Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-01-01
FROM WASHINGTON.
CORRESPONDENCE Of the Alexandris Gazette
WASHINGTON, Jan. l.

rOorrespondence Of the Aexandria Gasette.]
WASHINGTON, Jan. l.
Tha story of the dispossession of q
party of Americans from Clipperton
Island by Mexican warsnip as re-
ported as yet has had no official coz
iirmation. All that is known at the
Mexican CATION here is that vague
rumors were af1oat that the British
hal taken possession of the island and
spat with view to asserting the SOW
ereignty of Mexico over it, warship
was sent there to maintain her claim.
The law permits an American citi:.
zen to locate upon any guano island
such as Clipperton solely for the put
pose of taking off the guano. but it
must be aftirmatively shown that the
ISLAND is not part of the territory OF
another nation at the time of location.
AS to Clipperton Island, the impression
here is that Mexico's title Is as good as
was that of Brazil to the island OF Trim
dad. 1t is recalled that in two cases
this government relinquished islands
living in the Bay of Honduras to Mex
leo under similar circumstances to
those presented in this case.
The War Department has placed
Lieutenant Guy II. Preston, Ninth Cav.
airy, in charge ofthe army pack trains
t at are to undertake to get supplies
into the Klondike region. Lieutenant
Preston has been in Washington for
some time. His principal assistant will
be Lieutenant James Ryan, Tenth Cav
airy, who gathered up the pack trains
at Forts Washakie and Robinson. The
animals already at Vancouver under
organization are to be reinforced by
about seventy more, all selected
mules from the Rocky Mountain coun.
try and used to the extreme rigors Of
the climate. 1t has been definitely de-
cided not to burden the expedition with
wagons.
The White House was closed to-day
for the first time upon New Years
day for many years. The President
and Mrs. Mckinley went out for q drive
10 the forenoon and then spent the re.
mainder of the day in retirement. Vice
President Hobart aud members of the
Cabinet omitted their receptions as 9
mark of sympathy for the President
and their example being generally fol
lowed the day was very quiet in Wash
iuaton. All the national and District
offices were closed and many of the
larger business houses and the day was
generally observed as holiday.
AT the Capitol to day, to which 8
few cougre ,smen who live at dis
lance from the city went for their mail
it was said that the silver Senators
would not wait long for the House
banking and currency committee, but
would soon make it their business to
force the other members of the body
to an aye and no vote on the silver
question so that the whole country
NAV know how they stand on that
question. The vote it is stated will be
on a resolution to make the Treasury
pay notes presented for redemption in
gold or silver.
The impression at the District Office here i:
that Mr. Ross, the republican democratic com
miss ouer will not resig Las reported some time
ago, but that Capt Black, the engineer com
| missioner. will be displaced by Captain Ros'
| s.lle The corporations here az elsewhere
have strong pu Is on appointing powers
| The republican executive committee o.
| Virginia aud the oficeseekers from that state
viii resssemble here in force next week
when it i. expected something may be done
| in he case OF the latter
One of the Lamb republicans of Virgins
| tere to-day, ia king about the sfairs OF his
party III his State, said the way his fsctian
was seluced last fall by the Br y-'llen fac
ton was wondrous. as the bait that caught
them were promises of all sorts Of office, few
| or any of which have been fulfilled.
People from Rosslyn, which is just across
the Potomac from Georgetown, here to-day,
say the proposition to establish town gov
ernmsnt there is popular among the residents
whn think that such q government will tend
10 attract 81 ttlers.
It is ru ~ored 10 day that should Mr. Hanna
! be elected, Secretary herman will soon thereof
ter be forced out Of the State Department, and
his placs given to Assistant Secretary Day,
who is now at Columbus in Mr.. Hanns's be.
half.
among the saldest things here to-day j;
the sight of Virginians, who, from various
cluses having no homes. or uncomfortable
oues in their own State at which to spend
the holidays which they so much enjoyed in
their better days, remained here, and were
loungirg about the hotel lobbies, warming
themselves and talking to all who would talk
to them. But Ssueh is fate, aud the
sands of life are strewed with many such
wrecks.