Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-03-23
FROM WASHINGTON.
,rrespondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.
WASHINGTON, March %.

its meeting to-day but informally dis
cussed the Cuban situation. In fact the
interest in Cuba at the present time Is
such as to overshadow everything else
| and no other foreign subject received
attention. 1t was the opinion that the
inevitable tendency was toward rup-
ture with Spain. The committee is
aware that the Maine disaster will be
treated as separate and distinct Incl
dent for the present. There was some
discussion as to what would be done
with the report of the board of Inquiry
when it reaches tine Senate Monday
and it is probable that q motion will he
made to Immediately refer it to the
committee on foreign relations.
1t is known that the naval committee
will seek jurisdiction of the report and
will contest the right of the foreign re
lations committee to matter involving
the destruction of battleship upon
which naval board has made report.
The foreign relations committee is con
| fident, however, tha6 the Senate will
consider that the Maine disaster in.
wolves foreign questions which make it
properly the right of that committee to
consider the subject.
DR.. Gallinger, of New Hampshire, in
his speech in the Senate to day on
Cuba, among other things said "Gen.
Lee is deserving of the highest possible
praise for the manner 10 which he
carries himself in Havana. Cool and
fearless in the midst of difficulties and
dangers, he never loses sight OF the fact
that he is an American citizen nor Is he
unmindful OF the tremendous response
bilities and duties fhis position" Au.
tonomy, said, is 8 at failure, opposed
alike by the ultra-Spaniards and the
Cubans. AS to what should be
done Mr. Gallinger felt that "sooner
or later this government would OF
necessary absorb Cuba, but if annexa-
ton cannot now be accomplished let
independence speedily come. We have
patroled our coast in the interest OF
Spain as long ss We should, and we
have spent quite too much money in
protecting our people from epidemic
diseases coming to our shores becauses
OF the unsanitary condition of the har-
Dor and city of Havana. Spain has
failed to meet the requirements OF an
advanced civilization. Let the United
States or Cuba take up the problem
and solve it."
The Navy Department took the most
decisive step to-day toward defensive
preparations for emergency that has
been made since the squadron was cen
tered at Key West. The orders to-day
bring into service the eight single-tur.
reted monitors used during the war
between the States for service as coast
defense ships. They have been lying
for some time at the League Island
navy yard at Philadelphia. Secretary
Long at noon to-day issued or
ders that the monitors Ca,skill and
Lshigh proceed to Boston and the
monitors Nahant aud Jason to New
York. The other monitors, Manhattan,
Mahopac, Montauk and Canonicus will
remain at Philadelphia where the work
OF preparing them for service will be-
gin Immediately.
During his interview with Secretary
Alger to-day Congressman Marsh urged
that in the event of hostilities the first
recourse of the government for soldiers
be State militia, who should be invited
to volunteer for the country's defense.
These men, he pointed out, are well
organized, we'll drilled and differed,
and are in position to render very eff
fective service. In view of these facts,
Mr.. Marsh believed that it was the
duty of>the govern ment to call upon
the citizen soldiers for duty in case they
care to volunteer. II any member or
officer of the guard preferred not to
enlist because of family, or business
cares and responsibilities, then their
places might be taken from volunteers
from outside the service.
The bill of the republican sub.com-
mittee of the House banking and cur
rency committee as submitted to the
full committee to-day, provides, not for
the direct retirement of the greeubacks,
but for substitution of legal tender
note, which the banks are required to
assume and for the redemption of which
they are required to find the gold so
long as they are conducting solvent
business. Standard silver dollars are
to be redeemable in gold, but silver Ger.
ti6cates are redeemable only in stand
ard silver dollars. Silver certificates
are hereafter to be issued only in de-
nominations of 81, 80, and So. Legal
tender notes, reserve notes, and cur
rency are not to be issued in denomina-
tons below SO. National banks are
required to pay tax Of of one per
cent semi-annually upon their capital,
surplus and undivided profits. The
purpose of the proposed bill, says the
report, is to throw upon the National
Banks the entire burden of finding gold
for the notes of the country.
The consideration of the contested
election case OF Thorp vs. Epes was
resumed in the House to-day and Mr..
Rhea of Kentucky made an able
in behalf of the sitting member.
Mr.. Walkers speech yesterday,
il favor of the contestant, was not
as rank as was expected, in consequence,
it is reported. of intimations to the
effect that moderation would be more
conducive to the success of his object.
As the republicans have telegraphed for
all their absent members, it is expected
that Mr.. Epes will be deprived of his
seat by the usual republican majority in
the House.
The jingoes and flibusters are in
high spirits to-day and prophesy that
within two weeks an American army
will he in Guho opd tha Spepisb ,ox,