Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-08-31
telligence is to the effect that they
have been nothing else but bandits
from the first.
FROM WASHINGTON.
+ Correspondence OF the Alexandria Gazette.l
WASHINGTON. Aug. 81.

are selling stamps, registered letCers
and money orders and holding the re-
ceipts. The United States system IN
der Postmaster General Smith 10 IN
flourishing operation at San Juan: 1T
seams TO be a race for receipts, said
First Assistant Postmaster Heath this
morning. "If we do not go down there
at once and break into their cash draw.
ers and safes, they will get good
many thousand dollars before we
know it. Since the island passed out
OF their hands, the Spaniards have
shown q great deal more enterprise in
their postal service than they did be-
FORE" The Porto Rican postal com.
mission that will visit the island to
make Investigations for General Smith,
left New York on the Seneca this after
noon. The commission will make
thorough examination of the field and
with view of recommending improve
ments with the facilities at hand.
The campaign book of the republic
can congressional committee is in the
hands OF the rr nters, and will be Issued
within few days. 1t will be largely
devoted to the record of tho democrats
on the war question, and its aim will
be TO show that the democrats did not
give proper support to the government
at time when the United States might
have become involved in a conflict with
nations other than Spain. The demo-
cratic campaign book is also nearly
completed and will be ready for distri-
pution about the 18th of September.
Secretary Kerr says it is spicy combi-
ration of facts, and will be of invalu-
| .ble assistance to the speakers. He
complains that it is hard to procure all
| the speakers needed, but thinks su6i.
Gent number will be engaged. MIR.
Babcock states that the republican cam
paign will not open in earnest before
the middle OF September. He claims
that his party will certainly elect u.
| ;. Senator in California to succeed Mr..
White, democrat.
Reports are still being circulated to
the effect that Secretary Alger and his
friends are trying to arrange political
deal in Michigan to bring about the
appointment of Senator Mcmillan as
ambassador to Great Britain, and that
in such an event Governor Pingree
will appoint General Alger to the Sem
ate, and the Governor himself, through
the powerful alliance thus to be formed
in that State, will try to best Senator
Burrows. Secretary Alger has taken
occasion to deny in the most positive
terms that he has entered into any
deal. He has repeatedly declared that
he proposes to remain in the Cabinet,
and attacks in some Of the papers upon
his management of the War Depart
ment have greatly nettled him. A
| friend of the Secretary says that the
rumor of his early retirement from the
Cabinet was no doubt started because
he moved his household effects back 10
Michigan not long since, and that the
members of his family also returned to
heir old home. Republicans we'll &C.
uuainted with Senator Mcmillan insist
| that he has no idea of retiring, and
they do not incline to the opinion that
the ambassadorship to Great Britain
has been offered to him. If the tender
| we're made they say that would be an
other thing.
On account of the increasing and
alarming sickness among the military
| forces in Porto Rico the troops will be
drawn from there as soon IS possible
but it will be several days before ade-
quate transportation can be provided.
The War Department officials no longer
have doubt that the military situation
1t Porto Rico is serious enough to war
rant the most radical measures of re-
lief. A garrison only large enough to
preserve order in the island will be
! maintained and the other forces will be
probably furloughed as soon as they
reach the United States.
The President being away and the
members of his Cabinet preparing to
join him, there is very little depart
ment news of any consequence ahoat
to-day.
No Virginia democrats are here to.
day, and all the republicans from that
State who were here yesterday, are in
| Alexandria, attending the republican
congressional cuevention there
prominent Southern democrat in
this city says the pronounced States
rights and Southern ground Congress
man Bailey, of Texas, has taken, has
made him Objectionable to some of the
Northern members of his party, but
that that fact alone, if there were no
other reason, should be sufficient to in
sure him the support of every Southern
democrat, and should the democrats
regain possession OF the House of Rep
resentatives at the next election, as
cow seems probable, the democrats of
the South, who send democratic major
tiles ID Congress will demand that he
| he the Speaker thereof.
Maior-General Matthew C. Butler who is a
member of the Cuban military commission,
was at the War Department this morning
| Speaking of his future movements the General
| said: II have received my final instructions
regarding my duties as member of the com.
mission and will leave for New York on Fri
day, and, unless there is change in the pro-.
gramme, will start for Cuba on the auxiliary
cruiser Resolute on Saturday, arriving at Ha.
| vans probably somewhere within the Sth
and 10th OF September
Civil Engineer A. G. Me ocal, who was con.
! victed of negligence in connection with the
construction OF the Brooklyn dry dock, and
who was pardoned by the President and was
| to have retired tomorrow, has been ordered
to temporary duty with the Nicaragua canal
commission
The Secretary of War has issued an order
which directs that all sick and wounded SOL
| diers who were granted furloughs shall be
given transportation from their homes upon
their return to duty, whether application
therefor he made in person or letter.
1t is reported here to-day, on what is said
to be the authority of officers of the 3rd
| Virginia regiment, that the order for muster.