Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-03-15
FROM WASHINGTON.
(Corre,psndence OF the Alexandria Gaseste.]
Washington. March 10.

Il ktO1A w n N@'
(Corro,psndence OF the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington. March 10.
Representative Swanson was called
here By the serious illness OF his vile.
no has been critically i'll with tonsi-
Ii is and quinsy. The crisis OF the dis
sse, however, has passed, and she is
now regarded as out OF danger. This
visit has interrupted for while MIR.
Syanson's personal attention to bis
canvass for the gubernatorial nomina-
ton 10 his State, but his prospects OF
success are regarded as excellent by
all his friends. He has large MAORI.
ty of the working democratic leaders o.
the State supporting him, and ell the
reports his friends say are OF the most
encouraging CHI aracter. 10 Richmond an
onslaught is mnde on him, INSPIRED large
ly by these whom in the Presidential
elections OF 1896 and 1900 were hostile
to the democratic organization, but
who were unsb'e TO divert Virginia
from her old democratic moorings. An
opposition to Mr.. Swanson in Rich.
mond, whether succt ssIul or not, IL
pretty apt to help him in other portions
of the State. SWanson and Montague
both reside 10 Pittsylvania, but it is un'
derstood here hat ttat county will &c
| for Swanson.
II Mr.. Meiklejohn, former assistant
secretary OF war. shall not be nominated
| for Senator ia Nebraska, his friends
threaten war on the administration.
Already they are ready to take oath
that their leader has been badly
treaty. Incidentally question OF YER
acity has arisen. Meiklejohn, in q
statement given out last night, declares
that the President rendered him re.
nomination but that on account Of his
senatorial canvass he declined it. AT
the War Department it was quite freely
admitted that 10 tender had been
made, but that Meiklej ohn's resignation
had for some time been 10 the possession
of the President. Meiklejohn has pop
ularily been believed to be sort OF an
administration candidate" The sud-
denness with which he was re-
moved also removed this popu.
lar impression and with it much
of his stock in trade. In this Meikle.
Johns friends believe they see the
nand of Editor Rosewater, one of
his strong competitors, and a close
friend of Mckinley and Hanna, who
was generally believed to have Hanna's
tact endorsement. Rosewater, they
think, induced the change to be- made
at the most critical period Of the SeDa'
torial controversy, in order that for
midable rival might be removed from
the field.
The Spanish war claims commission,
OF which ex-senator w. Il. Chandler is
the chairman, will organize some time
next week and quarters are now being
sought for the new officials. Because
of the refusal OF w. E. Fuller, of Iowa,
to accept the position of assistant at.
torney general to guide the labors OF
the commission. this place remains
still vacant. A chief clerk is to be ap.
pointed at salary OF So 900 per annum.
The bill creating the commission ap.
propriates only $4,000 per aDnum for
their use aud as the salaries Of the six
commissioner. So 900 each, consume the
larger share of this amount, there will
not be so much for other employees su.
thorizsd, since all the expenses OF the
commission must be borne out of the
$50, 900 in question. About 800 claims
involving about SSS, 900, 900 have been
filed with the State Department for
reference to the new board. The high.
est individual claims are not 10 excess
of s., 0O0.0 900 each. principally for loss
of property, imprisonment, personal
suffering, or the death of relatives. The
awards authoriz ID by the claims COM
mission, under the law, shall be final,
and be paid by Congress.
1t Is the purpose ri Secretary Root to
assign to Colonel Ssnger's desk the
work Of making all contracts for the
department, the reorganization OF the
artillery corps aud that portion OF the
war colleges lsbors which pertain to
State miilis. Oae problem which he
will be asked to solve is the grading of
clerks 10 the department. Under the
present system clerks with small salaries
are doing the work of responsible posi-
tons while the amount OF labor to be
performed is distributed at the within or
favor OF the head OF a department.
During the change q shaking up OF
present arrangements ia asked and un-
less protected by Influential interference
it is possible that a number of more
favored clerks may fad their salaries
lowered.
The supplementary convention ex-
tending the time for the ratification of
the reciprocity treaties with the British
West Indies was today signed at the
State Department by Lord Pauncefote,
the British Ambassador, and Secretary
of State Hay. The extension Is only
for one year instead Of eighteen months
as previously reported, so that the date
within which ratification is possible