Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-09-19
FROM MASi:ihn lUN.

From nASi:iNu lUN.
(Correspondcnco o: tho Alexandria Gazette.
At the Cabinet meeting today the
dispatch OF Gen. Otis to the War De-
partmeut, stating that Aguinaldo de-
sired to send a general to Manila for g
conference, was the principal subject OF
discussion. Cabinet officers did not at
tach much significance to it and not
one thought that it presaged peace.
Secretary of War Root said: "There
has been so much of this thing without
any results that we do not feel bit
elated over this piece of news"
Mrs. Frances Lanbden Drain, some
OF whose land the government has also
taken possession Of for road from this
city to Fort Myer, has joined Mr..
Rozier Dulauy, the owner OF the Muir
ray tract, in his Efforts to compel the
War Department to comply with the
provisions of the Constitution prohibit
ing the government from taking pos
session OF private property without
due compensation. The War Depart
ment paid for the use of the land on
which it made the Fort Myer road
until three or four years ago, when it
refused to do so any longer. MIR. Du-
lany will erect fence across it on
Saturday next, not for the purpose Of
closing the road to the country people
who use it, but to bring the case before
the courts, so that his rights may be de.
fined aud secured. The law officers of
the Department, as we'll as every body
else, know that the Government had no
more legal right TO make road through
the property referred to without the
owners consent or without condemn.
ing it, than it had to make one
through any other private property.
Unless it shall come to some satisfacto'
nv agreement with the owners, the fort
wagons will have to 60 mile and a
oalf out OF the straight way in
order to get here. The Department
has always favored the erection Of
bridge across the Potomac at Arlington,
add the present trouble will, it is said,
make it more so, and induce it to make
such strong representations to Congress
next winter that the necessary appro-
priation for that purpose will be made.
With that bridge built, the construction
OF the Mt. Vernon avenue will not be
DELAYED much longer. o1le.
The negro soldiers here who had
made arrangements for going to War
ronton, Virginia. to celebrate one OF the
anniversaries of the emancipation Of
their race, haviug been prohibited by
Gov. Tyler of Virginia from taking
their guns with them, have cancelled their
engagement for a train of cars and will not
mako their proposed trip. They have also
published card in their organs of this city,
but some of tho sgners thereof say their
names were used without their permission.
The followinf dispatch OF naval engage
ncnt reached the Navy Desartment from Adj
miral Watson this morning: Davidson,
commanding Farsgus, had sharp engage.
ment on the fourteenth at San Fabian, Lin
gsyan Gull. About three hundred iusur-
gents heavily entrenched eleven to seven
hundred yards. Insurgents fled. Their fire
weak and ineffective. Psrsgus no casualties.
Senior officer highly commends Davidson
Davidson is young ensign who went to the
naval academy in 1891 from South Dakota.
He has been doing excellent work in the
Philippines with the little gunbost Paragus,
mere launch purchased from the Spanish.
Mr. HLawrence Gardiner, one of che most
prominent democrats OF this district, and the
District of Columbus member Of the national
democratic committee, died at his residence
here this morning after long illness. Mr.
Gardiner was native of this city, having
been born in south Washington about fifty.
five years ago, and for nIany years has taken
an active part in the affairs of the district
democracy.
Congressman Swanson of Virginia is here
todsy on his way homo from Canada. I'm.
like Northern and Western Congressman, he
can't, yet awhile at least, afford European
trip. He has kept in touch with the political
affairs of his State during his absence, and
says Senator Martin, before the legislature
next winter, will beat Governor Tyler three
to one.
4 dispatch WIS received from General Otis
this morning stating that Lieut.. Col John G.
Miley, inspector general of volunteers, 1st
lieutenant Of the 2nd artillery, died at Ma
Mia today of typho fever.
The War Department received a dispatch
this morning from General Otis confirming
the news that Lieutenant Gilmore and his
party would be released by the Filipino in.
surgeIts. 1t was not stated when the Ameri-
can sailors would be turned over to OTIS
The Wsr Department made public this af.
noon tho Otis dispatch which brought the
first official news of the supposed desire Of
Aguinaldo for peace negotiations. This is
the text:
Manila, Sept 49,
Macarthur reports from Angeles visit of
two nsurgent officers with requests for per-
mission to send into our lines American
prisoners and send to Manila prominent gen.
eral officer for conference. The requested
Angeles returned north this morning with
information. OTIS"