Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-03-30
FROM WASHINGTON.
CORRESPONDENCE Of the Alexandra Gazette. ]
WASHINGTON, March 80.

GERS.
Mr.. Lee Brand of Salem, Virginia, is
here to-day, supposed to be looking
after his old place as postmaster OF his
town.
A negro band marched up Pennsyl-
vania avenue to-day. Following it on
the sunny side of the street were about
a thousand negroes of both sexes and
all ages, whose appearance reminded
observers of pictures of Darkest Africa,
and suggested the idea that missiona-
ries are more needed right here than IN
the wilds of the Congo.
Congressman Elicit of Richmond
stopped here to day on his way home
from New York to see Senator Daniel
on law business, but the Senator was
absent on legal business in Virginia.
Mr.. Elicit says politics are very quiet in
Richmond now, and that people there
are not talking much either about the
present or the prospective governor Of
their State.
Elk. Congressman Bowden, of Vir
GINA, called at the Postotfice Depart.
ment this morning, it was said, in the
interest of several applicants for post
offices in his district. Congressman
Walker, of the same State, called on
the Secretary of the Treasury and said
a word or two in behalf of Mr.. Hele-
man, whom he and Congressman Yost
have recommended for Capt. Fowle'S
place as internal revenue collector.
From what people from different
parts of Virginia, now here, say of po-
litical affairs in their State, itseems that
uncertainty is the only certain thing
about such affairs. Nobody seems to
have any definite idea as to whether or
not constitutional convention will be
held. The majority Of the democrats
sre, it is supposed, in favor of such q
convention, most of the republicans are
opposed to it, and the populists have
declared for it, but how many demo-
crnts are against it nobody can tell 1t
is generally conceded that the demo.
Gratis will elect their gubernatorial NOM
inee, but whether be will be Ellyson or
Tyler is beyond the power of any Vir-
ginian here to say. They appear to
think that while the former is the fav
orite in the cities, the latter is in the
counties.
According to the rule adopted by
the House, the vote on the Dingley
bill will be taken in that body to-mor-
row, though fourth of it has not been
considered by the House. But such is
fair sample of republican legislation.
1t is intimated at the State Depart.
ment that Judge Day, of Canton, per-
sonal friend of the President, will be
sent to Cuba to report to the President
the exact condition of affairs there, and
that General Fitzhugh Lee will con.
tinue to hold his place there as Consul.
General for some time yet.
Lieut.. A. G. Dillingham; has been
named by Secretary Long as the repre-
sentative of the navy at the Grant
memorial in New York, and Colonel
Mosby has been invited to be mem
Der of the staff of General Dodge on
that occasion.
The Spanish Minister at Washington
has cabled the Acting Captain General
of Cuba requesting him to make every
effort to recover the body of the dead
American newspaper correspondent,
Crosby, who was killed while watching
recent engagement between the Gu
ban and Spanish forces near Arroyo
Blanco, and to forward it in a becom-
ing manner to New York.
The President to-day sent to the
Senate the following nominations ::
Frank W. Palmer of Illinois to be Pub
lie Printer, and Alexander NJ. Thacka-
ra OF Pennsylvania to be consul of the
United States at Havre, France.
Neither the Cuban question nor any
other matter of moment was considered
at to.day's meeting of the Cabinet. In
fact, the session was without public III
terest and was spent by the President
and his advisors in chatting over some
minor things Very few people called
at the White House this morning prior
to the Cabinet meeting. 1t was the
easiest business day the President has
had since his Inauguration. General
Draper, of Massachusetts, who is said
to be slated for the Italian mission, was
the only visitor ofprominence.
A caucus of the republicans OF the
Senate was held this morning. Senator
Allison, chairman of the caucus commit
tee, made an elaborate report in which
he told of the troubles that had con-
fronted and which still stood in the way
of the committee. Many conferences
had teen had with the democratic steer
ing committee and at no time were the
members of that committee, and par
ticularly Mr.. German, its chairman,
willing to admit that there was any
changed condition in the republican
party since the Senate committees had
been reorganiZed by the republicans.
The democrats insisted, said Mr.. ALI
son, that they should have the same
number of men on the committees as
they had under the previous arrange
ments and declined to permit the repub-
licans to take an additional number
sufficient to outvote the silver republi.
cans who had boltea the st. Louis con-
venlion and who were now members
of committees, if they continued with
the democrats. Short speeches were
made by Senators Hale, Gallinger,
Wolcott, Wilson and others. The only
new member who spoke was Senator
Mason, of Illinois. He contended that
the new Senators were entitled to com.
mittee assignments and that tbs effort
should be made to place them. If the
effort, was futile no blame could be at
tached to the straight republicans.
They would at least have made an
effort and more than that the new
Senators could not ask; that much.