Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-12-20
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.

|
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.
At the war investigation commits
sion's session this morning. Capt:
Hardy of the 5th Illinois Infantry told
of the spoilt beef furnished the soldiers
at Camp Lincoln, Camp Sheridan and
Louisville and described the horrors OF
the first division hospital. The beds
were unclesn, the food was not NJ for
the sick and the nurses did not know
their business the men detailed as
nurses at the hospital were supposed to
be selected for the fitness for the work
of caring for their sick, but their only
experience in this line had been in car
rviac stre!chers. By the middle of
June. seven officers aud one hundred
men in his regiment were sick, but all
the officers and all the men who could
afford it and could get furloughs went
to the hospitals il Chattanooga for
treatment.
The rivers and harbors committee
continued its hearings this morning. A
Philadelphia delegation told the COM
mittee what that city wanted. Pitts.
burg people asked for million and
a-hslf dollars for improvements for the
Monongahela, and Sandusky delega-
ton asked for 500, 600.
For week or more Senator's Carter,
of Montana, and Martin, of Virginia,
have been circulating petition re.
uuesting that most of the appropris.
ton bills he taken away from the regu-
lar appropriations committee and dis
tributed among the other committees as
is the custom in the House. To-day
the appropriations committee met and
made reply that the matter rests with
The rules committee and the appropria-
tions committee had not power to
grant the request. Messrs. Carter and
Martin say they will bring the matter
before the open Senate.
Congressman Corliss, of MICHIGAN,
introduced in the House this afternoon
bill authorizing the President OF the
United States to direct the construction
of a cable from the Pacific coast to Ha-
wall, the Philippines, and other islands
and to Japan. When constructed it is
TO be put under control of the Post
master General, who is to charge a
dollar word, as the maximum for
messages other than government, and
pay for its cost out of the receipts.
The agricultural bill will probably be
passed though it is Objectionable to
many members of the House for the
reason that it provides that the con.
tractors put up the seed in packages.
very probably those that have been
boiled at the canning factories, and also
for the reason that the number of pack
ages is not enough to supply the de-
mand.
Though the Comptroller of the Treas
ury refuses to fulfill the Presidents
promise to Governor Tyler to pay the
money Virginia advanced for the equip
ment of troops for the Spanish war,
Senator Daniel said to-day he thought
the State would get her money back
after ell.
Some of the Northern members of the
House commerce committee are in re-
cept of letters from G. A. R. posts in
their districts disappearing of their fail
ure to report the bill for 8 memorial
bridge at Arlington.
Congress will adjourn tomorrow un'
til Wednesday the 4th proximo.
S. w. Kent was appointed postmas'
ter at Broadford, Smyth county, Va.
to day, vice John R. George, removed
Mr.. Marshall Mccormick, of Clarke
county, Virginia, appeared before the
House committee on claims this morn
ing and argued in favor of the claim Of
Mr.. Prilchart of Page county, in his
State. The committee reported in ia
vor of referring the claim to the court
Of claims.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Butler o.
North Carolina, to test the sincerity Of
the newly developed love the North
has for the South, introduced a resolu
ZION to give pensions to ex.Confeder'
ates. It is needless to say it will not
b. adopted, and that the old ex-Con'
federates, in the future, as in the past
will have 10 paddle their own canoe
though the President did wear Con.
/; federate badge in Macon.
A reception will ba given TO Col. Bryan to
night ut the residence OF Capt. j. s. Miller
| 1T49 street. u ".
Three Virginia negroes, one of whom was
ex-State Senator Davis, called upon tho two
| Virginia Senators a. the Senate to day, soil.
citing contributions for q negro manual
school they say they propose to establish al
| Diuwiddie Courthouse.
! The proposition that the government pay
the expenses of lot of Senators to make 8
winter junketing trip to Cuba and Porto
Rico, ana while there to look out for profta'
ble investments, was reported favorably in
the Senate to-day, and would have passed ii
Mr. Hale, an anti-jingoist, had not objected
| Applications for Spanish war pensions are
pouring in every day, and if the present rate
is maintained, it is probable 5000 will be
! filed before the new year.
| The President and his wife reached the
White House this morning, both looking we'll
after their Southern trip. The rest of the
Prudential party scattered TO their homes up
on the arrival of the train.
This is regular Cabinet day, but a sessor
will probably be held tomorrow, instead Of
| to-day.
! A Senator who has taken some interest in
the Nticaragusn scheme bill says it will moi
be acted Iicnan until after the hOlidays-i
then.
PEACE COMMISSIONERS PAY.
A denial is made of the atetement