Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-26
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence OF the Alexandria 0azette.]
WASHINGTON. April 26.

Dected to furnish under Inc freslQenl
proclamation and asking them when
such troops will be ready for muster
into the United States service has been
prompt. The greater portion OF them
have replied. Secretary Alger has fol-
lowed up his telegram of notification to
the governors of the States with let
ter giving more information respecting !
the troops that are to be raised and
making other suggestions deemed nee
essary. He reiterates the sentiments
heretofore expressed that, as far as
practicable, the National Guard should
be given preference in the regiments, !
battalions, etc., to be organized.
Attic meeting ofthe ways and means |
committee to-day Mr.. Bailey on behalf
of the democratic minority offered the |
substitute agreed upon By them for the |
proposition in the bill authorizing the
issue of $500, 000,0 coin bonds. 1t
provides for an income tax Of 3 per
cent. on incomes from all sources IN ex-
cess of 81 900. State, county and mu,
nicipsl bonds, however, were excepted
from its provision to meet the unani-
nous decision of the supreme court ID
this respect. The minority estimated
that such an income tax would raise
500, 100000. Coupled with it was the
proposition to coin the seiguorage
which at present amounts to $42 ,OOO,-
900. The substitute was voted down
by strict party vote. No amend
ments were offered to other provisions
of the bill owing to the lack of time.
The war revenue bill as reported to
the House to-day contains three changes
from the bill as originally drafted, SIS
follows: A discount OF 5 per cent. on
beer stamps is allowed after the pas
sage of the act. Telephone messages
are subject to tax of l cent on mes
sages transmitted 80 miles or more, the
cost OF which does not exceed % cents;
between % cents and 81 80 two cents;
between 81 so and So, FIVE cents; in ey-
cess OF So, ten cents. Official telephone
and telegraphic messages of the govern
ment are exempt from taxation. The
differential of one half cent on Min
eral waters and beverages, domestic or
imported, not otherwise subject to in
ternal taxation, in half pint bottles is
eliminated so that the dividing line is
pints, bottles containing one pint or less
to pay one cent, more than one pint,
two cents.
Secretary Long at II o'clock to-day
authorized an emphatic denial of re.
ports current to-day that advices had
beeen received that MORO Castle had
fired on the feet and that it had re-
piled.
The President has nominated VII
liam K. Day, OF Ohio, to be Secretary OF
State vice John Sherman resigned and
John B. Moore, of New York, to be AS
Sistant Secretary of State vice William
Il. Day.
Senator Proctor to-day introduced
bill providing for the organization Of
volunteer brigade of engineers for the
nation at large for the Spanish war.
The bill limits the brigade to three
regiments and $500 men who are re-
quired to possess the special qualifica-
tons necessary for engineer troops.
The War Department has asked
Congress to authorize enlistment OF
hospital corps with each volunteer reg.
iment and army division as non. com.
batants.
The naval officials have noted with
some disquiet the fact that the Spanish
fleet at Cape de Verde before leaving
under orders from the Portuguese gov
eminent made heavy purchases of sup.
plies there. These were of the most
varied description such as medicine and
miscellaneous goods for which in ordi
nary times the fleet could as easily have
waited until it reached Spanish port.
Therefore it is suspected that the pur-
chsses show purpose on the part OF
the Spanish admiral to start on long
cruise. A rather startling suggestion
made IN this connection is that the
Spanish fleet may make directly for the
Philippines by way of the Cape of
Good Hope to attack Commodore
D ewey's Asastic squadron which it
would far exceed in strength. The |
Suez Canal being closed under neutral
laws to warships of belligerents there
would be nothing to do in this case but
to send some Of Admiral SIMPSONS |
ships on q long stern chase after the
Spanish fleet or to instruct Admiral |
Dewey to repair to home waters.
Senator Martin of Virginia was at
the Navy Department this morning
and asked that one of the new battle
ships provided for by the naval bill
be named after his State, and that one
of the new smaller vessels be named
after Norfolk.
The President by proclamation has
allowed Spanish vessels in United
States waters till May p inclusive for
loading and departing, and Spanish
ships not at sea shall be permitted to
continue their voyage if loaded before
that time in the United States. Span
ish vessels bound for the United States
which sailed prior to April q are ex-
empt from capture and allowed to dis.
charge cargo.
The rations that were provided for
the National Volunteers when they
were ordered into camp at the Soldiers
Home yesterday morning, have been
distributed among the negroes of this
city.
The President has now another great
worry. He is authorized TO appoint
'orty brigadier, and ten major generals,
and those who have pulls on him
Ire exertiDg them to the full extent Of
heir power.
The army reorganization bill passed |
both houses OF Congress to-day and was
signed by the President.
Many bills to remove the charge Of
lesertion so that deserters can draw
are now being passed by Con-