Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-11-28
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington. November %.

Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington. November Is.
None could tell this afternoon wheth-
or President Roosevelt dined of the
80 pound turkey that came from Penn
sylyania or the 80 pound gobbler that
was raised in Rhode Island. The Presi-
dent. the members of his family, his
priyate secretary, and the White House
steward are all preserving the secrecy
of the sphynx upon this dark question.
Each State has 10 turn claimed the vic
tory. but the latest official information
that has been given out at the Presi-
dents home is that on no condition will
the secret be divulged. President Roose-
welt and his family spent very quiet
Than ksgiving. 10 the morning they
attended church, had lunch at the usual
hour and later discussed the turkey
with Its accompanying cranberry sauce,
celery, irish and sweet potatoes. A
Juicy roast OF beef, fine Virginia ham.
plum pudding and oysters we're sIso In
the bill of fare. 10 the evening the
President and bis family will gather In
the red parlor, which is used as the
general sitting room, and probably re-
ceive calls from three or four personal
friends. Commander and Mrs. Cowles,
Senator Lodge and Mr.. Herbert Price.
the new third Assistant Secretary OF
State, were the dinner guests OF the
White House.
The State department has received . report
| from the Consul General 81 Shanghai saying
| that the guilds Of silk, tea and cotton piece
goods dealers have contributed Of their own
| Initiative to q iund to erect o monument In
| Shanghai to the ATE President Mckinley.
The plan to have the House republican
caucus outline the party policy for the coming
session at its meeting on Saturday afternoon
snd incidentally determine that there shall
be no tariff revision in any form seems likely
TO be abandoned Ia view Of the strong opp0-
sition TO it, Comparatively few republican
members-elect have as yet arrived; but SIS
members come in the opposition to departing
from custom and tfyinRto settle party policy
at o caucus before Congress meets increases.
the Scbley court will not be able to report
before Chris mas time. The verdict 1t Is ex.
pected, will be vindication for schley. All
sessions have been guarded with great
secrecy.
It Is said that Representative DeArmond,
OF Missouri, may be appointed q member Of
the rules committee, 10 take the place Of Mr..
Bailey, Of Texas who goes 10 the Senate this
session.
Secretary Root in the first section OF his
annual report, reviews the work OF the army
and discusses relstious with Cuba urging
that reciprocity arrangement be promptly
made.
Captain Perry, OF the Iowa, this morning
reported TO the secretary of the navy that q
decisive engagement between the insurgents
and government troops was expected today
In Colombis near Bueus Vista.
The State department has received a cable.
gram from Consul General Gudger at Panama
dated today stating that the Colombians are
lighting along the line of the railway.
The Bonnie trial went over from yester-
day till tomorrow, the court observing
Thanksgiving Day.
Notwithstanding the cold weather today
the races at Bennings we're well attended,
the day being holiday.
That the situation in the Philippines is
not altogether IsAssuriDg is shown by the
fact that today the War department decided
that the four infantry regiments, which have
been ordered homo aud were expected to ar.
rive here next month or early in January,
will not leave Manila until next March. In
addition to the troops which are already m.
der orders to go to the Philippines 70 relieve
short term men who are coming back to the
United States, the department today an
nounced that the 18th Cavalry, which is now
stationed in Texas, will be sent to Manila In
the near future These orders are taken to
indicate that it has been found unwise to 70.
duee the military force in the Philippines IS
early - had been contemplated.
The report Of First-Assistsnt. Postmaster.
General johnson contains some matter OF in.
terest to Virginia. 1t is shown that there
are total Of sixty'ssven presidential post
Offices in the State, and the aggregate re-
csipts for the four quarters ending March 81,
1901, Was $685., OFT. The total number of
rHrsl free-delivery routes established In Vir.
ginia Is forty-one There have been fled
lit applications for rural frse-deliyery
routes. There have been eight star routes
discontinued, which were supplsnted by
rural free-delivery routes, within the twelve
months covered by the report, making a saw
ing OF 81 ,034.S0. There have been twenty.
one postof1ces discontinued.
The need for 9 new White House is becom.
ing more urgent every day and unless the
coming Congress appropristes money for OK.
pensive repairs of the old or decides to build
another, some serious accident is likely to be.
fall the occupants Of the old pile. Two or
three days sgo Mrs. Roosevelt purchased
. number Of rugs for the parIors OF the
mansion. They were carried up and the
men from the carpet house took them into
the BED Parlor. As porters are in the habit
Of doing, they dropped the rolls upon the
floor. The entire building shook and the
flooring cresked in such = threatening man.
ner that the carpet men fed precipitately.
1T Is q burning shame that better quarters
are not provided for the Presidents family"
said so Official who told Of the incident. aAs
soon ~ Theodore, jr., comes from school
there will not be = single guest chamber In
the house Two rooms have been improved
in the attic and In order to set to them the
servants gre obliged TO 20 up by way OF the
elevator which bad to be built higher for the
parpose. There is no stairway to the attic.
An Inside ladder fre-escspe has BEEN pat M
that ths servants will not be burned TO death
should fre break oui In the old rattle trap
There is q movement on hand 10 persuade
Chairman Cannon of the House sppropria-
tions committee to insert q paragraph In the
appropriation bill authorizing the expendi.
tnre necessary to carry ont the plans for the
addition to the White Ho1se as prepared in
the ONCE Of the superintendent OF public
buildings and grounds.