Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-12-26
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
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Correspondence OF tne AleAdhuIia odNet'e.J
Washington. d. c., December 26.
One of the most important phases OF
the Venezuelan situation and one which
is now engaging the anxious attention
of the President is the aid given by the
allies to the rev0lutionists. If the fact
can I've proved this country is bound to
enter protest and to back that protest
by force if pecessary. The United
States may be constrained by circum-
stances to establish the anomaly of a
counter blockade as well as to enter a
protest Advices have been received
from Minister Bowen regarding the
landing Of arms and ammunition for
the reyolutionists at Coro and elsewhere,
but at the State Department it was said
this morning that the dispatches must
be laid before President Roosevelt be-
fore they could be given out for puLlica-
ton. Further information will be
received from Minister Bowen and the
United States consuls in Venezuela and
if it shall prove that a violation of the
Monroe doctrine has occurred the Presi-
dent will then most positively decline
the position of arbiter. The question of
blockading ports in Venezuela left open
by Germany, Great Britain and Italy
for the entrance of munitions of war
would follow.
An announcement is expected from
the State Department shortly to the ef-
feet that the settlement of the Vene-
zuelan dispute will be referred to The
Hague. An official of the Department
said this morning that important dis
patches had been received, and this
| afternoon the rumor was circulated that
these were in substance an acceptance
of the Presidents suggestion that The
Hague be selected as the court of
arbitration. 1t is known that the
majority of the Cabinet is opposed to
the President acting as arbiter and has
been urging him to decline the offer of
the powers. This mornings press dis
patches from London and Berlin indicate
that under certain conditions the powers
would consent to The Hague. Senator
Cullom's public statement this morning
after his interview with the President
that he believed the entire matter would
be referred to The Hague, was probably
inspired by the President himself, COM
ing as it did after the receipt by the
President of the important dispatches re-
ferred to by the State Department Of
fetal. Another administration leader
close to the President said this afternoon
after the Cabinet meeting that he ex
pected an official statement to be made
later in the day that the President had
finally decided to act in accordance with
the Presidents original suggestion.
The Cabinet which held its regular
meeting today in spite of the Presidents
holiday recess from work, spent consid-
cradle time in going over the Venezuelan
problem.
"There will be no currency bill
passed by Congress at the present ses-
sion," said Secretary of the Treasury
Shaw today. The secretary bases his
prediction upon interviews he has had
with Senators and Representatives as to
the possibility of financial legislation this
winter. The leaders in both Houses
have assured him that no measure chang
ing the banking statutes can become a
law this session. 1t is possible Secre-
tary Shaw has been told that the House
may give some consideration to the
Fowler bill, but since the Treasury Off
Gals do not favor that measure it is
doubtful whether it will pass. AT the
Senate end of the Capitol it is not ex
pected that the currency question will
be considered even in committee.
Something approaching a scandal is
promised as the result of an inquiry into
the expenditures of the isthmian canal
commission. The investigation now
afoot was instigated by resolution Of
fered in the House by Mr.. Hepburn,
chairman of the committee on interstate
and foreign commerce, whose inquiry is
directed to the expenditures of the COM
mission and its employees. Under the
act authorizing the creation of the COM
mission a fund of $1,000, 600 was set
aside and this is said to be more than
half exhausted. Rear-Admiral Walker
in the three years ofthe board existence,
has drawn as president Sl5, 900 salary;
each ofIthe other eight members Sl2, 600.
A large sum has been spent for the ex-
penses of travel and clerk hire. Mr..
Hepburn charges that it has been the
practice of the commission to make
I'll e. ha of
officers of high rank and influence, as
we'll as for the sons of Senators and Con-
gressmen, paying them far more than
under any conditions their services could
be worth. There has never been any
publication of the list of employees or of
the expenses thus far incurred.
Mail advices from Manila say that the
customs department of the archipelago
has unearthed a colossal system of
smuggling that has cost the government
thousands of dollars. The report made
by Col. Mccoy, deputy collector of the
customs, charges officers and men of the
transport service with carrying on a big
commercial business tor their own profit.
Smuggling has been going on, it is as
serted, in the Sulu archipelago, and
big coastwise trade has been conducted
by chartered transports.
The convention of the American as
ISOLATION for the advancement of science
opens here on Monday and will continue
in session until January 3. Every field
of scientific research is covered by the
society's branches, and it is expected
that the meeting will be attended by
larger number of famous scientists than