Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-12-22
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence OF the Alexandria Gazette.]
WASHINGTON, Dec. %.

corps department., says that department.
is in need of no mole telegraphers.
The State Department Is informed
that the government OF France has de-
cided to reduce the freight charges on
WOO and cotton, raw and. manuiac
tured. in order to enable France to
compete with rival countries IN tnose
articles.
secretary Alger received reports this
morning of great suffering and distress
among residents of Havana and GUIANA
iay. Cuba. Gen. Lee was instructed to
nroyide from the quartermaste1' stores
all needed medical and food supplies.
With regard to the mastering out OF
the volunteers, Secretary Alger says the
policy should be to first recall 25,0OO
men who are in volunteer regiments.
When that has been done the volunteers
in the regular army will be mustered
out. Among those who will be called
home will be volunteers in Cuba and
the Philippines and a special effort will
be made to favor those who have been
longest on duty at Manila.
There were but four or five members
of the House at the Capitol this morn
ing and hardly that many Senators,
| nearly all the representatives living
within three days distance OF Wash
ingtou having gone home to spend
| Christmas, and most of the senators In
like condition, who haven't homes here,
having done the same. All the Vir-
GINA members of the House have gone
except Mr.. Swanson, who will remain
here during the holidays, and Mr.. Hay,
who will go to Richmond Saturday and
| spend his Christmas with his wife, who
is visiting there.
Ii is reported at the Capitol that Re-
preventative Jones of Virginia will be-
appointed a member of the House
appropriations committee in place
| Of Mr. Sayers, resigned, but it
is not credited, for the reason
that two democratic members. who
are opposed to the majority of the
caucus action of their party have al
ready been appointed members of that
committee. and the appointment OF q
third one would be, as those in favor OF
that action say, unseemly on tbs part
of the Speaker.
The indications now are that the
Spanish treaty will be ratified and the
Nicaraguan canal bill be passed, and
that both will be supported by many, if
not most, of the democratic Congress
men, who are silly enough to say that
unless the former be done, hostilities
NAV be resumed, and that the latter
will befor national defense. The demo-
Gratis referred to say that by ratifying
the treaty Congress will have the con-
troll of the conquered provinces in its
own hands and if the natives thereof
be found to be incapable of free gov.
eminent, they can be turned loose; as
if the Northern republican jingoes
would agree to any such thing, and
| that the promoters of the canal scheme
will not be pro6ted, as the canal will
be "A governmental affair, in which 20
private party will have any interest;
| which, of course, is impossible. But
wisdom and courage seem to have de-
parted from the democrats, and even
hose vino know the government is on
the way to obstruction, lack the bravery
20 ohstruct IT'S course.
Minister Calvo, of Costa RIGA, called
on nc oscretary's of State, Navy and
War 10 day inregard to the admission
o: the two younger brothers Of Presi-
dent Yglesias, TO West Point and An
uapolis Academys. He was informed
that the matter would be favorably
presented for the consideration of Con-
gress in accordance with the statutes OF
The United States, and while it takes
Zoe permission of Congress to admit
| foreigners to these institutions, the
courtesy will be extended as has been
customary in similar cases.
Il is said the Capitol that the OBJ
ject of the republicans in increasing the
srmy to one hundred thousand men is
to give employment to the many la
borers who, the President says, are be-
lag sought for by employers, and to be
used to put down strikes in the North
aud such race disturbances as have re-
Gently taken place in the Carolinas.
Adjutant General Corbin Was the only wit
ness examined to-day by the War Investigat.
ing Commission. He testified that the selec
ton of Camp Algor was by Major Seabarn, q
member of the staff of major General Miles
but he was not certain by whom Major Sea-
burn was detailed. The latter made report
to Secretary Alger and the camp was located
there The selection, however, was accredit'
cd to Major General Miles. Itdeveloped that
General Miles recommended the establish.
ment of camps at Chickamauga, Fernandina
aul Miami but subsequently suggested that
he troops be sent away from Chicamauga.
Ex-Sherifr Yeitch of Alexandria county,
Virginia, who is here to-day, says he will be
a candidate for his old place next spring, and
that Sheriff Palmer and Mr. Duncan will also
be candidates for that place.
Mr.. Hay of Virginia has formulated the
substitute for the army bill as agreed upon
by III minor t. Of bi committee, and will
have his mlno ity report ready by tomorrow.
His bill provides for r.gular army OF 10000
and a volunteer army of $4,000 for service
in the conquered provinces, whose term of
service shall be for two years.
Mr.. J. F. Ryan ofLoundoun county, speak
er of the House of Delegates of Virginia, who
has been here for day or two trying to get
offices for some Of his constituents, has gone
back home
1t is reported to-day that the House judi
cisry committee will not report as to whether
General Wheeler has right to hold his seat
in the House and his commission in the army
at the same time until the last day of the
session
People who accompanied the Presidential
| party in their recent trip to Savannah speak
| in the highest terms of MI. L. s. Brown. the
| Washington passenger agent of the Southern
! the whole trip. They say there never was a
railroad trip and thst from the time they
| cta tod al