Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-08-05
FROM WASHINGTON.
of the Alexandria Gazette. J

Washington, ID. O., August D.
Mail advices received by the War
DEPARTMENT state that Manila now pre-
SCENTS a clean bill Of health, both cholera
and smallpox having been eradicated,
after a long and arduous campaign dur
ING which the victims numbered sew
eral thousand. At the time the report
was sent not single case of either dis
ease could be discovered in the city.
Hong Kong adyices say that the scourge
still prevails there and that a NUMBER
of Europeans have died from plague.
Marcus Brown, the special immigra-
ton inspector, who, since April, has
been investigating in Europe tho meth
DDS employed by steamship companies
and others to collect and forward to the
limited States the undesirable class OF
immigrants, has returned and reported
to Commissioner General Sargent this
morning. The latter says that Mr.
Brown has brought back very valuable
information. His investigations, he said,
have developed some startling facts and
he has some documentary evidence to
substantiate every important feature set
forth. All of this evidence will be COM
piled for presentation in the annual re-
port of the Commissioner General.
The Philippine I constabulary has
taken up the task of pacifying by
forcible means, the savage head-hunters
of Lepanto and Bontoc province in the
interior or northern Luzon. Captain
Natherse, with 100 Igorrote volunteers,
has taken the trail, according to reports
reaching the War Department today,
and expects to teach such a
salutary lesson as will preclude
future forays by these savages upon the
peaceful villages near the coast. There
has long been feud between the head
hunters and the tribes in contiguous
territory. Several small barrios are
known to have been practically
exterminated by the head-hunters,
whose practice is to decapitate their VIC
TINS and carry away the heads on poles.
All of the constabulary on this expedl-
ton are well equipped and provisianed.
A report has reached the War De-
partment that, by reason of the irregu-
larity of transportation between Manila
and the new leper colony and stock farm
on Culion island, the natives there have
been suffering from lack of proper food.
Steps have been taken to correct the
matter. 1t is stated that at one time
nearly all of the native laborers on the
stock farm were down with hunger dis
ease. DR.. DeMay, who was sent to the
island to superintend the leper colony,
became so i'll that he had to be trans
ferred to the Civil Hospital in Manila.
People who have visited the island claim
that the climate is very healthful, and
that if transportation were mere regular,
there would be no cause for complaint.
A comparison of results under the old
law taxing oleomargarine at two cents
per pound and the new law which taxes
it at one-quarter of cent on uncolored
and ten cents on the colored article has
been made at the Treasury Department
and is interesting in view of the objects
sought to be obtained by the advocates
of the new law which went into effect
July l, 1902. The internal revenue
statements for the two fiscal years show
that the tax collected at two cents
per pound in 1902 was S2,462, :
$50 -; at one-quarter cent per
pound in 1903 S171, 227.4S, and
at ten cents per pound S272,Ol4,4S, or a
total for 1908 Of S443 ,271 sc, decrease for the
year of 8, Ol9 ,2GO.76. The number Of pounds
tax paid in 1902 was 1913, l26, CSC; and IN lsOS
IS 400, 992 at a quarter cent tax, and z,'ZU,-
444 at ten cents. a total Of II ,2l1, 4S6 pounds
which is a decrease under the new law OF OIL
9l5 200 pounds.
Senior A. del WISE the charge d'affairss Of
the Argentine legation in this city, has
through the Secretary Of State, formally In