Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-05-15
nent in behalf of the army reorgsniza-

the bill on the ground that it was the
only means of reclifying the funda-
mental error 10 our military system.
The present separation of line and stall
which this bill was designed to break
up. be said, occasioned constant ter
depcy to wrong. The different perma-
nent staff corps were located mere III
Washington, constantly 10 toucn WIN
senators and members of Congress ana
of the cabinet, while the line were out
IN the frontier or in the Spanish ISLANDS
Consequently the staff was the only
branch of the army heard by members
of Congre end its power mad oeen
built up by line in this bill and para
oraph in the other, while the power OF
the line had been decreased. This con-
dilion threatened the evil OF q multiple
command of the army. The feeling
that had grown up from this cause, for
example, between the artillery and
ordnance, was, he said, "a material and
serious obstacle to the efficiency OF the
army" and he urged the committee TO
break up the present system and give
all branches OF the service common
interest by providing for an interchange
of staff aud line officers, 30 that all
would eventually have experience in
each branch.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General
Bristow, who has been ordered to take
charge of the Department OF Posts in
Cuba, accompanied by his secretary. G.
A. Conrad, will leave tomorrow for Ha-
vana. The stsmpsellers who were al
rested at Havana yesterday are said to
70 under $1,000 bond. John II. z.
Sheridan, who is reported from Havana
| % have been placed in charge OF the
postoffice there, vice Thompson, sus-
pended, was appointed from Boston and
later was made assistant postmaster at
Havana by Director Rathbone.
The President today in response to q
resolution Of the Senate sent to that
body copy OF letter dated March 8,
1900, from Maj Gen. Otis, military gov
ernor of the Philip mes, with copy OF
a letter of Emilio Aguinaldo iDclosed
Herewith dated Mslolos, January 7,
| 1899, four weeks before the insurgent
| attack on the American forces, to
Senior D. Benito Legsrds, warning him
and his family to leave the city of Ma
| Mia. General o is states in his letter
that the Aguinaldo letter is forwarded
| to meet still further the absurd charge
| that the American authorities in Manila
inaugurated the war. Aguinaldo warns
his friends as follows: 81 beg you to leave
Manila with your family and to come
here to Malolcs, but not because !
wish to frighten you. | mere
ly wish to warn you for your salts
faction, although il is not yet the day or
| the week. The President also sent to
the Senate copy of volume 5 of the
report of the T hilippine commission.
Mr.. Bate, FROM the Senate committee
90 military affairs, reported favorably
today bill authorizing the Secretary
Of War to cause to be Investigated
claims for private property taken in
the military service within the United
States during the war with Spain.
The House committee on rivers and
harbors today decided to report an
emergency bill Tor this session. 1t will
carry 100000 for surveys and for msio-
lining existing channels. Not more
thsn$10, 900 is to be expended at any one
place. The bill carries about 70 items.
This mornings action of the House
committee on the judiciary in approy-
log the Jenkins joint resolution pro-
DOSING an amendment to the constitu-
ton, giving Congress the right to de-
fine and regulate trusts. was made
known to the House in the shape Of a
report this afternoon. The report says:
THE power conferred upon Congress
by the constitution is insufficient to en-
| able it to meet and remedy evils which
have grown to such proportions and
nave become so far reaching that they
are now national in their influence and
really, though indirectly, dominate in
terstate commerce while they form no
part OF it and are not, therefore, within
be constitutional power OF Congress to
repress or remedy" The report urges
the necessity for constitutional amend
| % ents.
Pie wholesale merchants of this city
can't make any contracts for supplies
| of peas, for the reason of the develop
ment of the pea louise plague, which,
this year, is said to be phenomenal and
threatens the destruction of the whole
| crop.
10 the House today Mr.. Rixey intro
iuced bills to pay the heirs of Jas. W.
Stone, deceased, of Stafford coun
ty, Va, $1,000 for grist and saw mill
destroyed by Union troops during the
var between the States; and to pay the
heirs of Lewis Shumate, OF Eau
quier county, Va, $4,000 for stores
and supplies taken by Union troops
during the war between the States.
The House committee on claims this morn
ing agreed to report favorably upon the bill
for the relief OF the sibey heirs, of Freder-
icksburg, Virginia The bill is TO allow the
Court of Claims to consider the CAIN for the
use Of the Sibley tent. patented by the late
General Sibley. Judge Sener is counsel for
this claim, and has spoken in its behalf be-
lore both the full and the subcommittee on
claims A favorable report on this bi ! has
also been made By the Senate claims con-
mttee. The House claims committee this
morning also reported favOrsbly two OF Rep
resentstiye Hays bills, one to pay the widow
Of the late Fish Commissioner Mcdonald of
Virginia SO, 500 for the use of her husbands
fish patents, and one to psy Pritchsrd & Co.
Of Page county. Va. %, 200 for damage TO
their distillery.
The engagement has been announced of
Miss Emily fage Kemp, niece of Miss Moliie
Elliot seawel of Virgins, the we'll known
writer and Mr.. Patrick Bryan, OF Richmond,
Va, and of Washington and Lee University.
In the Senate today Mr. Daniel introduced
bills TO pay Tandy Duvsll Of Fauquier county.
Virginia. S3,422 for property taken from
him by o. 8. troops during the war between
he STATES; to slow the Bsllston Railroad
Company TO lay tracks and operate them
| south Of Pennsylvania avenue, between 18th
| and 18th atreeis and To cross Tho patanan