Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-04-26
FROM WASHINGTON.

rCorfegpendence OF the Alexanoria oasosso'J
Washington. April 26.
Secretary Root entertained the Cu-
han commissioners at luncheon today
At the Metropolitan Club. Among the
guests present were Gov. Wood, Gen.
Miles, MISUNDERSTANDING OF War San
GER, Adjutant General Corbin, Senators
Snooner and Foraker and Lieutenant
Colonel Edwards, chief OF the insular
bureau Of the army. After the luncheon
the commissioners adjourned to the
War Department to renew their for
NAL conferences with the Secretary
of War on the Platt amendment.
At the War Department enough has
been learned to make ii certain that
the mission of the Cubaps has been a
positive failure 90 far as they may have
hoped to secure m obligations OF the
PIatt amendment. This situation--the
acceptance of the Plat amendment or
continued military occupation OF Cuba
is apparently fully realized BY the COM
missioners and they are endeavoring TO
secure such an explanation OF the ex.
act limits and purposes of the proposed
terms as will enable them to present to
their colleagues of the constitutional
convention the precise views and IN
tentiops of the United Stases. They
NAV not recommend In terms the adop.
ton of the Platt amendment but that
this will be the result of their report Ia
not doubted in administration circles.
MARQUEE Sterling, of the Havana Ell
Mundo, who is accompanying the Gu
ban commissioners, today received from
the publisher of Ell Mundo, o cable
gram, saying: "The producing In
terssts OF our country believe that no
political arrangement should be &C
cepted without the prior condition that
the next Congress will provide for
permanent reduction of the duties on
Cuban products" naturally without
sacrificing the dignity and absolute
sovereignty OF Cuba. =,
The Cuban situation was discussed
by the Cabinet today. Secretary Root
lold the President and bis fellow mem
bers what had passed at the confer
ences he had held with the commission
ers and expressed the belief that the
visitors now have better idea OF what
| the United States can and will do for
the island than they had when they
arrived. As this was the last Cabinet
meeting previous to the Presidents de-
psrture for the West, considerable rou-
tine business was cleared up.
Tests are being made by the Navy
Department OF q new type of straight
tube boiler suitable for use in naval ves'
sells. A board consisting of Lieut..
Commanders Edwards, Parks and Bay
ley will conduct the experiments which
are likely to cost from $50, 600 to $780,
GOO. The boiler was built by the Oil
City, (Pa.) Boiler Works, corporation
said to be controlled by the Standard
Oil Company.
The Secretary of the Treasury re-
cejyed a complaint from the Marine
Hospital Service today against the very
vigorous anti-slavery crusade now BE-
log carried on in Chinatown, San Fran.
cisco. According to DR.. White, the
Marine Hospital Service surgeon, the
residents OF Chinatown are 80 much dis.
turbed over the other upheavel that
they interfere with the dis!1.cc.iing.
The efforts being maze to down the
slave trade are being carried on by the
Department OF Justice and will be
prosecuted whether 1t interferes with
the Marine Hospital official or not.
The souvenir programme OF the
Presidents western trip Is the most
elaborate booklet of it's kind ever
printed, and will doubtless be In great
demand among the friends OF the party.
Only limited number have been print
ed and they will not be given to those
whose names are inscribed within the
covers until after the Especial" leaves
Washington next Monday. The seven
cars constituting the train are expected
at the Pennsylvania station today or
tomorrow. They have all undergone a
thorough overhauliDg, several OF them
having been sent to the Pollmsn shops
in Chicago to be put In perfect order be-
fore they become the moving seats oil
government.
Albert s. Hay, son of the Secretary
OF State and Consul to Pretoria, South
Africa, has resigned his position to take
effect tomorrow. Mr.. Hay has been in
this country on leve OF absence.
The Empress Dowsger of China has
delegated her powers to o national
board which will occupy about the same
position toward the Chinese Govern
ment as the Cabinet does to the United
States Government. This important
announcement was made to the State
Department this morning In dispatch
from Charge d'Affairs Squires at Pekin.
The cablegrsm says: "The Empress
Dowager has appointed board OF
national administration to relieve her
OF her public functions. 1t embraces
three members of the Cabinet now with
the Empress OF San-Fu and Prince
Ching, Viceroy Ii Hung Chang and
Prince Kung who are now ct Pekin."
1t is seriously doubted whether the
Empress proposes to eliminate herself
entirely from the conduct of Chinese
affairs. 1t Is presumed that she will
still retain her hold upon matters of
State although she will be In the back
ground.
The Odd Fellows are today csle-
brating the S2od anniversary OF the or
ganizatlon ofthat order. There was
fine parade this evening, which was re-
viewed by the President. Later q
meeting was held at the National
Theatre, when number OF interesting
addresses were made. The celebration
will conclude with o grand ball and
promena le concert at Convention Hall
tonight. A number Of Alexandrians
took no ri In tho narada
10 the arrest of Hanna and Lizzie