Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-04-20
FROM WASHINGTON.
TCorrsspondence Of the Alexandris Gazette
Washington. April 20.

FROM WASHINGTON.
rCorrsspondenoe Of the Alexandris daseste.
Washington. April 20.
The House committee on commerce
today adopted amendments to the MIC.
srsguan canal bill with the purpose OF
meeting the objections raised to its
original provisions in antsgonism TO
the Hsy-Pauncefote treaty. 10 the
first section the words. "defend ca.
nal" are changed to "protect canal,
aud as it stands the section PROVIDES
that the President may acquire from
Costa Rica and Nicaragua control OF
territory upon which to "excsva'e'
construct aud protect a canal" rom
Greytown to Breto. In the second Sec
ton the words, 'in such fortlhcations
for defense ss will be required" are re-
placed by "such provision LOT aeienso
as NAV be necessary" so that the sec,
ton proyides for the construction o!
hsrbors at the termiDi of said canal and
sucb provision for defense as may Do
necessary for the safety and protection
Of said canal and harbors. These
amendments were offered by Chairman
Hepburn and adopted by the commit
tee oply under protest and because 1t
was understood that they would
lead to the securing OF day
for the consideration OF the bill.
The word Notifications" in the bill,
was obiectional 10 the President and the
State Department because the treaty
between the United States and Great
Britain expressly provides that the can.
al should be neutral. 1t meant that
forts should be erected. The substi-
tuted provision for defense may in
clude forts, men, ships, or treaties. The
committee while agreeing there was lit
tic change 10 the meaning OF the bill as
amended, was willing 10 make this con-
cession to diplomacy if by 30 doing the
chances for the consideration OF the Dill
would be improved. Chairman Hep
burn assured the committee that while
90 having an absolute promise to that
effect, be understood that the commit
tee on rules would give time for the
consideration of the bill 10 the House
# the amendments were adopted. Alter
the committee adjourned Mr.. Hepburn
laid in an interview: "With these
amendments We will get the rule" Just
what day will be given has not yet
been decided.
Ths House committee on ways and
means today considered the resolution
calling Oh the Secretary of the Treas
ury for detailed information regarding
he ingredients of oleomargarine and
referred it to q subcommittee. The
sub. committee to which the oleomar-
parine resolution was referred is com.
posed of Representatives Dalzell. Taw
ney and Underwood. Messrs. Dalzell
and Underwood are said to be opposed
70 the resolution.
The House committee on military a.
fairs deci led today to visit West Point
May 4.
The House committee on ipsular al.
fairs today considered the resolution
passed by the Senate eXter ding tn
time for establishing the new govern
ment 10 Porto Rico until August /
There is no objection to the resolution
50 far as it goes, but several OF the
members expressed q wish to &c
further sod to throw additional safe
guards about the granting Of franchise
The matter was postponed until tomor'
row, when another meeting will bt
held.
The War Department has resumed
the issue OF canned roast beef to the
army in the Philippines. This is the
beet that many of our officers and sol
diers in Cuba complained OF and de-
clsred unfit to eat. II caused q court
Of inquiry to be held here last year
which, after q three months hearing
GENERATED the beef. Major bravo,
The c3mmisssry o subsistence, recently
made requisi!ion for $4,000 pounds OF
AIMED roast beef to be sent 10 addition
to the monthly order for May. He al.
50 asked that AS, 900 pounds of canned
roast Deef be sent to the Philippines
rvery month. This order caused some
surprise 10 the War Department and
General Otis was cabled and asked
whether the requisition met with bis
approval. He answered that 1t did;
that the soldiers 10 the fell wanted the
canned roast beef when they could not
get fresh beef and that 100000 pounds
of it had already been issued and not q
iugle complaint had been made. Col.
Alexander, at Chicago, will soon invite
proposals for canned roast beef to fill
Msjor Dravo's requisition.
The officials of the Southern Railway
say that the press reports dealing with
The strike of the telegrsphers Of that
system are exaggerated. One official
said today that only three men had
gone out on the Atlantic and Danville
division and that the only interruption
20 traffic was caused by heavy floods.
President Gompers, of the American
Federation of Labor, said today that the
officials of the Southern would have to
give the members ofthe National Order
of Railway Telegrapbers a conference
20 that their grievances could be talked
over and q settlement arrived at, or
the American Federation Of Labor
would have to take hand 10 the mat
or. "The Southern has totally ignored
the demands of the telegraphers," said
Mr.. Gompers, "snd if We cannot secure
40 amicable settlement We will have to
tight them along every line. One way
will be to use our influence to have de-
feated all measures now pending before
Congress, the object of which is to bene.
DIT the Southern.
The House committee on the ia.
dietary today approved the bill to d.
vide Pennsylvania into three judicial
districts. The State now has two. The
committee also decided to have public
nearinoa on the hill Dassed nv the Sen.