Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-12-08
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence OF the Alexandria GaEette.]
WASHINGTON, Dec. s.

The Senate foreign relations commit
tee met to day and disposed of mum,
Der OF pending nominations. The oil!
for the organization Of the territory OF
Hawaii was also taken up, but WILL re-
ceive further consideration.
The Senate commerce committee Will
probably have q called meeting early
next week to consider the anti-scaiplng
bill passed by the House yesterday. a
similar measure was reported faVoraoiy
last session to the Senate. Senators
Chandler, Chiffon and Tillman, mem
bers of the committee, opposed it most
vigorously an6 had an understanding 1t
should not be called up until the COM
mittee formulated and reported bill
making other important amendments
to the interstate commerce law, In
Guiding the railroad pooling question.
There is slim chance that any action
will be taken this session.
Mr.. Vest introduced bill in the
Senate to-day prohibiting the appoint
ment of members ofCongress on COM
missions of any sort, which was referred
to the judiciary committee. He also
introduced resolutions to investigate
the slow progress that was made IN the
| construction OF the new city postottice
in Washington; and to ascertain wheth-
| or or not any person or persons were
favored in the purchase by the govern.
ment of vessels for the navy and at
army supplies.
Chairman Walker of the House COM
mittee or banking and currency was q
| -. IL 70 dow
said that his committee would adjourn
sine die and would report no currency
reform bill during the present session.
When asked whether special session
would probably be held to act on the
currency question, he said no extra
session would be held for that purpose
IT for any other.
| Doddrge Gregory was appointed
postmaster at Chuls Depot, Amelia
county, Virginia, to-day, vice John E.
Shorter removed.
Ii is observed that none of the origi'
usl promoters OF the war to free Cuba
in this city have been invited to psrtici
pate in the proposed "peace jubilee"
1t is pretty we'll understood here
now that nothing will be done with the
currency question at this session of
Congress, as the bill for that object has
fewer friends than it had at the last ses.
sion. Some of the members favor al
lowing the banks to increase their cir
culation 10 the par value OF the bonds
they deposit and to establish branches,
but few of those from either the West
or South will support the proposition
TO withdraw the greenbacks and
treasury notes, and supply their place
| with national bank notes based on the
assets Of those banks.
1t is said here that the election of a
Debs socialist as mayor of Haverhill,
Massachusetts,, shows the new ism that
New England will spread over the
whole country, and that will find
ready acceptance among the millions OF
idle and impecunious people in all the
States.
Congressman Thorp of Virginia says
he has two weeks more in which to
file a notice of contest, but that he
does not yet know whether he will do
so or not, and will not unless ne can
prove that he was legally and fairly
elected, of which he is not yet entirely
satisfied.
The object of the caucus of the dem.
ocratic members of the House to be
held Saturday night is to take action
on the resolution that was pending
when the last caucus adjourned, pro-
viding that the action of two-thirds OF
the caucus shall be binding upon the
remaining one-third.
Some objection, it is reported. will be
made to the admission of Senator elect
McComss, on the ground that he was
uot q citizen of Mary land when elected.
The friends of the anti sea ping bill
are by no means certain that that bill
will become law.
Should General Wheeler attempt to
take part in the proceedings of the
House, it is said his right to do so will
he questioned, upon the ground that
no one can hold commission from his
State and one from the federal govern
ment st the same time.
1t is believed here by thoEe who ought to
know that the report ls true that Mr.. Hunt.
ington is to sell share of his shipbuiding
plant at Viewpoints News to an English firm,
though that plant now has contracts for TWEEN.
ty million dollars worth of work.
Senator Daniel is necessarily detained at
home and his friends say he will not be
here until after the holidays, as nothing will
demand his presence before that time
Mr. Speaker Reed is dead against all tho
schemes and projects of the jingoes and ex-
paASionists; he was opposed to the whole
Spanish war, and is to the annexation Of the
Philippines, and also to the proposed increase
of the army. He likewise opposes an extr,
session, but says that in the midst of Malsys
there is no telling what may happen.
The probability of the ratification Of the
Spanish treaty providing for the annexation
of the Philippines is becoming less and less as
the days roll by. Senator Hoar says it would
be the worst calamity that could befall the
country. Senator Hale agrees with him, and
! so, it is reported, are several other republican
Senators, and nearly all the democratic Sen
ators will oppose it.
Mr.. Vest introduced three resolutions in tho
Senate to-day, which, if adopted. will be the
occasion of some very spicy debate; they are
| one relating TO the acceptance by Senators Of
PAGES on commissions, to tho purchase of yes
sells during the late war; and to the shocking,
| but expensive, building heIe known as the
city postottice.
The failure of this government to provide
for reciprocity will, it is feared, bring defeat
upon the proposed Canadian treaty.
The flag that fioated on Paul Jones's frig.
ste, the Bon Homme Richard, in the battle
with the British frigate Scraps in 1879, was
presented to President Mckinley to-day by
| Mrs. Stafford and Mrs Kingsbury, of Boston,
| fot -nF StodR b,oh o,1 ii