Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-06-03
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette J
NUnahinnton ID. c.. June 3.

grand jury today, as had been the inten-
ton of the District attorney, owing to
the inability of several witnesses to reach
the city. 1t is the present intention to
take up the charges tomorrow and push
them to a speedy conclusion. This is
in conformity with the desires of the de-
partment that it be not forced to exhibit
its line of prosecution. 1t is understood
that if the grand jury is unable to reach
a conclusion before Friday, a postpone
ment of the preliminary hearing set tor
that day, will be granted by United
States Commissioner Taylor. The Post
master General today is having a search
instituted for the opinion from the legal
department, rendered last December,
whereby it was held legal for the govern
ment to contract for fuel with the firm of
Machen Bros, of which A. w. Machen
il a member. 1t is said that there Is a
disposition on the part of Machen's
friends to connect that case with the
present, in legal way, and to show
that if Machen is partner with the
Groffs in the business of manufacturing
mail box fasteners, there was no more
criminality in that act than in the coal
contract case, which met with the I'M
reserved approval Of the Postmaster
General and Attorney General Knox.
Bids were opened at the Navy Depart
ment today for the construction OF the
three 16. 900 ton battleships authorized
by the last naval appropriation act. The
three lowest bidders were the Newport
News Shipbuilding Co., of Newport
News. Virginia, which bid 81, ITO, 900
on one ship to be finished in AZ months;
the New York Shipbuilding Co., OF
Camden, New Jersey, one ship in AZ
months at $4,l65, 900; and the Fore
River Ship and Engine Co., of Quincy
Massachusetts, one vessel in AZ months
at s4179, 900. The other bids received
were from William Cramp and Sons, OF
Philadelphia, one ship in AZ months at
"a, 100, 600 or two ships at "a, Isl, GOO
each. and the Eastern Shipbuilding Co.,
which is a subsidiary of the United
States Shipbuilding Co., of New London,
Conn, one ship at 81, 1872, 600. No
bids were received from the Pacific coast.
The first annual conference of State
boards of health in connection with the
representatives of the national public
health and marine hospital service, is
in session here today at Willard's Hotel.
About twenty States and territories are
represented. The conference is in ac-
cordance with the new public health law
passed by the last session of Congress
which requires the State boards to meet
with national representatives at least
once every year for the consideration OF
measures to prevent epidemic diseases
and to promote cooperation in all mat
tiers of quarantine. Surgeon General
Wyman, of the public health and marine
hospital service, called the meeting to
order this morning, and the Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury made a short
address of welcome.
Joseph H. Choate, United States AM
bassador to Great Britain, who came to
this country to attend the wedding OF
his son, Joseph Choate, jr., called at the
State Department this morning to pay
his respects to Secretary Hay. He will
return to his post of duty Immediately
after the wedding.
Two handsome trotters, mates, and
scarcely to be distinguished from each
other, have arrived at New York from
Europe. They are consigned to Count
Cassini, the Russian Ambassador here,
and are supposed to be intended AS a
gift to President Roosevelt.
An important capture of Ounterfeiters
was made yesterday at Hot Springs,
Arkansas, when William and Mary
Brock were arrested by the municipal
authorities on the charge of making
spurious IS bills. One thousand of
these bills which are Photographic coun-
terfeits, were found in their possession.
These people are believed to belong to
the same gang some members Of which
we're arrested last week at Casey county,
Kentucky, for passing the same kindof
bills.
Lieutenant Commander Fechteler,
navigating officer of the battleship
Iowa, was at the Navy Depart
ment today and explained the case of
landsman Weitekamp, who was re-
Gently tried at the Brooklyn navy
yard and dishonorably discharged for
desertion and who is now claiming that
he was inhumanly treated by being
stripped and shaved in the presence of
the officers and crew for overstaying his
leave of absence, and drunkenness,
while the Iowa was at MonteyidO.
Lieutenant Commander Fechteler says
that Weitekamp was ordered shaved
and cleaned by the ships surgeon of
the Iowa to prevent the possibility OF
his carrying the germ of smallpox to
the crew.
For time at least the United States
legation at Picking will be lodged in one
of the old temples of that ancient Chinese
capital. The old legation of the United
States was given to the Korean govern
ment whose minister has been waiting
for some time to obtain possession.
Minister Conger has decided to spend
"a, 600 or So, 900 in gold in repairs to
the temple and put his legation offices
in there pending the completion of the
new building.
A elderly man was picked up at l4th
street and Pennsylvania avenue last
night and removed to the Emergency
Hospital He died today. He gave his
name as Philip Sewers, from Richmond,
Va.
The officers of the steamboat inspection
service at Seattle, Washington, have been
llfnr mood Of the