Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-11-07
FROM WASHINGTON.
correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette ]

met IN caucus TINS diVei"V'ii'
Sharp Williams, of Miss, was nominated
for Speaker, and will be democratic
floor leader for the coming session. One
of his policies will be TO oppose the adj
iournments usually taken while the
House is waiting for the report OF the
committee on ways and means he
wishes this time to be devoted 70
the transaction of House business. ne
announces that he will not name Mr..
Mcclellan, the newly elected Mayor OF
New York for the ways and means
committee. because Mr.. Mcclellan will
retire from the House after the extra
session. Mr.. Williams will himself sue
coed Mr.. Richardson on the ways and
means committee and will 60 also on the
committee of rules. When Mcclellan
entered the caucus, being about the last
to arrive, he was greeted with loud
applause and shouts Of "Iiger.
Charles Edwards, of Texas, a Washing
ton newspaper man was named for the
clerk of the House; j. X. Jackson OF
Alabama for House Postmaster and j.
V. Brooksire, of Indiana an excon-
gresham for Sergeant at Arms:
E. b. Bagby, of Virginia, was named
for chaplain, and A. j. Julian, of Geor-
gia. for doorkeeper. Representative
Baker. of New York, offered resolution
to the effect that no democratic members
should ride on free railroad passes. 1t
was referred to committee for action.
Mr.. Hay, of Virginia, was unanimously
elected TO succeed himself as chairman
of the caucus.
Word has been received from Panama
to the effect that the revolutionary gov
ernment has issued call for constitu-
tional convention to meet on Monday
for the purpose of adopting a permanent
form of government, providing for the
selection of President and drafting a
canal treaty with the United States.
Having to allintents and purposes rec
ognized the Republic Of Panama as the
latest admission to the numberof Ameri-
can states, and having through Secretary
Hay deliberately explained all of the cir
cumstances and motives which informed
the administration of its policy, the gov
eminent of the United States is now
waiting for Colombia or the new repub-
lie to make the next move. When the
new republic shall have established a
permanent government it is probable
that this country will promptly appoint
a minister 10 Panama. That minister
will most likely be Mr.. Gudger, present
Consul General at Panama, as he Is the
person most familiar with the new coun-
try and its formation. How far opposi-
ton to all this may develop in Congress
is now matter of conjecture. Certain
it is that the republican leaders are pre-
Dared to endorse the course and policy OF
the administration and it is equally GER
tain that Senator Morgan and other adj
yocates of the Nicaraguan route are as
thoroughly prepared to criticize ana oppose
This opinion is shared to some extent by
the administration, as is shown by the
dispatch to Colon and Panama OF
American warships and the hurrying OF
Admiral Coughlan from Washington to
the isthmus. Ordinarily single ship on
either side of the strip has been deemed
sufficient to maintain treaty obligations,
but on this occasion is added to an un-
usual force of eight or more ships an ex-
ira large force of marines and blue
jackets.
There was an important conference at
the White House this morning at which
we're present Senators Allison, Aldrich,
Spooner, Hale, Cullom and Plat ofCOn-
necticut. The principal subjects dis
cussed we're Panama and Cuban recipro-
city. The Senators warmly congratu-
lated the President on the prompt action
taken yesterday in recognizing the in
FAINT republic of Panama, and assured
him of the support Of the Senate in this
matter. Regarding Cuban reciprocity
the methods whereby the President s
plans may be carried out by Congress
were discussed. 1t has not yet been
decided whether it shall be by bill or
Joint resolution that the Cuban treaty
shall be made effective.
Consul Malmros at Colon cabled the
State Department this morning that
Porfrio Menendez has been appointed
and inaugurated as Governor of Colcn
and had officially proclaimed the in
depence of the republic of Panama.
The dispatch adds that everything is
quiet there today. A message from
Vice Consul General Ehrman at Pan
ANA says that quiet also prevails in
chat city. A belated dispatch from
Minister Beaupre at Bogota, dated
November 4, says that "great excitement
prevails in Bogota on account of the
rumor of serious disturbances on the
isthmus tending towards movement for
independence" The State Department
confirms the Paris announcement that
Burneau Varilla has been chosen by the
new Panama government as its diplo-
matte representative at Washington.
Word reached Panama this morning
that the United Strtes cruiser Atlanta
had arrived at Colon.
The recent developments on the 18th
mus of Panama are the general subject
of discussion among arriving Congress
men. There is an undercurrent OF
criticism, even on the republican side, on
account of the extreme promptness with
which the administration acted in recog-
nizing the new republic. But the repub-
Iicans will sustain the President, espe-
cially should the democrats attempt to
make political capital out of the incident.
The form of the bill which is to
make effective the Cuban reciprocity
......-- -. Loo,. tl,n cl,hiecf nf much CON