Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-01-27
FROM WASHINGTON.
.c.rr.snondenee Of the Alexandria Gazette. ]

British Ambassador, and Count Quadt,
the German charge d'affairs, had a con-
suItation with Minister Bowen, Vene-
zuela's representative, at the Arlington
Hotel this morning. Although Great
Britain. Germany and Italy have not
vet returned definite answers to Minister
Bowen's proposal in behalf OF Vene-
zuela. vet their representatives, con-
suited Mr.. Bowen this morning as 10
details of his proposition and thus IN
directly conceded that their principals
were disposed to accept it in general;
These questions, asked by the allies
representatives, we're evidently Tor the
purpose of gaining time for agreement
among themselves since it is known that
Mr.. Bowen on Saturday set limit to
the duration of his patience. Little
time will be consumed in awaiting the
official answers, or in their considera-
ton. and it is believed that the end OF
the imbroglio is now close at hand.
Mr.. Bowen has not yet received as
surances as to the exact time when tne
allies will be willing to raise their con-
certed blockade but it cannot be TAR
distant.
Congressman LESSER, of New York,
was the first witness before the House
committee on naval affairs today in con-
nection with the sensational bribery
charges which have been engaging the
attention of the committee for week.
Philip Doblin, in his testimony yester-
day. had intimated that the whole testl,
mony which be first gave was suggested
to him by Mr.. Lessler. Mr.. LESSER
took the stand at III a. M. 81 deny as
false the statement made by the witness
Yesterday" he said, F'as to any collu-
sion scheme he charges against me.
Mr.. Doblin came into my room shortly
after 8 O'Clock. was in bed. said,
phil. I've gotten you into trouble.
How's that?' he asked Il have told
the committee the whole Holland boat
story 1T is trouble, he replied. l
said, keep up your nerve and you nave
nothing to do but to tell the truth, the
whole truth told him that at the re-
ouest of the committee | would not dis
cuss the case with him at all. gave
him a copy of the paper containing what
had been published. After that there
was no talk of his testimony. 1t was all
relative to the political ruin in New
York. I did see the Speaker and told
him about the investigation and wanted
him to help me avoid notoriety. lie
said, 1T must go on for the present. l
telephoned my secretary to 60 the Nor
mandie and bring Doblin before the
committee. Doblin appeared before the
committee and | saw him no more
b until he returned to the committee.
| want to deny also the statement OF
the witness McCullagh TO the effect that
| had said that believed there was only
one man on the committee whom l
could trust. Also the statement OF wit
ness Ouigg that | had said that the
members of the committee who voted iOl
or against The Holland boat were honest
; or dishonest" Mr.. Lessler said he had
had no reason before yesterday to dis
believe Doblin. ~ am totally at a loss
TO understand his action" he asserted
"When did you make up your mind tC
tell the committee about the matter!
Mr. Rixey asked. 81 never did make
ND nv mind" Lessler replied: 'ln tn
discussion of the subject it simply CAME
right out" LESSER denied that Doblir
was ever under any serious obligations U
him. He had done him some favors
but nothing of any unusual character
When he went from Washington to New
l York with Doblin he paid his Goblin
fare home. 1t is understood that tn
Z House committee on naval affairs ]
: ready to announce its verdict in the case
1t will be to the effect that an offer wa
. made to Lessier by Doblin. That n
credence be placed in the testimony o
Doblin, and that no connection OF MI
If Quigg with the improper offer has bee
n shown. The verdict is considered
E vindication for both Lessler and Quigg
= II is the intention to bring this cas-
j probably before the House.
/, Mayor William c. Maybury, of De
!. troit. opened the "Get Coal" Conventio
f at the Shoreham this morning, abou
- so delegates being present. He made
" stirring address on the necessity OF col
re recting the existing conditions becaus
= of the lack of coal, and said that /
J. Detroit they had established municlps
coal wards where soft coal was now o.
sale at 81. so a ton, and as aconsequenc
x the soft coal market there had gon
5 down. Senator William Z. Mason, {
$ Illinois. was introduced as presidin
officer and made most earnest apes
TO the convention to exert all Its IN
II fiuence in petition to Congress to appl
% IN coal the same doctrine that was no.
u applied to bread and water. he sal
:. that if this was not done by process
u law il would be done by the commune an
&c revolution would result Referring to h
c introduction of the bill in Congress
= provide that the United States Cover
= ment take possession of all unoperate
- coal mines and operate them for u
- benefit of the people, Senator Mason sal
- that it had been claimed that if such
:. :, bill was passed it would soon be apple
. !. to steel mills and all other sources
- >. general supply. "Absurdity of absurd
y ties" he said. THE people can liN
! without steel rails, they can wait fC
A. wagons, but they cannot wait for brea'
y they cannot wait for water and light al
. heat, and coal is as much ola necessit
., as light and air." Representati'
Us Gaines. of Tennessee, insisted that the
nc was conspiracy among the coal oper
u tors and dealers and demand'
ca that the people ask the Attorn'
%, e IL ITo;taJ Sfates WI