Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-05-11
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON.
SPECIAL CoEnvsPo NDENCE.

The Boer Pctitior-Thc petition OF
General Pearson, formerly Of the BOcr
army, who Is now in this country ask
ing the president to inquire into al
legations in connection with the ship
ment of horses. mules and munitions
of va" from New Orleans to the Brit
ish army in South Africa, has been re-
Ceived at the state department. Gen
cral Pearson maintains that these
shipments are contrary to the neutral
ity features of the treaty of Washing
ton between Great Britain and the
United States for the settlement Of
the Alabama claims. While the admin.
istration indorses the action Of the
Unittl States district court in New
CIleans in declining to step the ship
mlnt of supplies to South Africa on
the ground that it has no juris liceion
and the persons bringing the action
on which the decision was based had
sustained no injury by the shipments,
it has recognized that the establish
ment of war supply dlpot at Now
Orleans by Great Britain might be
cont ary to the treaty Of Washington
and the petition will therefore get the
most careful consid aratiOn
Friends to Venezuela-As n result
of the visit to Washington of Mr.
Loomis, the United States minister at
Caracas, Il friendly note has been ad-
dressed to the Ven Zuelan govern
ment with regard to the several com
plants made by American citizcns
having interests in that country, Of
ill-treatmen mt by officers. In addition
to bringing TO Venezuela's attention
the casej of the Orinoco company and
other American syndicates, which
hold that they have been deprived Of
concessionary rights, the note Is de-
signed to corrl ct any impression that
may have bccn given to Venezuela
that this governmc mt had no confid-
once in the Venezuelan courts and
would not abide by their decisions
where American citizens were con-
cerncd The note assures Venezuela
to the cantrary and expresses con-
tidencc that justice will be done
American citizens by the Venezuelan
courts.
Manila Bay membcred-Admiral
Dewey and % officers and three civili-
ans who were with him in the battle
of Manila Bay celebrated the third an,
nvcrsary of that engagement with a
dinner at the Raleigh hotel. There
was nothing formal about the affair
and everybody had good time. Gov
crs were laid for 27. Most of the
guests came from stations near Wash
ington.
British Must ExpIain-The action Of
the Canadian custom officers ct Nanai
mo, British Columbia, in seiz,Ig the
barge Ajax, belonging to Moran Bros
4 Co., the ship builders Of Seattle.
Wash. on April 90. has taken an inter
national phase. Assistant Secretary
Spaulding received telegram from
Senator Perkins Of California on Sat
urday night asking the treasury de-
partment to investigate the case. SEN
ator Perkins request was forwarded
to Secretary Hay by Mr.. Spaulding
with letter asking that the
state department call upon Lord
Paun,efote for an explanation of the
affair by the Canadian government
The barge Ajax. with 40 mon, had
gone to Nanaimo to raise the wrecked
American steamship Willamette. and
all seemed favorable for successfully
carrying out tho plan. when the Cana
dian sub-collector of customs appeared
on the scene ana seized the whole cut
fit for some "infraction" OF the Gus
toms laws of the Dominion.
Tribute to AbIity-Lleutenant
II Commander Corwin p. Rees., who
II was executive officer Of the flagship
"a Olympia in the battle OF Manila Bay.
cnme here frCm Newport to attend the
@Dlwey anniversary dinaer and incd.
n entally to be examined FOR promotion
to the grade OF commander. The
4 report Of tho examination was re-
\ ceived at navy department Thurs lay
1t shows that when Lieut. t2nant- Com.
mander Reese came before the board
its members adopted the unusual
course of passing him without asking
any questions to test his professional
efficiency They said merely that his
\ record as shown by the navy depart.
ments data was SO excellent that no
4 personal examination was necessary.
This action Of the board was a high
tribute to the professional ability of
Lieutenant Commander Reese.
Volunteers Coming Home-Gsneral
Bird Of the army transport service has
received "A cable despatch from Colon.
4 el Miller, chief quartermaster at Mani
la, giving the program for the depart.
IRE of transports with the remaining
10 volunteer regiments now in the
II Philippines. The despatch says that
the Hancock, Buford and Pennsyl.
vania will sail on May 10 with the
Slst, Alst and +0th regiments, respec-
lively. Ten days later the Logan and
Fitzpatrick, with the 3Sth iSd anl 44th
Wreglments. and the Indiana, with the
'#42i. will sail. The Grant and Ohio
Kwill sail on May 25 with the 4sth.
a 49th and Attn regiments. Colonel
N Miller says that these are approx.
a mate but General Bird says that he
has no doubt the last regiment will
arrive in San Francisco in time to be
mustered out before the lst OF July.
in accordance with the law.
We trust that somehow good will be
"a the final goal pf III --Tanny-op