Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-10-27
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, d. c., Oct. n.

CORRESPONDENCE Of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, d. c., Oct. ~.
President Roosevelt is As years old to-
day. He can claim the distinction OF
being the first President of the United
States to celebrate such youthful birth
day in the White House, and nearly
every caller that visited him in his office
made point of congratulating him upon
that fact. The President received presents
from the various members of his family
and from a number of friends. There was
no change in the ordinary routine OF his
duties. He was in his office before III
o'clock as usual and remained through
his customary working hours. lr
honor of the Presidents birthday the
annual chrysanthemum show at the
propagating gardens was opened today.
The War Department, through the Ad-
iutant Generals Office, has made public
the report of the military attaches at
foreign capitals, dealing with the mill
tary strength of the worlds great powers
In view of the clouds of war now hang
ing over the Orient the report about
Russia and Japan is perhaps the most
interesting of the collection. Russia's
military budget for-l903 includes esti-
mates amounting to $3.50, 0GO, 600. The
peace strength of the army is placed at
/, O67, ass enlisted men and 3S,4l2 Of
6cers. Besides the troops of the active
army there are Is, 900 gendarmerie, 35,-
600 frontier guards, 10000 Manchuria
railway guards, 800, 245 recruits
drawn, and 1880 companies of
militia infantry, so squadrons of
cavalry, and 40 batteries of artillery.
Japan's budget for the fiscal year
l902-1909 includes $40, 900, 900 for
ordinary expenditures and "a, 900, 600
for extraordinary expenditures. The
military strength of Japan consists Of
SIG officers and employees, 1S5, 53S en-
listed men, Is, $50 horses and 400 guns.
Germany's strength is 24, 95S officers
and $40, 597 enlisted men. Frances
active army is compOsod of 2S,7l2 Of
icers and 52S, 991 enlisted men. Be-
sides, in the gendarmerie, there are III
officers and "A, OIL men; and in the
colonial troops 1,6l5 officers and 25.-
729 men. Austria's strength on the
active list is 81, $40 officers and $780,
1873 men; B. lgium has 3,4O6 officers
and A. 900 men; Brazil, 1866 officers
and a. 05 men effective strength, 2S,-
100 msn miual strength Italy has
1926 officers and 2l3, 2l1 men; Mexico
1910 officers and rs, 9Sl men Spain,
Is, 919 officers and II, 208 men Swift
land, s, 046 officers, 234, 900 men, also
1872 officers and 44,785 men in the
Landsturm, armed, and 297, 257 men
unarmed Great Britain has, exclusive
of india, S,0S5 officers and POI, 965
men. The staff of auxiliary forces COM
prises 672 officers and 6,57S men in
the British regiments serving in India
there are 2, 944 officers and II, 3S4 men
there are 1873 officers and 1872, 94l
men in the militia; $50 officers and &c.
22S men in the yeomanry; 2,ll9 officers
and 344, ESQ men among the volunteers.
The hurried departure ofthe converted
cruiser Dixie from League Island, carry
ing four hundred marines, was for the
purpose af meeting any possible emer-
gency on the Isthmus Of Panama or in
Caribbean waters.
An important case from California in
volving the cOnstitutionality of the
Sherman antitrust law was submitted
on brief to the Supreme Court OF the
United States today.
From those with whom the President
has discussed certain phases of the Bris-
tow report on the postofficein investigation,
il is understood that careful considers
ton is being given to the score of recon-
mendations contained therein. 1t is the
special summing up which he has de-
cided upon, to give especial emphasis to
certain recommendation made by the
Fourth Assistant Bristow relative to adj
ministrative changes that it is. believed
may prevent repetition OF malfeasance
and corruption in the department. That
there may be no false step made through
haste. President Roosevelt is using
freely and to advantage the legal opinion
aud knowledge ofattorney General Knox.
1t is understood that among other things
the report will ask that the position of
Attorney General for the Postofiice De-
partment be made Presidential one,
instead of it being considered special
political perquisite of the Postmaster
General, as it has been. Changes rec
commended to govern the establishment
of rural free delivery routes, if adopted,
will, it is believed, materially limit the
scope of that branch of the service.
Mrs. Harriet Alice Richards, wife of
the commissioner general of land Office,
is diving at her home, 1911 Adams Mill
Road, this city. Mrs. Richards has
been sick for some time. She was taken
to Wyoming this summer but the high
latitude aggravated the heart trouble of
which she was suffering and she had
to be brought east again. It is feared
she will not live through the day.
Minister Powell cables the State
Department that the province of Puerto
Plata in Sauto Domingo is in state OF
revolution.
Col. w. E. Waters, U. S. A., retired,
dropnad daod Loot niorhf in his anarf-