
number of presents. Nearly every
employee of the White House sent some
little silver token. President and Mrs.
| Cleveland sent a dozen silver spoons.
Other gifts were from Mrs. Julia Dent
| Grant, the widow of Gen. Grant; Mrs.
| Nellie Grant Sartoris, Mr.. and Mrs.
| Bissell, Mr.. and Mrs. Carlisle, Mr.. and
Mrs. Lamont, and Mr.. and Mrs. Thur
Der.
A Boston democrat here to-day, talk
| ing about the recent mixed luncheon at
the executive mansion 10 Richmond,
said he understood that an attempt had
been made in Virginia to make it APP
pear that the appointment of a negro
on the visiting committee was a put up
Job; but that such was not the case,
that a regular standing committee of
the legislature made the trip, and that
the negro was a member of it.
The rumor to the effect that the q.
S. Supreme Court will render its deci-
| sion in the income tax case next Mon
| day, and that it will be against the con
stitutionality of that tax, has spread
considerably since yesterday, when it
was mentioned in this correspondence.
The rumor obtains more credence from
the fact that it has been traced to the
same parties who have anticipated the
decisions of the court in other recent
cases.
A son of ex-senator Henderson, now
a citizen of Alexandria county, is in
Japan, as secretary of ex-Minister Eos
ter, who is assisting the Chinese COM
missioner now there negotiating a treaty
of peace.
j.. T. Ross, of Baltimore, heretofore
assistant postmaster of the House, a
good and true democrat, is now post
master of that body, vice MIR. Dalton,
who died recently.
The friends of Taylor. the negro re-
corder of deeds of this city, say that his
recent visits to the White House were
made to recommend a member of his
race, Astwood, once q pretended demo-
GRAFT, but who renowned democracy
last fall because he failed to get an
office, to the President for a chaplaincy
in the army.
Some person or persons evidently
entertain an abiding spite against the
Catholic churches here. Unsuccessful
attempts have recently been made to
burn several of them, and this morning
a similar attempt upon another was
discovered, st. Msry's. a German Cath
Ole church, corner of 5th and G SITS.
Mr.. Lodge, who is a member of the
foreign affairs committee of the U. S.
Senate, is still here, and as there is no
chance of a war with either Spain
or France, he evidently thinks it is es-
sentially requisite and necessary that
one should be provoked with England,
because that country insists upon a
boundary line in Venezuela, laid down
before the so-called Monroe doctrine
was eve thought of, let alone an.
nounced. He not only thinks so, but
oivec h;c tbonohtS IN the nracc occoo;o-