The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-13

Washington, September 8.-A call by
Senator Bacon, Of Georgia, at the
White house today led to some con
lecture as to his possible chance as
the democratic member of the peace
commission. The senator declined to
discuss the purpose Of his call, except
to say that it did not relate to the
cOmmissionership.
Camp Alger is practically a thing Of
the past. Only a few details remain
as guards for government property.
Today the Third Virginia, the last reg
iment in camp, departed for Rich
mOnd, Va, where they will be muster
ed out. The wagon rain conveying the
baggage and supplies of the second
division started for Middletown and
the officers Of the division staff left
tonight.
EXAMINING BIDS FOR WARSHIPS.
The board Of naval bureau chiefs
which has been carefully examining
the large number of bids and plans
submitted by shipbuilders for the CON
structiOn Of torpedo boats and torpedo
boat d~estrOyers, has almost completed
that work and within a day or two it
is expected to repOrt to Acting Secre-
tary Allen a plan of distribution of the
awards. According to the decision of
the board w. r. Trigg & Co., Rich
mOnd, Va, will get one or two de-
stroyers and three or four torpedo
boats.
The board is now about to turn it's
attention entirely to a close consider
alton Of the bids recently received for
the construction of three battleShipS.
SO far, the details of these vessels have
only been examined in a cursOry man
ner. But this superficial examination
has made it appear that the problem
of selecting the best designs is going
to be much more difficult than was at
first supposed. The bureau chiefs APP
pear to have widely different opinions
as to the respective merits of the de-
signs and it is within the bounds of
possibility that the department will de-
eide not to make the awards in ac-
cOrdance with the lowest bid. In such
a case, the Newport News bid, the
lowest, would be thrown out and two
of the three ships would go to Cramp,
the third going to the Union Iron
Works. One element in the board ia
vors a rejection of all the bids and the
preparation of new plans, but as the
adoption of this course probably would
delay the letting of contracts until the
assembling of congress n thus inn
peril the effort of the department to
secure further appropriations for ships
at the approaching session, it is not
likely to prevail.
GERMANY AND RECIPROCITY.
1t is learned officially that the i'm
preston which has gone abroad to the
effect that the German ambassador
here, DR.. Won Holeben, has made a
formal demand OF the state depart
ment for the same terms of duty on
German products as are accorded tC
the French products mentioned in the
reciprocity arrangement recently ne
gotiated, is 1t is not denied
however, that Germany might claim
and procure the benefits of any reduc-
tions in the tariff dues accorded tC
France under the reciprocity sections
of the Dingley tariff act if she cares
to enter into a reciprocity arrangement
of her own upon similar terms, anG
there is some reason to expect that this
result may be obtained in the course OF
a few months.
NOT TO PAY DUTY ON THE CO.
MAILS CARGO.
1t was officially decided today that
the relief ship COmal should remain in