Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-03-23
FR0Gl WASHINGTON.
TConespondence OF the Alexandra Gasette.l
WASHINGTON, March %.

Secretary EOrter Wlfeu EeS!ueuI III
Kiniev at Townsville, Ga, today urg-
ing him to prolong his stay il the
South as long as possible and 20 recon
slider his expressed intention OF return
ing early next week.
Twenty seven representatives OF the
dig trunk lines ure in session with the
Interstate Commerce Commission here
today discussing the question of freight
rates. The meeting Is really held 10
prepare for the effects of lake naviga-
tioa which within a month will be
making great inroads into the business
of the lines that connect the east and
west. When the lake season gets well
started, the competing freight lines are
very likely to 60 into secret rate cut
ting war and this meeting with the In
terstate Commerce Commission acting
as a kind of umpire is being held to
prevent the same.
Hardt Grinnit, 40 years OF age, lately
from New York, shot himself through
the head st 900 French street this
morning. He died almost instantly.
Dependency due to continued i'll
health is believed to have been the
cause. Grinnit's widow lives in New
York.
An intelligent business man of this
CITY, and well acquainted with the con-
dition of the people here, said today
that contrary to statements OF the in
terestod newspapers, 10 the effect that
prosperity had returned here, the I'M
pecuuiosity of the majority OF the peo-
here was never greater than it is at
present, and to prove it, he said, the
percentage of delinquent tax payers is
larger than ever bsfore, and that, too,
though ten per cent. could have been
saved BY payments within the limit.
The increasing mortality by disease
and bullets daily reported from Manila
is by 30 means cheering at the War
Department, where, it is expected, it
will continue to increase as the sickly
season progress and the troops make
further advances toward the interior.
Then, too, it has been expected that an
effective blow at the Filipinos would
have been struck by this time, and the
non.arrival OF any dispatch to that Ell.
feet is also the cause Of some anxiety.
The North CaroliMaians here say the
negro postmaster at Rocky Mount, in
their State, has defaulted to the extent
of $4,000 and fed. His confirmation
was opposed by Senator Butler and re-
iected, but the President re-appointed
him. They also say that by decision
of the .. 5. Supreme Court yesterday
some lawyers in their State made large
sum OF money, but many innocent
holders OF the county bonds of
certain railroads there lost every
cent of their investment. The re-
publican Supreme Court of that
State decided that the county bonds
for the building of the roads re-.
ferred to were not issued in accordance
with the constitution OF North Carolina
and the U. S. Supreme Court con
frrned that decision without consider
ING the merits of the case, but for the
reason that it could not reverse the de.
cision OF the highest court in North
Carolina in respect of the constitution
of that State.
1t is reported that the War Depart
ment will issue orders censuring Gen
eral Miles and General Breckenridge
for taking steps to sustain the formers
charges against those responsible for
the conduct of the Spanish war.
10 respect of an alleged suit against
Virginia for an agents fees for collecting
money for that State, it is said here
that it must fail, as one part of the
claim is for collecting the unpaid fourth
apportionment of the proceeds OF the
sale Of the public lands, under the dis.
rributon of 1886, which the U. S. Su-
preme Court mas decided adversely, on
me ground that the whole distribution
was gift and the giver could stop any
portion OF it, and the other part was for
tho collection OF the direct land tax
refund, which was not due the State,
but to individuals therein, though near
ly a hundred thousand dollars OF it, for
which there were no claimants, were
turned into the States treasury.
The w. Z. Trigg Shipbuilding Company of
Richmond bad check drawn for them at
the Navy Department. today for tho second
payment on their contract for government
vessels. The amount was S11,677 each, for
three torpedo boats.
a Ieesburg man here to-day says that
since il has been understood that the judge OF
Loudouu county, in case that town shall 90
wet" next Wednesday, will only grant Ii.
conscs TO two hotels and 10 one whole sale and
election has became very doubtful.