Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-09

ocratic national committee. has sub.
mitted the correspondence and other
papers bearing upon the effort to secure
the removal of Mr.. W. F. Harrity, Of
Pennsylvania, from the position of
member of the democratic national
committee from that State to the other
members with view to securing their
votes upon the question. The move.
ment is the result of the action of the
democratic convention of the State of
Pennsylvania and of the executive com.
mittee of the democratic committee of
that State in which Mr.. Harrity's re-
moval was urged on the ground that he
is not in harmony with the democratic
party in respect of the Chicago plat
form and Mr.. Guffey was recommended
as his successor. The information re-
garding this action was forwarded to
Senator Jones, by State Chairman Gar
man, and Mr.. Jones was requested to
take the matter up. The latter forwarded
Mr.. Garman's letter to Mr.. Harrity and
he received from him reply in which
he asserts that the charges upon which
his removal is sought are unfounded
| and defends his record as democrat.
| An order amending that OF March 20,
1895, establishing the limits Of punish
| ment for enlisted men of the army who
may be convicted of offenses contrary to
good order and prejudicial to the inter-
ests OF the military branch of the govern
| ment is published to-day. a number
ofchanges are made in the original or
| der among which are those sections re-
lating to desertion and the persuading
of soldiers to desert. The order pro-
| vides that the punishment for the form
er offense when joined in by two or
more soldiers in the execution of con-
spiracy, or for desertion in the presence
of an outbreak of Indians or of an un-
lawful assemblege which the troops
may be opposing, shall not exceed dis
honorable discharge, forfeiture of all
pay and allowances, and confinement
at hard labor for FIVE years. For per-
suading soldiers to desert the punish.
ment is forfeiture of all pay and al.
loWances and one years confinement
at hard labor. For disobedience
of orders the punishment is six mouths
confinement at hard labor and forfeit
ure of $40 per month for the same
period.
Permission has been given by the
State Department to the United
States consuls in Spain to leave that
country if they so desire pending the
threatened severance of all diplomatic
relations between Spain and this coun-
try. They have not been ordered to
leave, as such step is not resorted to
except in the case of rupture between
the two nations, but they are permitted
to exercise their own discretion in the
matter. So far as the officials here
have been advised none Of the consuls
has left his post in the peninsula.
The members of the steering commit
tee say that the more they consider diff
ferences between intervention alone
and Intervention with recognition, the
more they are convinced that it is a
technical rather than a substantial diff
ference. They find, however, said one
of them TO day, that the question OF
Cuba's liability for the Spanish bonds
lawfully made lien on toe Cuban
revenue seems an open question and
that the Situation presents undoubted
and vexing complications and impossi,
bilities Mr.. Bailey, the democratic
leader of the House, takes the position
that neither the United States nor
Cuba could possibly be held liable for
the Spanish bonds for which Cuba's
revenues were pledged as security.
"The security disappears" said he,
"but the obligation of Spain remains.
A people cannot be mortgaged." 1t is
quite likely that if the republicans
should finally decide upon q simple in-
tervention resolution, that the demo.
Gratis would antagonize it with an in
dependence resolution.
Congressman Bailey when asked to.
day if he thought war was unavoidable,
said if he had made the speech Mr..
Grosvenor made last Thursday he
would certainly think 80, but that as
he had not made it, and only knew
what every body else knows, be was
still in doubt.
The Spanish imbroglo has knocked
the lobbyists business here cold, except
that relating to army and navy COZ
tracts. One of them at the Capitol to-
day said "Wby, you can't get mem.
Der of either house to talk to you now
on any subject except war or women
The Spanish Minister himself stated
to-day that he had at no time attached
any Importance to the petty annoyances
directed against the legation property
and officials. 1t has been attributed to
ignorant vandalism. 1t can be stated
that Sr. Polo in this matter has sought
to lessen the friction between the two
governments, rather than to increase
it. Some of the aunoyances of late
have been of an aggravating character,
even though petty, and were repeated
again last night. Had he been dis
posed to do 30 the minister might have
made these indignities cause for COM
plant, and an indignity to the German.
coat.of-srms in fact was the final cause
of the rupture over the Caroline Islands.
But Minister Polo has preferred to
minimize these annoyances and to as
sure his government by cable that he
was receiving every proper considera-
ton here.
Secretary Sherman at 2:45 o'clock
this afternoon had not received word
from Consul General Lee that he had
left Havana. The Secretary stated,
however, that he expected to hear at
any time that the Consul General had