Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-12-23

French government in Madagascar is a
decree abolishing slavery, copy OF
which has reached the State Depart,
ment from Consul Wetter, at Tama-
taye. It declares all the inhabitants
free, forbids traffic in human beings,
multiplying every contract providing for
the sale of persons, and imposing
penalties for violation of the law which
are to be tripled in case of second OF
tense. Other features of the decree are
that France promises not to impose up
on the people of Madagascar any ex-
traordinary war tax and offers aid to
dispossessed owners of slaves in the form
of territorial possessions. Another de-
decree relating to schools prohibits in
reference by teachers in political affairs
and urges instruction in the French
language.
Officials and employees of the Treas
ury Department building turned out
Ell masse about eleven o'clock this
morning and for while great excite.
ment existed over an unfounded report
of an attempt to rob the place where
the government keeps its treasure.
Rumors few thick and fast, but not so
rapidly as the alleged robber and q
large number of pursuers. The man
was overtaken at the corner of 18th
and F streets, block from the Treas
ury building and escorted back there
by big crowd. After an investigation
he was turned over to the local police,
The story of the affair was this: A
we'll dressed negro called on Assistant
Secretary VIM. E. Curtis at his Office in
the department and said he was author.
lied to collect ten dollars from Mr.
Curtis as subscription for the charity
ball. A telephone message to refer
ence given by the negro brought back
the response that ne was all right.
Mr.. Curtis instructed Private Secretary
Johnson to pay the man the money, but
Mr.. johnson became suspicious an6
suggested that they visit the captain o.
the watch. The suggestion had ar
| electric-like effect on the negro. He
made wild leap down stairway fol
lowed by Mr.. Johnson and number O
others. News of the chase spread
through the big building and for s
short time much excitement prevailed
over rumors of robbery and other thrill
ing suggestions.
J. D. Williams, mullato, shot hi:
wife and then killed himself about moor
to-day at 40S Washington street, north
west, this city. 1t is thought the wo
man will recover. Her only explana
ton of the affair was that she hat
separated from her husband and refus
ed to return to him.
The President has finally determine,
to recognize the new Greater Republic
Central America and this afternoon q
| 8 O'Clock will receive Minister Rod
riguez who has been in Washington tn
past three weeks.
A wholesale and retail grocery mer
chant, doing an extensive business here
says in all his long experience he neve
knew such dull Christmas. The gil
stores and toy shops, he says, ar
crowded, but that all real business wa
never more depressed that it is now
and, worse than all. he can see nothin
that affords hope of improvement.
| Commonwealth Attorney johnson
of Alexandria county was here to-day
He says he is tired of the so-callet
good government club of his county
composed as it is of officeholders her
and men vino want to be officeholder
there, and who presume to interfer
with his duties by attempting to EN-
ploy counsel to assist him in the case
be has to prosecute. he will, he says
stand such presumption no longer, ant
will talk palmer to the next one they
employ than he did to the last one.
Congress is not III session to-day ant
will not be for two weeks, and there il
a general feeling of relief in conse
quence. as it cannot squander the PEG
| ple's money during recess nor create
war alarms. A large number of tht
members have gone home, though
many OF the Senators own residences
here and will spend the holidays il
| them.
w. G. Tucker was appointed post
master at Wagua, Brunswick county
Va, to-day, vice T. G. Tucker, re
signed.
Senator McMillan's resolution about
the retrocession of Alexandria has moi
vet reached the Department of Justice
but when it shall, the answer it will re-
| ceive will be anything else than salts
factory to the anne1ationists, as it is
said at that department, as everywhere
else, that Congress had an unquestion-
able right to retrocede the territory to
Virginia.
In the House yesterday Mr.. Otey, Of
Virginia, presented petition to correct
the military record of J. D. NJ. Perron
of Campbell county, Va.
Intelligence Of the failure of another
Northern bank was received at the
Treasury Department to-day. They
try to keep stiff upper lip there, but
it is evident that bad as is the present
they anticipate worse after the holi-
days.
The new race track at Magruder,
near this city, like many other enter.
prises, has failed. People find it hard
to get money enough to buy meat and
bread, and have little to spend at race
tracks.
Seaator Martin said this morning the
resolution about the retrocession Of
Alexandra to the District of Columbia
will amount to nothing, and he doubts
| if it will ever be heard of again. With
reference to the Cuban imbroglio, be
said he voted for belligerency, and
wasn't ct all anxious TO do that, and
certainly wouldn't go any further, as it
Ia absurd to talk about recognizing