Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-01-12
FROM WASHINGTON.
lOorrespOndence OF The AIe1Anurla dADeIIe.J
WASHINGTON, Jan. II.

covered the shortage in the accounts of
Postmaster Degge, at Norfolk, Va,
was at the department to-day concern
ing that matter. He had not COM
pleted his report on the case, but ex-
pected to do so to-day and submit it
to the department. The Postmaster
general will probably take action in
the matter the latter part of the week.
The republicans of the Senate held q
caucus this morning for the purpose OF
considering the bimetallic resolution
reported to it by the caucus committee.
Mr.Chandler saida resolution providing
for a conference to secure bimetallism,
by international agreement, would pass
without opposition but he could not as
sure his associates that the one agreed to
by the committee would meet with
unanimous approval. AS worded by
the committee the resolution calls for
q conference to arrange for the free
coinage of silver at fixed ratio by in.
ternational agreement. Free silver
democrats and republicans and the
populists insist that the words "free
coinage" should be changed SO as to
read free and unlimited coinage"
Several other changes were suggested
as essential tc the securement OF abso-
lutte harmony and the caucus then adj
iourned until Friday.
The President has approved the joint
resolution of Congress authorizing the
building of a telephone line in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
The Senate to-day confirmed the fol-
lowing nominations: T. S. Doyle, of
Virginia, to be consul at Beirut, Syria
w. II. White, United States attorney
for the Eastern district of Virginia.
A prominent republican from Tide
water, Virginia, now here, who is a
great friend of Col. William Lamb
said to-day that Colonel Lamb
was ready aud willing to resign the
craftsmanship of the republican State
committee whenever they wished to
name his successor; that his own pri-
vate business demanded his attention,
which is far more important to his fl
nancial interest than active politics.
He also said that the Colonel was
anxious to take a long rest in European
travel for both health and business,
When asked who would likely succeed
Col. Lamb rs chairman, he replied that
it was generally conceded that MIR.
Park Agnew, of Alexandra, would be
his successor, from the fact that he was
comparatively new man in active re-
publican politics in Virginia; that he
had never been mixed up in any of the
past party feuds, and consequently was
acceptable to all factions in the party.
When asked who would be likely to
control the federal patronage IN the
State, he said as matters now stand
the executive and State committees
will have absolute control of it. He
said Col. Brady will be Collector of
Internal Revenue of the Petersburg dis
trict and Gen. Stith Boiling will be
the postmaster at Petersburg; Exon
gresham and National Committeeman
]. E. Bowden will name the officers for
the Norfolk district; Col. h. D. B. Clay
is booked for collector at Newport's
News; Judge Waddill will name the
appointments for the Richmond district;
Gen. Walker will look after the South
west and Mr.. Park Agnew will be en-
trusted with the patronage of the
Eighth district; ]. E. Bowden is slated
for first assistant postmaster general
Capt. P. Fl. McCaull is booked for
register of the treasury, instead of the
dictatorship of internal revenue; Judge
Shumate is for q. S. marshall Judge
Waddill is to be U. S. district judge IS
soon as vacancy occurs in that line.
This is about the situation as near as it
can be reached now, he said, SO far as |
am informed.
The prevalent opinion on the subject
of the arbitration treaty with Great
Britain at the Senate to-day is that
while it may not be entirely satisfacto
nv from the fact that the monarchists
will have majority Of the arbitra-
tors, still it will be confirmed, as it is on
the right line and as no treaty can pre-
vent a war if two nations are bent upon
having one.
Mr.. II. V. Strayer, of Harrisonburg,
the messenger of the Virginia electoral
college, arrived here this morning.
bringing with him the official copy of
the vote of that college cast at Rich
mond yesterday for President and Vice
President of the United States. 1t was
sealed with red wax stamped with a
silver dollar.
In the vote on the bill to refund the
interest on the Central and Pacific
railroads in the House yesterday the
Virginia delegation is recorded as fol-
lows: Aye, Mr.. Meredith. Noes,
Messrs. Elicit, Jones, Otey, Swanson,
Thorp, Turner, Tyler and Walker.
Not voting, Mr.. Tucker. Sixteen dem
ocratic members of the House voted for
the bill; ffty-eight against it.
Senator Cameron has returned from
his island on the Southern coast, but
the colder weather of this latitude has
indisposed him slightly, and he will not
call up his Cuban resolution to-day.
Senator Daniel called upon Seore-
tary of War Lamont this morning to
see if any thing could be done by which
General Fitz Lees son, who, with
thirty other West Point cadets, was
dropped yesterday for deficiency in
studies, could be reinstated. He was
informed that the report of the case had
not yet been received and that when it
shall be he will be communicated with
on the subject.
Mr.. Frank Hume was at the Capitol
to-day, in the interest of the bill for q
bridge across the Potomac at Arlington,
bat had the same old story repeated to
him, to the effect that if the Speaker
would allow the bill to be taken up it
would pass.