Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-08-30
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence OF the Alexandria Gazette.

Seneca oil San Juan de Puerto Rlco Oh
Sunday next when it is expo cted the
American Military Commission will or
ganize on board the cruiser New o.
leans and immediately enter the hal
Dor under of q flag of trucs. The Spar
ish commissioners are awaiting them
the city and have announced tneiF
readiness to enter upon the negolla-
tons at once for the evacuation OF the
island. All details have been left by
both the United States and Spain to
their respective representatives, their
instructions in each case being
of the most general character
with the object of hosting the
American flag and dsplacing Span
h authority as quickly as possible.
Inc chief problems to be settled relate
10 the transportation home of the
Spanish troops which is apt TO
be tedious OH account OF the lack
of available vessels for that purpose
and the subsistence and maintenance OF
the Spanisrds up to the time OF the en-
barkation. The surrender is TO be ab
solute, as lar as ali property is concern
ed, although the Spaniards will I'M
doubtedly be permitted 10 take their
small arms with them and be- allowed
10 depart with all the honor5 OF war. 1t
is estimated that 10000 men will be
surrendered and the probabilities are
that they will have TO be fed until
spain can send steamers from home
ports TO transport them. Adjutant
,,-..or,l Norh;,, ,b,nlyc thot If Ouuht MT
to take more than month to
set them started for home and
the meantime it is possible
hat the Spanish flag will continue to
hy over me San Juan Notifications.
The American commission will, how
ever, ask 10 be given control ofthe port
aud CITY in order that commerce msy
be promptly resumed and that the YES
sells of all nations be permitted to en-
ter and clear with cargoes. The pro-
ceediags of the Cuban commission
which is expected to meet at Havana
On The arrival of the Resolute in that
harbor or September 7.h or S,h is
apt 10 be more tedious and it is exceed.
ingly doubtful Spanish sovereignty IS
plclciN mlluNl iiOthi sheAN
before the first of December.
Statements made to day by Repre-
sentative Babcock, chairman oil the
republican congressional campaign
committee, and eX-Congressman James
Kerr, secretary OF the democratic com.
mittee. would seem to indicate that the
struggle for control Of he next House
Will be closer than has generally been
supposed. at is not going to be al
Easy matter for both of us to retain
CONTROL" candidly admitted Mr.. Bah
cock. with few exceptions during
the past twenty years it has required
very hard work to carry majority OF
the districts. The republican party is
strong on national issues, such as the
tariff and the money question, but local
pfairs are causing troubles in many
States, and our people might az well
know the truth now as to find it out
alter. 1t will stir them up. Take New
York for instance. Tammspy is firmly
coirenched, and the power and patron
age Of that great political machine are
such that We will have TO be up and do
ing TO save districts now represented
by republicans. l think we will win
n majority of the districts of
he country, but it must be
remembered that the margin OF
votes is slender in many of them"
Nr. Kerr, of the democratic committee,
aid Our prospects have improved
wonderfully within the last two weeks.
Men who formerly wrote that the out.
look was poor now insist that demo
cratic prospects are growing brighter
and brighter. The war has not helped
he republicans as much as they
thought and claimed it would. 1t is
100 soon 10 declare that we will whip
the republicans; but l make this pre-
diciion-they Will not be in q majority.
A maj 3rity Of the next House will be
anti republican. The democrats will
undoubtedly make considerable gains
i 4 the East and they are sure TO do the
same in the South, and west of the
Missouri. ! do not think the republi
cans can count on any gains any
where"
President Mckinley will be joined
by most of the members of the cabinet
and the ladies oftheir families at Camp
Wikoi,, Montauk Point, next Sstur-
day. Secretary Alger issued invitations
to that effect to-day.
People from different parts of Vir
giuia, here to-day, agree that rarely in
recent previous years have the pros
poets of the corn and tobacco crops
IN their State been better than they
are a. present.
Mr.. R. S. Lacey of Alexandria coun-
ty was here to-day. He says there
won't be much excitement over the
election in his county this fall, but that
the people there are saving their
strength for next springs election, when
they hope to be able to elect Com
monwealth's Attorney who will prose-
cute to the full extent of the law all the
malefactors who come or stay there.
Niessrs K. n. Harper, of this city,
and Will Nixon, of Leesburg, were at
the Navy Department to-day, the former
to see if the order prohibiting the ad-
mission-of visitors to the Naval Acad,
envy at Annapolis could not be suspend
ed so as to let some of the mem bers OF
the national druggists convention, in
Baltimore, visit thai place, but werein-
formed that it could not be done.
Chairman Aguew, of the republican
committee of Virginia. was at the War
Department this morning, and succeed
ed in getting the discharge of Harry o.
Holt of Lynchburg, from the Second
Virginia regiment. He was in the in-
ternal revenue Office at Alexandria
when the war commenced, and will