Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-24
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette,]
WASHINGTON, Feb. "a.

General Samuel OrSch, an u aut SoH-
er-l of the army, will be retired &C.
morrow on account of age and tits alto
eerher probable that his successor will
b. Col. Henry T. Corbin who is in
direct line for promotion.
Passed Assistant Surgeon T. B.
Bailey, q. S. n, was found dead in his
room this morning at the Albany under
conditions that lead to the belief that
be had committed suicide by taking
cocaine. He left letter providing for
the distribution of his effects, express
ing fear that be is about to die from
heart disease. The officer had just re-
turned from tour of duty in China
and was assigned to the Washington
navy yard.
The U. S. Supreme Court to day be-
gan the hearing in the Joint Traffic case,
ia which the United States seeks to
have the agreement on the part OF the
leading roads of the country constitut-
ing the Traffic Association, as formed in
1895, set aside, and to have the associ-
alton enjoined from operating under
this agreement. Ex-senator George F.
Edmunds, of Vermont; Minister TO
England z J. Phelps and Mr.. James q.
Carter, of New York, are counsel for
the association and Solicitor General
Richards appeared for the government.
A rather peculiar inquiry recently
came to the Postofice Department from
widow holding the position of post
master in one of the more important
smaller cities Of the South. 1t request.
ed to know whether married man ~
or 20 wears of age could hold the office
of postmaster. The conclusion put on
this by the postal officials based on pre-
vious similar inquiries was that the
widow wanted to marry the young man
if the regulations permitted one Of his
age to hold the Office, and if they did
not, she would remaip single and con-
tinue to hold the Office. Assistant
Postmaster General Heath's reply to
the inquiry was that marriage was not
cure for the prohibition in section 39i
of the postal laws and regulations
against minor being postmaster"
The mystery surrounding the blow
ing up of the Maine remains as dense
as on the day following the explosion.
That is the opinion of the administra-
ton at least, and presumably it is as
we'll informed of the state OF affairs as
any unofficial person. If there were
any developments OF value at Havana
yesterday, or if anything was discovered
tending to throw light upon the nature
aud cause of the explosion, none Of
these facts as yet have been reported
either to the Navy or the State Depart.
ment. To attempt to say from the posi-
ton of an armor plate lying on the up
per works of the wreck that the explo.
sion was internal or external in origin
in the opinion of the officials here is
without warrant. The Maine carried
no armor below water at greater
depth than two and two and a-half
feet. Beneath that there was nothing
but the ordinary thin hull plates Of
about half an inch structural steel.
Nothing has been heard from Gen
eral Lee 81 Havana since day before
yesterday in the shape of cablegram
lad, as the consul general has been
prompt heretofore in informing the
State Department of any developments
of significance, it is supposed that there
have been none since General Lees last
eport. No orders have been issued as
yet for any V .ssel to 60 to Havana to
replace the Maine.
Secretary Long said to-day No tele-
gram has been received from Admiral
Stcard or Captains Sampson or Sigsbee
since yesterday and the department
has receive | no information with re-
gard to the disaster that has not al
ready been made public.
Late reports from Havana have not
changed in auy degree the views of the
high officials OF the government as to
the probable cause Of the disaster to
the Maine It can be stated on the
highest authority that absolutely moth
ing of di>quieting nature has been re
ceived at the White House, nor is i'm
portant news of any character expect
ed until the court Of inquiry has COM
pleied its investigation and submitted
lis report.
At the Spanish Legation much inter
est is manifested in the developments
attending the Maine inquiry and the
arrest nope is expressed that con-
sentative judgment will not be iphu
enced by reports which by the legation
are regarded as untrustworthy. Re-
Gently an incident occurred at small
city which might have given the
ground for official attention had it not
been smoothed by tsctful action by the
Spanish officials at the place of thu iI
cident. The aggressive element pre-.
vailing 10 that local community found
expression against the Spanish con-
a., '4e agent located ct that point. IN
der o,-aey circumstances he would
have brought ~ 49, indignitiies to to the the
attention of the Spa omclais
in Washington. in which esse
it would OF necessity have been MADE
the subject of official attention. H.
stead of so doing. however, the Spanish
agent appealed to the mayor of the
city, and satisfactory adjustment was
made without any official appeal to the
authorities here. The incident was
thus closed before there was even the
opportunity of friction, and it is cited
as an instance of the desire of the
Spanish authorities to show every
forbearance and friendly spirit.
Referring to the rumors of treachery in
connection with the Maine disaster, MIR.