Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-07-29
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.

thing regarding the answer to Spain,
but the impression is it will be sent at
once.
Secretary Bliss reached the city in
time to participate in the meeting. Ihs
entire time was occupied in discussing
the answer to Spain's proposal OF peace.
AS was expected the disposition to be
made of the Philippines was the prlncl'
pal matter of difference. There was no
difficulty in reaching unanimous ap-
prevail of the proposition to retain For
to Rico, Wake Island, in the
Carolines, and Guam, in the
Ladrones and to demand Independence
of Cuba under q protectorate OF the
United States until the people have al
ranged settled stable government OF
their own. What shall be done with
tn Philippines afforded the only ground
for difference among the President and
his advisers. 1t is said that all the
members Of the cabinet are opposed to
the acquisition OF the Philippine Islands.
A telegram was received at the War
Department. to-day from Major Gen
eral Brooke announcing the departure
OF his expedition from Newport News
for Porto Rico yesterday. 1t consists
of 100 officers and 5,ll9 enlisted men
and will reach Porto Rico next Tues
day.
The War Department would not be
surprised if Manila had surrendered to
Dewey, but has no such information.
Madrid's report that Manila has sur
rendered, it is believed, may be due to
knowledge that Spain has authorized
Captain General August to yield up
the city.
Mr.. Brewer, of the civil service COM
mission, was at the White House this
morning, but was unable TO see the
President. He says the commission
knows knowing officially of the de-
csion the Attorney General is said to
have rendered some time ago to the eff
feet that the government printing of
flee should be exempt from civil ser
vice regulations.
The War Department has been in-
formed that the expedition to Honolulu
will leave San Francisco to-day. This
troop will constitute the first United
States military garrison in the Hawaiian
Islands.
The President to-day appointed
Rufus W. Lane, of Ohio, to be United
States consul at Smyrna.
1t is SAID here that the reason the
government Of Hayti has refused to
allow the United States to establish q
weather signal station on that island, is
that it has heard of the many recent
false prophesies made by the weather
bureau in this country.
An American, who was appointed to
consular agency in Switzerland, has
Just telegraphed here from Paris, that
when he got to his post of duty he
found that it had been abolished by an
act of Congress month before he sail
ed for it, though he had called on the
Department before he left to inform
the officials of his departure.
Congressman Swanson, of Virginia,
was here for short time to-day. He
says J. Il Brown will be his republican
opponent, but that be will beat him by
a bigger majority than he did two years
ago.
Under the provisions of the war reve-
nue law, all special taxes imposed by
that law not paid before the close of bus
mess hours tomorrow, will be collected
with an addition.of fifty per cent. to the
amount of the tax.
Collector Bowden, of the port of Nor
folk, was here to-day. He says his re-
quest that the employees of the Nor
ok navy yard be paid as high wages
as those of the private yard at New
ports News has not yet been granted,
but that the employees will be allowed
to come before the board and state their
cs Sc, privilege never before granted
them. He also says the men made no
demand for increased wages in the
present urgency Of the government,
bit merely asked it to consider their
C Use.
Senator Martin of Virginia was ex-
pected here this morning and several
people were waiting for him athis hotel,
but UP 10 one o'clock he had not ar.
rived.
The State Department has received q
dispatch from one of lis secret agents
stating that Camara's entire feet arriv
ed at Cad z on Wednesday.
If the expedition of General Wilson
from Charleston, and that OF General
Schwan from Tampa, have joined forces
with General Miles as is the belief here.
the ranking general now has some
1900 men and when General Brooke
shall have reached Fajardo, there will
be over 1900 American soldiers on
Porto Ricsn soil.
1t was officially announced this morn
ing that the branch camp of General
Flzhugh Lees corps at Miami, Fla,
will be abandoned on account of its un-
healthy condition and be moved to the
main camp at Jacksonville IS soon as
transportation can be provided.
Judge Riley, former Virginia re-
publican, but who has become disgust
Q with his State and now, like Mr..
John Wise, halls from New York, says
the United States should make no peace
W tn Spain except upon terms of absolute
and unconditional surrender; also that
if he had anything to do with the man.
cement of republican affairs in Vir.
g MIA, he would "billow the State with
the graves of democrats before they
s lou carry on their Internal election
frauds"
An old and we'll known public man now
fere said to-day that owing to the midsum-
mer madness now prevailing he would not be
surprised if the retention Of the Philippine
Islands shall be insisted upon by this govern.
ment, but that every intelligent msn knows
that the more territory taken from Spain, the