Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-28
FROM WASHlNGr TON.
Correspondence Of the Ale1andria Gazette
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28.

from the Secretary down has any in
formation whatever rs to whether or
not the Maine court of inquiry will re-
turn to Havana from Key West, and
in fact the plans of the court are abso-
lutely unknown here. For this reason
it is said at the department that any
statement as to the probable date upon
which the court will report its conclu-
sions to the Secretary of the Navy is
purely speculative. 1t is very doubt
ful, in the minds of the officers here,
whether the members of the court
themselves are able to pass an opinion
on this point at this time, as it is be
lieved that the work so far done, aside
from shat relating to the recovery OF
dead bodies and personal property, has
been scarcely more than prelimi-
nary. la this view of the case 1t
NAV be perceived how difficult
it would be for any member of the our
10 predict the date upon which it would
report. Letters are reaching the Navy
Department from ell parts Of the coun-
try from alleged relatives of the victims
and it appears that in numerous cases
there are many claimants for the small
SUNS of money or property that belong
10 the dead men. IL will be the duty
OF the department to try % adjust these
claims and reconcile conflicts. 1t can
be stated authorilatively that the Navy
Department has received nothing to in
dictate the cause of the explosion and
that reports that it has been advised it
was by external agencies are without
foundation.
Former Vice President Stevenson
was q visitor on the Senate floor at the
opening of the session to-day.
The Senate committee on Judiciary
TO day recommend inconvenience on
the House bankruptcy bill.
Representative Bromwell, republican,
of OHIO, to-day introduced a resolution
in the House authorizing the Secretary
Of the Navy to secure options upon and
Consummate the purchase of such
battleships, cruisers, rams and torpedo
boats IS in his judgment are necessary
ID place the naval strength Of the coun-
try upon q proper footing forimmediate
hostilities with any foreign power with
which the same may be threatened, and
appropriating $50, 00G 600 for that pur-
pose. 1t was referred to the naval
committee.
The President to-day sent these nom
nations to the Senate Sol Berliner, Of
New York, to be consul at Teneriffe,
Canary Islands; Captain Henry B.
Robson, TO be a commodore; Captain
Winfield S. Schley, to be a commodore.
The State Department to-day receiv-
ed q dispatch from Minister Woodford
at Madrid stating that a decree had
been ISSUED dissolviDg Spanish Cortes
February 26, and that a new Cortes
will meet April %.
Louis Hood was appointed postmas-
ter at Jasper, Va, to-day.
The invalid pension committee has
agreed on and favorably reported the
bill extending the benefits of the June
p, 1890, act to men who served less
than six months in the Confederate
army and who joined the Union army
before September /, 1864, and did not
enlist out of q prison 10 a northern
State.
Congressman Otey, head Of the silver
organization in Virginia at the last cleo
ton, received this morning from 81 sd-
mirer in Huntsville, Texas, a hand
some sixteer-tc-one silver medal, which
he has attached to his w%atchchaiD.
Congressman Bailey, of Texas, the
democratic leader of the House, speaks
in the warmest terms of the treatment
he received during his visit to Rich.
mond last Friday, when be made a
endorsing both the Chicago plat
form and ticket.
1t is not known now when the con-
tested election cases from Virginia will
be called up in the House for final &c.
ton. Republican leaders say such
cases q we'll afford to wait, at least
the appropriation bills shall be
disposed of, and that when that shall
be dore, if an early adjournment be
deemed necessary, such cases will not
afford serious obstruction.
A committee appointed by the West
Virginia legislature to inspect the statue
of the late Senator Kenna of their State
now in tue statuary hall of the Capitol,
it shall be presented to Congress,
has arrived here and will perform their
duty this afternoon. 1t may be q very
good piece of chiseling, but it certainly
is not Il good likeness of the man it was
intended to represent.
"a delegation from Culpeper Court
House was at the Postofice Depart
ment to-day to see about a new post
at that place, but, as stated in
this correspondence last week, Mr..
Rosson has been slated for that Office.
The statement published in q Richmond
paper TO the effect that Consal General Lee,
in case of war with Spain, will be appointed a
major gel eral in the army, is laughed at by
army officers here. They say that in the
first place there will be no war with Spain,
and in the second, that u revolt would take
place in the army if a man outside OF it, no
matter how competent snd efficient he might
be. should be promoted over the heads OF all
the brigadier generals in the service.
A Powerful Explosive.
CrrrIrN Eoh 90 r, -: z.:J 49,