Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-12-18
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.]
WASHINGTON. Dec. is.

there seems to be no doubt that,a pres
emit, the feeling in both houses of Con-
eress, and on both sides.of both houses,
is strongly in favor of war if England
shall not recede from her position
which, of course, she will not
do. Mr.. Crisp was so anxious to pro,
vide for the commission recommended
by the President to define the bound
ary between Venezuela and British
Guiana that he tried to get in 8 resolu
ton to that effect yesterday evening,
but was cut off by the Speaker. To,
dsy. however, as soon as the journal
was read, MIR. Hit, republican, OF
Illinois, introduced resolution
appropriating 100000 for that pur.
Pose. Mr.. Boutelle, republican, of
Maine, said he had been called
a lingo, but in view of what might be
the consequences of basty action on
such grave matter to both the great
Anglo.Saxon nations of the eartn, ne
thought the wiser, more prudent ana
more deliberate course would be TO
refer the resolution to committee.
He received some applause on his side
of the House. Mr.. Crisp then second
ed Mr.. Hit and advocated the imme-
diate passage of the resolution. He
and Mr.. Hit both received general
applause, and the latter having called
the previous question, the resolution
was passed without an openly dissenting
vote. But many of the members were
really opposed to it, and more, to the
summary manner in which it was rush
ed through. Previous to the adoption
of the adjournment resolution, MIR.
Meredith was recognized by the Speak
er and suggested that before that reso-
luton was passed the, statute prohibit
lag e1. Confederates from holding COM
missions in the army should be repeal
ed. but his suggestion was not
acted upon. Congressman Jones OF
Virginia, when asked if his dis
trict was for war, replied that
be was liable to bombardment and
rayages, but that if there should be war
the greenbacks would not be called in.
Congressman Meredith said this coun-
try had nothing TO do with dispute
between Venezuela and Great Britain,
but that if there should be war, PEN
sions would have to cease. Congress
mau Tyler of the same State said he
would have to support the Preiident.
Should there there be immediate war,
the United States government would
20 into it with regular army of 25, 81,
rank and file, and navy of GA vessels
and 1926 men, while the regular
srmy of Great Britain numbers 100, 900,
and her navy is composed of sol YES
sells and 63,S06 men. Some people
think the Presidents message and the
favor it receives from both parties are
political tricks and are intended to re-
open negotiations, as the commission
can hardly present its report within
less than two years. War with Eng
land, no matter what its result, would
be of incalcnlable loss to the United
States, as one-half of their exports
yoes to that country and they annually
sell her half billion of their pro-
ducts, while they sell to Venezuela
less than four millions.
Several Senators seem to be in
earnest about the Presidents message
and propose to back him up. There
have been numerous conferences of
Senators and there appears to be a
somewhat practical unanimity that an
appropriation should be speedily made
that would enable the administration
to equip an army if it were necessary to
call one into the field. With this idea in
view, Mr.. Chandler this morning in
tro6uced bill which provides that the
President be and he is hereby au-
thorizsd and directed to strengthen the
military armament by adding thereto,
equipped for use, one million infantry
rifles, one thousand guns for field
artillery and not exceeding FIVE thou
sand heavy guns for Notifications, to be
procured by manufacture in the arsen-
ais, or by contract for manufacture or
by direct purchase in this country or
elsewhere, according to the discretion
of the President vino shall conform,
when practicable, without unwise delay,
to the methods prescribed for making
contracts and purchases by existing
laws. The sum of one hundred million
dollars is appropriated to carry into
effect the provisions of this act.
Judge Haguer, of the District OF Co
lumbia Supreme Court, this morning
ordered an Injunction to issue epjoin.
ing the institution and prosecution of
all legal proceedings respecting the
custody of the Slack children until af-
ter the contest of their fathers will shall
have been determined, and attached an
order leaving the children, the two
little girls, in charge of their aunt,
Mrs. Perrine, with the condition that
their mother, Mrs. Slack, shall have
liberal access to them and that Mrs.
Perrine shall say nothing to them to
prejudice them against their mother.
There are indications of opposition
on the part of the democrats to the re-
organization of the Senate committees
before the holidays. They say that the
republicans consumed two weeks in
making up their list and the democrats
can, therefore, hardly be expected to
perform the same work in two days. The
republicans contend that the democrats
have only to arrange their list according
to priority of service. The whole mat
ter will be discussed at the republican
caucus this afternoon. There is feel.
ing among republicans that the Senate
ought not to adjourn for the holidays
until the committees are reorganized
and this feeling may prevail. Should
the republicans, aided by the populists,
undertake this they can, ofcourse, pre-
vent adjournment.
John E. Belts of Northumberland
county, Virginia, one of the deputy
doorkeepers of the House, was removed