Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-12-28
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
WASHINGTON, Dec. Is.

The first of series of tariff hearings
given by the committee on ways and
means of the House of Representatives,
took place this morning in the large
committee room, which was crowded
with gentlemen interested in the mat
tiers to be presented. There were only
FIVE members of the committee present
when the proceedings began-Mr. Ding
lev. chairman, and Messrs. Dalzell,
PAYNE, Evans and Johnson, all republi-
cans. All the democratic members OF
the committee were conspicuous by
their absence. The subject assigned
for the morning session was the duty
which ought to be imposed on chemi-
calls, paints and oils.
At two o'clock this afternoon the six
day international bicycle race began in
Convention Hall, this city. The track
was in splendid condition and the
boards were inclined at the curves at
an angle of forty-five degrees. AT the
crack of the pistol the following racers
started: Hale of Ireland (winner OF the
six-day race at Madison Square Gardeu
two weeks ago., Chapple of England,
Hunter of France, Marks of England.
Shick of Switzerland, Foster of Ger.
many, Waller of Germany, Lawson of
Sweden, Reading Of the United States,
Maddox of Asbury Park, N. j., Albert
of Canada, Aschinger of the United
States, Frank Albert, United States,
John johnson of Sweden, Johnson Of
New York, and George Ball of the
District of Columbia. Hale, Reading
and Johnson subsequently withdrew.
TIE international incident of the
Venezuelan boundary dispute is con-
sidered closed as far as the United
States is concerned, and all further ne
gotiations for its adjudication lie wholly
with the TWO parties to the controversy,
Venezuela and Great Britain. ibis ex-
PLANTATION comes from the State Depart
ment, where it is further stated that
with the acceptance of the Venezuelan
executive three weeks ago of the heads
for the proposed treaty of arbitration
as signed by Sir Julian Pauncefote and
Mr.. Olney on November II, the friendly
intervention of the United States had
been completed, and the only addi-
tional acts of the United States in the
matter will be the publication of
the evidence and reports collected
by the Venezuelan High Com
mission and the eventual reference
10 the United States Supreme
Court of the concurrent request of the
two countries for the appointment OF
two iurists, as members of the tribunal
as provided for by the treaty. As the
Venezuelan Congress which must pass
upon this treaty has been called to
meet ia extra session on February Isl,
it is presumed that Mr.. Andrade and
the British ambassador will complete
the details of the convention directly
ia order that it may reach Caracas
within month. Such negotiation is
thought to be devoid of any great i'm
portance, as the heads of the treaty
have already been disposed of and only
certain we'll defined formulas of intro
duction are waiting.
Atnoon to-day Secretary Olney drove
to the British Embassy and had long
conference with Sir Julian, presumably
with reference to the treaty.
White Ghost, the Indian Chief who is
here with a delegation of his fellow
tribesmen, asking for 5000, 900 interest
on alleged deferred payment for land,
saw the Great Father this morning.
Indian Commissioner Browning intro
duced the Chief to the President.
White Ghost did not stay long enough
to make speech but was exceedingly
pleased to shake hands with Mr.. Cleve.
land.
A man of affairs here to-day who has
Just returned from Chicago and New
York, says business of all kinds was
never duller in either than it is now.
and that the leading business men in
both those cities expressed great ankle
ty concerning the future, for the rea-
son, as they said, that they could see
nothing ahead upon which to build a
reasonable hope for improvement. The
merchants here say the profits of their
Christmas sales were far below those of
previous years.
1t is rumored at the State Department
that no further trouble need be antici-
pated with Turkey, as the true condi-
ton of affairs there is better understood,
and less reliance therefore placed upon
the statements of the insurgent Ar
menians and their interested friends.
A well dressed man apparently about
fifty years of age dropped dead on
street car about nine o'clock this morn
ing near 10Th street. AS he was un.
known to anybody in the car, he was
taken to the morgue for Identification.
Comptroller Eckels says that the
voluntary assignment of the Atlas Ma
tional Bank at Chicago did not result
from the failure of the Illinois bank.
On December 18th, the date of the
last bank call, the Atlas had cash re-
serve of 40 per cent, l5'per cent.
more than required by law. 1t had
large deposit of county funds and these
being drawn on rapidly it was found
for this and other reasons the bank
could not be run at a profit. 1t there
fore went into voluntary liquidation.
The garbage contractor of this city
says the new .crematory near the naval
observatory will be completed by the
9Th proximo, and that then there will
be no need for garbage scows on the
potomac.
A New York democrat here to-day
says the Tammany primaries will be
held there at an early date and that at
next years election most OF the boilers
will support the regular democratic
ticket, but will be allowed to reioin the
party only on probation.