Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-08-30
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gssette.]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 80.
The State Department is not little
annoyed at the letters of Mr.. Fishback,
who is reported to be in some way or
another connected with the govern
ment, and who, it is said, occupies q
desk in Consul Lees Office in Havana
and has the services OF consular clerk
there. Mr.. Fishback, so far as the
State Department is informed, has no
connection whatever with the govern
ment, and if such privileges BIS those re
ferred to have been allowed him by the
American consul, the rules of the De-
partment have been intringed, and, it is
intimated here, may require an investi-
CATION. In view of the somewhat
strained relations between the United
States and Spain, newspaper cores
pondence from consular offices are
very ticklish matters, aud the recent
publication of consular report on
Cuba before it reached the State De-
partment has not been forgotten. Dip.
lomatic affairs are not we'll conducted
by newspapers.
The special clerk provided by the
Senate at its last session for the preps-
ration of bill to pay all the iudicially
decided claims against the government,
has nearly completed his work. 1t twill
be introduced on the first day of the
next session of Congress, and, it is ex-
pected, will psss both houses, as both
are on record as in favor of the pay
ment of such claims, among which are
the French spoliation claims and the
80 called oval claims, Tin both of which
several AleIandrians are interested.
One of the largest items in the latter is
that of the late Mrs. Fitzhugh, of
Ravensworth, amounting to $2l7 900.
A Virginia republican, here to day,
says Mr.. Blair WIS appointed district
attorney for the western district Of Vir.
ginis at the request of Secretary Alger
and Judge Golf, and that against that
influence the "pull" of the Virginia re-
publicans, even if they we're united, in
stead of divided, as they are, would be
impotent.. He also said that the pres
emit republican executive committee Of
Virginia never makes move without
consulting Mr.. Hanna.
The decision of the Attorney General
on the question of the additional tax
on foreign goods imported via Canada
that was expected to-day, was not
rendered, and it islnow rumored may
not be delivered at all, and that the
matter may be left for the action Of
Congress.
Mr.. Harlow, one of the civil service
commissioners, two weeks ago, in talk
ing about the Presidents late order in
reference to that service, said the in.
ternal revenue collectors could 80 con-
strue the exemption provision of the
order, by "parity of reasoning" as to
appoint either stamp deputy or q
division deputy as he might choose.
Mr.. Wright, another member of that
commission, when asked this morning
about the explanatory order issued by
Mr., Wilson, deputy commissioner OF
the internal revenue bureau, last Satur-
day, to the contrary effect, said the
order was issued at the instance of the
Treasury Department, applied solely
to thst department, and that that de-
partment was therefore the arbiter in
tho case. In reference to this order,
which affects Mr.. Monroe, division
deputy In Alexandria, it is said that
Collector Agnew was desirious of re-
moving all the democrats under him,
and of giving their places to republi.
cana, but did not wish to remove Mr..
Monroe any more than any of the 9th.
ers.
Secretary Sherman paid visit to-day
to the rooms of the commission recently
appointed to revise and codify the
criminal laws of the United States,
which rooms are located in the Kellogg
building on F, near 18th street. Though
the weather was hot and he was dress.
ed in thick cloth clothes, the Secretary
looked cold.
Mr.. Butler Malone is an applicant
for q place in the Indian service, and
has the endorsement of a large number
of U. s. Senators and OF some of the
prominent republicans Of Virginia.
Among the pensions recently restor.
ed was one to Henry G. Steadman of
Internal Revenue Collectors Agnew
and Brady both left here this morning
for their respective Offices, the former
at Lynohburg and the latter at Rich
mond.
Mr.. NJ. 2. Harlow, of Alexandra,
and Congressman Rixey, of his district,
will be here tomorrow to do what they
Gan do toward having the government
locate its armer plate plant in the FORM
er's city,