Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-12-31
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
NVasb;noton Dec 20

Tonight, Just as the hands of the clock
at the Naval Observatory point to the
midnight hour, the birth of the New
Year will be flashed over an electrical
girdle around the world. 1t will be
salutation uniquein the worlds history
an effective public demonstrations OF the
possibilities Of telegraph as well as a cord
ial manifestation ofinternatiOnal comfy.
SO perfect have been the arrangements
that it is believed the greeting can be
flashed to civilized mankind the world
over and returned to the starting point
within the space of 10 seconds. The
fash will be exactly the same as those
sent our daily at noon and operated by
the same method When the II O'Clock
signal is flashed at Washington, it will
be an hour before the birth of the New
Year at Chicago; 10 O'Clock at Denver
and other mountain belt towns and .
o clock on the Pacific coast. To accord
with this difference of time in the United
States the came signal will be sent at |
O'Clock, o'clock, and 3 o'clock, giving
each its exact midnight.
Beginning at Il a. M, tomorrow the
annual public New Years reception by
he President and his wife will be held.
ALL a. m. President and Mrs. Roose-
welt. assisted by the ladies of the cabinet,
will welcome the diplomatic corps in the
Blue Parlor. In this connection 1t is
announced that the official uniform which
will be worm by Sir Cbentung LANG
Cheng, the Chinese Minister, will be of
character so gorgeous as to eclipse any
thing of the kind ever seen. The cos
tune is a birthday gift of the Chinese
Emperor After the diplomats, the Chief
Justice and Associate Justices of the
Supreme Court will be received; then
members of Congress, army and navy
officers, public officials, war veterans etc.
At p. m. the general public will fall
in line. This is the first New Years
reception since the completion of the
White House Improvements and the
crowds will enter by the main entrance,
pass through the receiving lines and
emerge through the East door. Last year
the eastern terrace was incomplete and
much confusion resulted from the fact
that visitors had to make their entrance
and exit through the same door.
A dispatch to the State Department
from Minister Powell dated yesterday
says that two sailing vessels from Curacao
bound for Aqua, and loaded with arms
and ammunition for the insurgents, have
been captured by the provisional Domini-
can government. The latter has been
assuming the offensive and has just been
successful at Gueren. Prisoners are be-
ing sent into San Domingo city.
Ambassador Choate at London sent
the following cablegram to the State De-
partment today ''The citizens of Lon
don through their Lord Mayor offer their
deep and sincere sympathy with the
American people on account of the terri
bic loss of life in the Chicago fire." Act
ing Secretary LOOMS sent the following
reply: "Assure Lord Mayor and citizens
Of London of the high appreciation of
their sympathetic message in hour of sor-
row." Count Cassini, the Russian Am
bassador called at the State Department
this afternoon aud presented the personal
condolences of the Gar A cablegram
of thanks was cabled through our en-
bassy at st. Petersburg.
The police of this city have instituted
crusade against defective fire arrange
ments in hotels and theatres in view OF
the lesson Of the Chicago holocaust.
Three hotels ordered months ago to i'm
prove their facilities for escape in case
of fire will now be ordered to cease
businss unless regulations are complied
with. A warrant was issued today for
p. b. Chase, proprietor OF Chases'
Vaudeville Theatre, on the grounds
that he has no license. Warrants have
also been issued for the arrest of the
managers Of the Empire and Academy
theatres. They are charged with conduct
ing theatres without licenses.
An additional indictment against John
A. Benson, the wealthy San Francisco
real estate operator, who is charged by
the Interior Department with being the
head of the alleged land frauds in
dozen western States and Territories has
cen returned by the United States
Grand jury in this citv. BensiOn is now
under bond on the charge of bribery of
clerk in the land Office.
CDR" Henry Becker. arrested Satur-
day last on a charge of suspicion in con-
nection with the two fires which occurred
in his rooms, 6I5 7street n. W., Sunday
night and Christmas night was held by
the police to await the outcome of the
preliminary hearing before Judge Scott
in the Police Court. The hearing was
concluded to day and Becker was held
under a 81, 600 bond to await the action
of the grand jury.
Information has been received by the
United States Government to the effect
that Germany has been quietly nOgotia-
ting with Denmark for the purchase of
the island of st. Thomas in the West
Indies. This government will notify
Denmary that it will not permit the sale
of the island to any other power than the
United States.