Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-03-12
our Excellency the wishes of 10

Your Excellency the wishes of my
august sovereign for your personal
happiness and for the prosperity of the
people of the United States of America"
The Presidents reply was as follows:
"Mr. Minister: l am happy to receive
from your hands the royal letters
whereby Her Majesty the Queen Re.
gent, in the name of His Majesty the
King of Spai ,accredits J GU in the capac
ity of His Majesty's envoy extraordi-
nary and minister plenipotentiary in
the United States of America. It's very
gratifying to me to receive the assur-
ance you have just made of your pur-
pose to endeavor to maintain and draw
closer in all possible ways and the most
friendly relations between the two
countries, and in response l assure
you that my own efforts and those of
this government will no less earnestly
be directed toward the same high end.
You come hither, Mr.. Minister, with
the prestige of distinguished name,
borne by your honored father whose
services in promoting good will
| between Spain and the United
States have already passed into the de-
| main of history. To this you add the
qualification of personal acqualn-
lance with this country and its people,
derived from your previous official So
ourn at this capital, so that you have
double title to our confidence and
sympathy. l offer you my persona good
wishes, aud I would have you convey
to Her Majesty, the Queen Regent, my
sincere appreciation Of Her Majesty's
! friendly greeting and my own desire
\ that happiness may be her portion and
that Spain and the Spanish people may
enjoy the blessings of peace and pros
perity."
j. Walter Blandford. the private sec
/ rotary to Attorney General Griggs, died
| here to-day. He served Secretary OF.
ney in the same capacity at the Depart
| ments of Justice and State.
Blanche K. Bruce, Register of the
Treasury and ex-senator from Missis-
sippi, is said to be dying. He is we'll
known throughout the country as a
leader of the negro race.
W. f. Spencer, journal clerk of the
Senate, died OF his rooms here early
this morning. Mr. Spencer was bach
elor and was alone when he expired.
He was one of the oldest employees Of
the Senate, having first entered the
] service in 1862. He was regarded as
one of the ablest parliamentarians in
the United States. He was constantly
consulted on parliamentary questions
by all recent occupants of the Vice
Presidents chair and not infrequently
, b. Speakers of the House. He was q
native of Wisconsin and was about SIS
years old.
Congressman McMillin of Tennessee
says he thinks the Bowman act has
enough friends in the House to secure
It's passage or else to prevent any thing
else being done at the subsequent Fri
day sessions of the House. The re-
publicans flibustered successfully
against it yesterday.
Vice President Hobart took a ride
through some of the streets of the city
this morning in carriage, the motive
power of which was electricity.
Emergency preparations were con-
tinued to-day in all branches OF the
Navy and War Departments. 1t is
said that less than an hours work
would make the Bureau of Con-
struction here ready to complete
all the plans for the transforma
ton of two of the best ships on the
Atlantic into auxiliary cruisers. 1t is
not doubted that the Cramps yards
would give the Government every
facility in the way of workmen at their
disposal. The same readiness for quick
work of construction exists at Newport 5
News and at Norfork. At Newport
News there is a naval constructor,
three assistants and thirty draughts.
men ready to begin work Of this char
acter at any time. The large dock
at that point gives an additional facili-
ty. At Norfolk the construction de-
partment has an effective force ready
to begin work at once. The Secretary
of the Navy has directed that recruit
ing station be opened in Washington
Immediately, the special purpose being
to secure ordinary seamen and ma
chipists. Lieut.. Robinson, at present
on duty at the Washington navy yard,
will be in charge of the station, which
will begin business in the navy yard
laden with supplies, arrived at Matan-
zas, Cuba, from Key West to-day.
Capt. Cowles merely reported his ar
rival to the Navy Department, without,
making any mention of the condition Of
| affairs at Matanzss. After discharging
the stores there Capt. Cowles will pre-
coed with mis- vessel to Sagua and leave
the remainder.
Electric cars were running on Pennsylva-
mis- avenue to-day, but only from 10Th street
to the B. 8, o. 3. R depot.
Little credit is given by members of Con-
gress to the talk about guaranteeing bonds
with which to enable the Cuban insurgents to
purchase their independence.
Mrs. Belle Blair was appointed postmaster
to-day at Tacoma, Va.
VIRGINIA NJ. Z. CONFERENCE.-THE
third day of the Virginia Conference at
Eo1Io Churoh ha0on uastardav morning