Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-07-23
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, ID. c., July 70.

Washington, ID. u, July To-
Some discrepancy exists in the press
DISPATCHES received this morning from
Pekin. One states that Prince Ching
has written Minister Conger that China
cannot open ports in Manchuria, notably
Moukden and Tatunkou, because they
are now held by armed Russian forces.
Another states that Ching wrote he had
received no advices from NJ. Lessar, the
Russian representative, regarding the
opening of such ports. Each states that
NJ. Lessar has assured the representatives
of foreign governments that the con-
ference at Port Arthur two weeks ago
decided not only to open the ports but TO
invite foreign capital to participate IN
the building of railways in Manchuria.
The last assurance practically comedies
with that received by Secretary Hay
sometime ago and given in substance to
the press. No great Importance is at
tached here to the Prince Ching letter
since it has never been contemplated
that Russia would evacuate Manchuria
prior to October s, the date set by her a
wear ago to close the second period OF
her removal. Should she refuse to leave
at that time, however, she would have
broken her pledge, the proviso contained
therein that "no foreign country shall
present obstacles" being regarded at the
State Department as of small value.
Meanwhile Russia must be given credit
for sincerity until evidence develops to
the contrary.
The Postoffice Department this morn
ing received by telegraph an application
for the position of superintendent OF the
city delivery service, made vacant by
the summary dismissal yesterday OF
Charles Hedges, who had been found
guilty of falsely swearing to his diary of
expenses. A. B. Roberts, who has been
Hedges assistant, wired from Birming-
ham, Ala, where he is engaged on de-
partmental business, that he would like
the Job. Hedges was at the department
this morning engaged in fruitless effort
to have his dismissal reconsidered on the
ground that Fourth Assistant BristOw
had interpreted too rigidly the regulations
regarding per diem allowances. He in
sists that the practices of which he has
been accused are common in the depart
ment. He was given to understand,
however, that his case was closed and
that those guilty of similar oflenses
would he dismissed should the fact be
ascertained. 1t is understood that four
other postal officials are being investi-
gated for false swearing to their accounts.
1t now depends upon w. A. Miller,
the assistant foreman of the bookbind-
ing department of the government print
ing office. whowas discharged by Public
Printer Palmer because he had been ex-
PEELED from the union, and reinstated by
the President because discharge on such
grounds is not legal-it depends upon
him whether or not there will be gen.
eral strike in the government printing
office. He is now in Minneapolis, his
former home, and no word as to his in
tentions has been received here. His
former colleagues declare that they will
carry out the provision of their union
constitution, which prohibits them from
working with a suspended or expelled
member of the union. 1t is intimated
that Miller will never return to his work
here. Should he apply for his old posi-
ton, however, and be reinstated, strike
seems inevitable. The binders declare
that in event of strike they will have
the support of the allied trades. Presi-
dent Barrett of the bookbinders' union
TODAY submitted to secretary of COM
merce and labor Cortelyou supplement
tai statement bearing on the charges
which resulted in the expulsion of Miller
from the union. Public Printer Palmer
has not yet taken action as far as the
affidavits bearing on Miller's actions and
character, submitted to him yesterday,
are concerned.
Although no protest has been received
from the British government, there has
been several conferences between acting
Secretary of State LoOmis and the Navy
Department regarding the ILLUMINATION
Of the north Borneo coast. They have
found that the disputed islands, the
Cagayan-Sulu group, lie without the 3
marine miles distance of Borneo, a fact
which tends to confirm the belief of the
State department that these islands were