Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-02-24
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, ID. G., Feb. "a.

purchase the property Of the company
for $40, 900, 900. That option will ex-
pire at midnight of March Bird. Be
cause information came TO the President
that foreign syndicate stood ready TO
take the canal property on March 4th,
Immediately after the expiration OF the
option held by the United States, At
torney General Knox cabled the CON-
pany a week ago agreeing to accept the
ootiop after the ratification of the canal
treaty by the United States and Colombia,
which means a delay of several months.
President Bo, of the canal company,
last night cabled in answer to the At
torney General, that Mr.. Cromwell had
received full authority to present person
aIly the attitude of the company to him
and that he would call upon him today.
This means, it is understood, that the
offer of the Attorney General has not
been accepted by the canal company
nor has it been finally rejected. MIR.
Knox will be given an opportunity to
submit modified offer to Mr.. Cromwell.
If that is done an agreement may be
reached. Otherwise it is probable that
unless the pending treaty is ratified be-
fore March the United States will not
be able to obtain tae Panama route for
the original price of $40, 600, 600.
The democratic Senators at their con-
ference this morning, unanimously de-
cided to reject the compromise statehood
bill proposed by the republicans. They
will consult with the statehood republi-
cans on the postofiice committee to see
whether they will vote to put the orig
inal statehood bill on the postoflice
appropriation bill, and if they will not
do that, they will abandon the pro-
gramme. The conference also unani-
mously instructed Mr.. Blackburn to call
up at the earliest possible moment the
antitrust bill recently reported by Sen
ator Hoar from the judiciary committee
and endeavor to secure consideration for
it, The conference asked for by the
democrats with the republicans who
favor the omnibus statehood bill, is now
in progress. Senators Quay, Gallinger
and Hansbrough are canyassing the
situation with the democrats. Before
going into the conference, Senator Quay
said that if he found he could not rely
upon enough votes to keep the statehood
rider on the postoilice appropriation
bill, he would not make the at
tempt and it would be withdrawn.
The belief is that the action of the
democrats this morning, will result in
the failure of all statehood legislation at
this session. An extra session of the
Senate to ratify the treaties is thought
to be more probable now. 1t has de-
veloped that not enough republican
votes cal be obtained to enable the
democrats to put the statehood bill as a
rider on one of the appropriation bills.
The rider will, therefore, be withdrawn
The congress Of the Daughters OF the
American Revolution opened this morn
at 10 O. clock for the second days session.
Routine business occupied an hour.
An amendment to article of the con-
stitution was offered to make the Presi-
dent General eligible for more than one
term. For this amendment another
was appended to provide for two sue
cessive terms only in that office regard
less of previous service on the national
board. The amendment i'll this form
was carried by vote of 44S to 6S.
This action on the part of the congress
practically assures the reelection of Mrs.
Fairbanks, the President General of the
National Society, the amendment hav ing
been proposed by her friends in order
to secure her continuancein Office. An
other amendment was proposed which
would make the Treasurer General
eligible to continuous succession in the
Office instead of only one term of two
wears as at present. In the midst of the
affirmative vote a motion was made and
carried to lay the matter ON the table
and Mrs. Donald Mclean announced
that there were many delegates who had
been counted as voting for the amend
ment while standing to vote as they
supposed for the motion to lay on the
table From time to time daughters
asked to be enlightened as to what they
were voting on. Another amendment
was offered that would prevent any
State society having at one time more
than one vice president general on the
national board.
Secretary Cortelyou proposes 81 900,
900 building for the new Department OF
Commerce and Labor.
The democratic floor leader, Mr..
Richardson, of Tennessee, today threw
the republican leaders into confusion by
notifying them, through Mr. Dalzell, OF
Pennsylvania, that the Wagoner-Butler
contest from the 18th Missouri district,
must be handled by the House in q
dignified and judicial way. If it should
be hurried through, he declared, he will
see to it that all other legislation pend
ing in the last days of Congress shall be
thOughtfnlly considered and that con-
ference reports and matters of similar
Importance will not be permitted to pass
except after mature deliberation. II
any important measure should fail on
this account, the responsibility, he de-
clares, will be on republican shoulders.
The subcommittee of the House COM
mittee on the judiciary that met this
morning to consider the memorial of A.
E. Pace for the impeachment of Judge
Charles Swayne, U. S. Judge for the
Northern District of Florida, after
prolonged session arrived at the con-
clusion that the committee on judiciary
would be unable to take action on the
case without authority of the House.
Republicans Of the House committee on