Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-11-30

Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette. ]
WASHINGTON. November 80.

(Correspoudence Of the Alexandria Gazette ]
WASHINGTON. November 80.
A meeting OF the full House commi
tee on ways and mans had been called
for tomorrow but today this meeting
was called of No reason was given
for this and the democrats, who have
not been taken into the confidence oil
the majority CT the committee, are
wondering what is in the air ut Is
very plsiO," said one OF the democra'
today."tba the republicans OF the CON-
mittee have decided to fix the war tax
reduction matter ell by themselves
without letting a democrat known an
atom OF the programme. They will
bring 10 their bill of recommendations
and the House will act on it without
our assistance 1t is said today that
there is so much division among the re-
publicans themselves on the question oil
what ought aud what ought not to be
reduced 10 the war tax tariff that it has
been decided caucus OF the House
will be necessary. Chairman Payne,
Mr.. Dalzell, and Speaker Henderson
held consultation this morning and it
ia understood practically decided that a
caucus would be necessary.
Mrs. Mckinley left for New York
this morning. She goes to do her
Christmas shopping and was not &C.
com panied by her husband. II he went
too she would have some difficulty in
concealing the presents she intends pur-
chasing for him. Indeed she might not
be able to buy theua at all If he accom-
panied her from couDtsr to counter 10
the big stores of the Metropolis. Re
alizing this, probably, the President
said be had too many affairs OF state on
hand lust at present to allow himself to
spend even q day or two out OF Wash
ington. With his message not COM
plete and Congress upon the eve OF
another session, the President certainly
could frame a plausible ezcuse if be
was called upon to make one. Mr. and
Mrs. Charles G. Dawes and DR.. Rxey,
| Mrs. McKinley's physician, sccompan-
led her in the private Car.
Oac of the Presidents senatorial
friends today cold him it was piece
of rare foresight to send Mr.. Dawes
along with Mrs. Mckinley on her shop
ping tour. Mr.. Dawes is the Comp
troller of the Currency.
The $500 clerks in the Treasury de-
partment were thrown into panic at
noon by the ringing OF the fire alarm
balls. Fire was discovered IN an old
storeroom on the third floor, which
is at the disposal OF the auditor of the
Interior department, and which was
stored with stationery and books. 1t has
not been used for six months. The
clerks 10 the building manned the de-
partment's fire apparatus and when the
water was turned on every one was
deluged. The hose was old and aDpsr-
emily motheaten. Anyway 1t leaked
badly. The clerks succeeded, how
ever. In extiugulshiug the blaze b.
fore the arrival OF the FIRE engines.
When the alarm was sounded many
of the women clerks immediate
ly left their desks, and some with
out waiting to secure their hats or coats
made a mad rush for the street. Some
we're 30 badly frieh eued that they
could not be induced to return. Kind
friends brought them their wraps and
they went nome, The origin of the
fire Ia traced to lighted cigarette, sup
posed to have been thrown by care
less clerk over the frsneom. The dam
age will he about $500.
1t is understood that the yiceroys OF
the southern provinces of China have
appealed to the State Department
through Minister Wa, to use the good
offices OF this ghveynment to stop the
advance of the French forces into Shan
81 province. Speaking OF the expedi-
ton referred to the minister said "Wby
do they 60? To stir up strife and dis
contentP Governor Yu Is dead, and
though the boxer movement CEN
tered in this province, there is no
trouble there now" The appeal
of the viceroys ia to the eff
feet that the French expedition will
have anything but a quisting effect.
They say that the presence of the
troops will Gauss rebellion and