Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-03-22
FROM WASHING ION.
Correspondence OF the Alexandria Gazette.]
WASHINGTON, March %.


White House and with Mr.. Roosevelt
at the Capitol before the Senate naval
committee there was lull in the usual
activity about the Navy Department.
President circuit of the Newport News
Shipbuildipg Company talked with Mr..
Long on the plans for the launching of
the new battleships Kearsarge and
Kentucky at Newport News next
Thursday. Owing to the condition OF
affairs here Mr.. Long is not likely to
attend the launching, as Thursday is
the day on which the report of the
court OF inquiry may be received.
A distinguished party is to leave here
TO morrow night, however, including
members of the Senate and House
uaval committees and such naval off,
Gals as are not pressed by the present
emergency conditions. Mr.. Orcutt
stated that the kearsarge would leave
the ways at 10 8. N. Thursday morning
and the Kentucky one hour later. Mrs
Herbert Winslow, wife of Lieut.. Com
mander Winslow. and Miss Christine
Bradley, daughter of Governor Bradley,
the Two ladies who will christen the
kearsarge and Kentucky, respectively,
will reach Newport News tomorrow.
Governor Bradley and a party of 900
kentuckians will arrive at the same
time 10 do fitting honor to the ship
which bears the name of their State
The negotiations for the purchase OF
ships abroad is going steadily forward
but there was disappointment in this
connection to day. The authorities had
been exceedingly anxious to get the big
torpedo cruiser Tupy, built for Brazil,
but it was learned to day that Brazil
would not sell. One of the most active
branches Of the Navy Department just
now is that engaged in the enlistment
OF recruits for various positions in the
service. Word comes 10 the depart
ment that the recruiting board which
has been at work at New Orleans has
enlisted fifty men at that place and
they are to be shipped to New York
and distributed among the various
snips. 1t was understood at the Cabi-
net meeting to-day that the report of
inquiry probably would be here Thurs
day or Friday, that it is very volumi-
nous Goclment; that probably it will
not be given to The press and to Con.
gress before Monday; that the Presi-
dent will require that much time for its
consideration.
1t looks moro like war than it has
ever done, and even the most conser.
vative men in influential positions now
say the President will give way to the
popular demand for the recognition OF
Cuban independence, and consequently
ofwar with Spain, the expense CT which
would certainly not be less than five
hundred million dollars, and probably
more, to say nothing of the loss of
blood. Leakages of some sort have
produced the general impression that
the report of the naval commission will
be to the effect that the Maine was
blown up by torpedo, and though it
cannot be proved that the Spanish gov
eminent had any lot or part in it, the
responsibility will be held to lie upon
Spain, and that demand for indemnity
will b made, which will not be al
lowed, or else that the independence
of the Cubans will be recognized.
Even SO conservative man as Senator
Martin, said to-day that from
all he saw and heard he was COM
PEELED TO believe that Spain would
either have to relinquish Cuba, or fight
for its retention.
The contested election case of Thorp
W.. Epes, from the Petersburg, Va, dis
trict, was called up in the House to-
day by Mr.. Walker, of that State,
chairman of the elections committee,
who denounced the Virginia election
law and the legislature that enacted it,
and the party that elected that legisla-
ture, though he Yves elected under the
same law, and though he was
d democrat until soon after the
democratic party refused to nominate
him for State Office. The vote will
not be taken on the case until to-mor.
row evening, if then, and will, of course,
be decided upon almost entirely strictly
party ground. The only Virginian who
Is set down for speech in behalf of
Mr.. Epes is Mr.. Hay. Mr.. Thorp, the
contestant, will be allowed to speak in
his own behalf.
The House committee on claims. ow-
ing to the effective work of Congress.
man Yost of Virginia, member of that
committee, agreed today to report
favorably bill to pay Mrs. Marshall
McDopad, Of Virginia, $1,000 for the
use OF her late husbands fish patents,
and Mr.. Martin introduced the same
bill in the Senate to day.
The debate on the Roach claim was
protracted to such a length in the
House yesterday that the claim of the
Richmond Locomotive Works was not
reached, and now cannot be until Fri
day week.
A bill was introduced in Congress
to-day to compel importers to pay one
half of their customs dues with gold.
The President sent these among
other nominations 10 the Senate to.
day: German Bulle, of New York, to
be consul at Cardenas, Cuba; James c.
McCook, of Pennsylvania, to be consul
at Dawson City, Northwest Territory;
Stith Boiling TO be postmaster at Pet
ersburg, Va.
A petition was circulated in the
Senate to-day and signed by many
Senators asking the President to pardon
Captain John D. Hart, of Philadelphis,
who was convicted of flioustering.
He was the owner of the Laurada and
Dauntless.
The naval appropriation bill, as re-
ported to the House to-day, carries o
totsl If S0S SEQ OEc