Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-05-22
FROM WASHINGTON.


Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
Il is the current belief that the dis
coverv of a million dollars deficit in the
free delivery division of the POstofice
Denartment means the early dismissal or
resignation of Superintendent A. W.
Machen, who is out on an enforced leave
of absence pending an investigation into
his division. The attitude of Postmaster
General Payne is significant. From the
inception of the general investigation he
had defended Mr.. Machen from charges
of malaGministration and in the face OF
harsh criticism permitted him to exercise
the fullest functions of his office while
these charges we're under investigation
and his division in the hands of inspec-
tors. The discovery of the deficit now
brings down upon Mr.. Machen's head
the unmeasured denunciation of the
Postmaster General. Mr.. Payne does
not intimate any irregularities. But upon
the broad ground that his attittde has
been against deficiencies and that this
enormous amount had been apparently
concealed from him, he openly criticises
Mr.. Machen. Mr.. Machen declares
that he has been guilty of no conceal
ment or ineficiency.
The records of the Postoffice Depart
ment do not sustain Superintendent
Machen in his declaration that he gave
all the information of the free delivery
division account requested by his SUI
periOr. .,
The alarms that have been sounded
during the last two years regarding the
trade relations between the United
States and certain other countries OF the
world find no justification in the figures
of our commerce up to this time. The
three countries that have been mentioned
as likely to decrease their importations
from the United States are Russia,
Austria. Hungary, and Germany. A
study Of the latest figures OF the Treasury
Bureau of Statistics regarding our i'm
ports and exports shows a steady growth
in our trade relations with all OF these
countries, and indicates that our COM
merce with each Of them is likely to be
larger during the present fiscal year than
in any previous year in the history OF our
commerce. This is both true of the i'm
ports and exports.
At the recent conference at Hot
Springs, Va, between Senators Aldrlch,
Allison and SpOOner, members OF the
subcommittee of the Senate finance
committee appointed to consider needed
financial legislation, new Aldrich fnan-
cial bill was agreed upon in all of its es-
sential features. Further meetings were
arraigned for at which final agreement
on minor details and phraseology is ex-
pected. As now outlined the new bill
does not differ materially from the orig
inal Aldrlch measure in the provisions
relating 10 the deposit of public moneys
in the national banks and the character
of security to be given. by them to ensure
its safe keeping. The main feature of
the old bill is retained, which was the
granting of authority to deposit the sur
plus receipts as well as those from in
ternal revenue in the banks.
The New England Railway Publish
ing Company or Boston today secured a
restraint order enjoining the Postmaster
General from interfering with the passage
through the mails of any of the publica-
tons as second class mail matter pend
ing the disposal of the case.
Second Lieut.. G. r. Jones, First
Cavalry, has been honorably discharged
from the service under an act of Con-
gress which allows an officer who twice
fails in his examinations to be honorably
discharged, with one years pay. He is
a native of Pennsylvania and rose from
the ranks, having served during the
Spanish-American war in the First
Pennsylvania Volunteers.
Senator Martin is in the city on de-
partmental business and is daily visited
by number of Virginians.
Fire broke out just before 2 O'Clock
this afternoon in row of frame houses
on 18th street between F and G streets
northeast. The buildings will doubtless
be destroyed.
Work on the new Union station build
ing will begin July l, according to the
present plans of Mr.. d. H. Burnham,
the architect of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road, who has the matter in hand.
The Postmaster General today accepted the
resignation of John c. AlgoOd, the colored
rural free delivery carrier who was held up
recently by masked men while serving his
route near Gallatin, Tenn. 1t is held that
the action Of the masked men was no counte-
nanced by the community and that, according
to the best information in the hands OF the
department, there would be no danger to Al
good in resuming his work. 1t is probable
that white man will be appointed to succeed
AlgoOd The delivery Of mail on this route
viii be resumed at once.
Governor Bates of Massachusetts,, and Gov
ernor Montague, of Virginia, have been in
vited TO speak at the official celebration here
in the White House grounds Of Independence
Day. next Fourth Of July, under the auspices
of the government of the District Of Column
bia as the representatives of the north and
south. and Of the two States that led in the
adoption of the Declaration Of Independence.
President Samuel Gompers, Of the American
Federation of Labor will leave Washington
tomorrow for Lowell, Massachusetts,, where
he will address mass meeting Of striking
textile workers ON Sunday. This is the end.
ing of the eighth week Of the textile workers
strike. 1t is expected that from 10000 TO 3d.
600 strikers will go to Lowell from nearby
points to hear Mr.. Gompers address.
VIRGINIA NEWS.