Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-04-01
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence OF the Alexandria Gazette
WASHINGTON Anril /.

that as tQeS6 new VESSELS pIORicoo iauiu
is found with details and as result of
notifications adopted the contract
price of vessels is greatly exceeded.
Much of this comes from the alteration
of quarters to suit the future command
ing officers of vessels nearly ready for
commission and as an instance it was
mentioned that all the maroon
leather upholstered furniture of the
battleship Indiana was ripped out and
dark green leather was substituted to
suit the taste of her expectant captain:
The other order restricts the use OF
electric lights and dynamos IN port.
IL was found that the ships were burn
ing more fuel in port in many instances
than when cruising, on account of the
comforts to be obtained by the use OF
electric fans, refrigerating apparatus
and the continual running around in
speedy steam launches.
Consul General Lee telegraphed the
State Department to-day that he can
not ascertain the whereabouts of h. W..
Steep, an American correspondent. He
has investigated various rumors about
his incarceration in prisons, ETC., and
fails to verify them.
Col. Vim. r. Shafter, First infantry,
has been selected for appointment as
brigadier general by the President.
The President has decided to nomi-
nate DR.. W. W. Thomas, of Portland,
Me-, for the position of Minister to
Sweden and Norway, and so informed
a delegation that called on him to-day
in the interest of State Senator Erick
son, OF Iowa. He was endorsed by
Speaker Reed, who has recommended
only one other candidate for federal Of
fee, w. A. Pledger, of Atlanta, Ga,
who wants to be consul at Kingston,
Jamaica. He was one Of the original
Reed men in the South and worked
hard for the Maine candidate prior TO
the St. Louis convention.
The President to- day sent to the Sen.
ate the following nominations: Andrew
d. White, of New York, Ambassador
to Germany; VIM. F. Draper, of Mas
sachusetts, Ambassador to Italy; Chan
dler Hale, of Maine, Secretary of the
Embassy at Rome; Samuel L. Gracey,
of Massachusetts, Consul at Foochow:
China: Arson Burlingame Johnson, of
Colorado, Consul to Annoy, China; Ben
iamin Butterworth, of Ohio, Commits
sioner of Patents; Oliver l.. Spalding,
of Michigan, and VIM. B. Howell, OF
New Jersey, to be Assistant Secretaries
of the Treasury; Captain Robert Craig,
Signal Corps, to be Major. Withdrawn
-Anson Burlingame Johnson, Consul
at Foochow.
The Presidents action in the case of
the four members OF the Button" po-
| litical faction under sentence of death
at Santa Fe, n. NJ, was announced
this evening. He declined to inter.
| fere and the men will be hanged to.
morrow.
The several republican members Of
| the ways and means committee, as
they called at the White House to-day,
were cordially congratulated by Presi.
dent Mckinley upon the prompt and
| satisfactory manner in which the tariff
bill passed the House yesterday. 1t is
understood that all the members of the
committee, republicans and democrats,
will be entertained at dinner tomorrow
| night by President and Mrs. Mckinley.
The three Louisiana and the two
Texas members of the House who
| voted for the Dingley tariff bill did
so, the former say, because their con-
stituents favor tax on their product,
sugar, and the latter, because theirs
want tax on wool. They still, how
| ever, protest that they are as good
democrats as ever, and intend to re
main so.
There is some talk at the Capitol to-
day, to the effect that the democrats OF
the House will hold caucus to decide
upon the course they shall pursue in
| respect of the Speakers evident deter
mination to permit no legislation
at this session of Congress other than
the passage of the tariff bill. But as
nothing they could do could change
that determination, it is doubtful if the
talk referred to will amount to any
thing.
A we'll informed member of the SEN
ate told the GAZETTE's correspondent
to-day that even with the great and
radical changes that have been made in
the arbitration treaty, by which that
treaty has been rendered of no practi-
cal effect, he thought it extremely
doubtful if it would be ratified.
Judge Waddill of Virginia called
upon the President to-day in tbs inter-
est Of Mr.. Agnew of Alexandria, who
is an applicant Tor the Office of collector
of internal revenue for the upper dis
trict of Virginia, and it is said by the
latter's friends here that notwithstand-
ing the opposition of the two republi-
can congressman from Virginia and
that of Colonel Lamb, he will be ap-
pointed.
Solicitor General Conrad moved in
the Supreme Court to-day to advance
the case of the government against the
eastern traffic association. so that the
question of railroad pooling may be de-
cided definitely. The B. & o. and the
G. & 0. railroads are members of the
association referred to.
It is generally believed at the Capitol
that the Senate will strike out that
provision of the new tariff bill making
its operation retroactive, as the best
constitutional lawyers say such pro-
vision is not only foolish, but upconsti
tutional.
In the Senate this evening Mr.. Hoar
expressed his firm belief that but for
the constant and persistent interference
of the United States, the Spanish gov
eminent would long since have agreed
to the independence of the island of
Cuba.
Col. Fred. Grant, of New York, was