Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-02-18
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, ID. c.. Feb. Is.

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Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, d. c.. Feb. Is.
George B. Cortelyou was sworn in as
Secretary of the department of commerce
and labor and as the ninth member OF
President Roosevelt's cabinet at lV:lV
this morning by Chief Justice fuiier.
The ceremony took place IN the caoine,
room of the new executive building anu
was witnessed by the President, MIS-
Cortelyou and her sister, the entire
office force and Mrs. Loeb, whose nus
band. William Loeb, jr., was mined
lately thereafter sworn in as secretary to
the President vice Mr.. Cortelyou.
Chief Justice Fuller was the first TO con-
oratulate the new cabinet member, and
President Roosevelt followed. Mrs.
Cortelyou and Mrs. Loeb were both
visibly affected. Secretary Cortelyou
was presented with a handsome silver
vase by the members of the White House
office force. Now that the new depart
mept of commerce has head the pro-
bem or quarters is being conyassed.
The government will be obliged TO rent
building of Office rooms for the time
being. A structure will of course be
built in time. Until July !, when the
various bureaus thatareto be transferred
from the old department to the new are
taken over, Secretary Cortelyou will not
need very extensive quarters.
Minister Bowen today sent to each OF
the six "peace powers" other than the
United States and France copy of the
protocol signed by him with Secretary
Hay yesterday. This will serve as a
model for their protocols. These powers
are Mexico, Spain, Belgium, Holland,
Norway and Sweden, and Denmark. AT
present, it seems unlikely that Minister
Bowen will will be sent to the Hague, as
the State Department feels that it would
not be warranted in further extending
his absence from his duties at Caracas.
The chances are that the case of the pref
erential treatment Of the allies will not
90 to the Hague until September next.
Should he be sent back to Caracas, as
the Department is now planning, he will
put in the intervening times collecting
evidence regarding the claims OF the
allies.
The postofiice appropriation bill was
today reported to the Senate with the
omnibus statehood bill attached to it as
an amendment.
The Senate committee on foreign relations
TODAY reported favorably the extradltl0h
treaty with Mexico and an amendment TO the
French reciprocity treaty extending its pro-
visions to Porto Rico Adverse action was
taken on Senator MOrgan's resolution declar-
ing that nothing in the pending canal treaty
with Colombia should be held to alter or mod
ify the terms of the Spencer bill, providing
for the construction of the canal. An amend
ment to the Cuban reciprocity treaty which
has been proposed by the tobacco interests OF
this country, providing for a uniform reduc-
ton of 30 per cent on all Cuban t0baccos i'm
ported into the United States, was considered
but not acted upon. The principal reason for
the negotiation of the new extraditlon treaty
with Mexico was the flight to tina: country OF
one of the st. Louis "boodlers, who attempt
ed TO bride the city council.
The Bureau of Navigation has recommend
ed that the various yachts purchased by the
United States during the Spanish war that
had been loaned to the naval militia organlza-
lions of several of the States, be recalled by
the Navy Department. Massachusetts has the
Inca. Connecticut the Elfrida, New York the
Aileen. Maryland the Sylvia, New jersey the
Uuntress. District of Columbia the Oneida,
Louisiana the Stranger, Ohio the Hawk, I'LL
nois the Dorothea, and North Carolina the
Hornet. The bureau desires these vessels for
the use of training recruits in the navy. No
action upon the bureaus recommendation has
yet been taken by the Secretary of the Navy.
Senator Martin will try to have the naval
appropriation bill amended so as TO provide
for extensive improvements at the Norfolk
navy yard.
The President sent to the Senate today the
following army nominations To be Major
Generals: Brig Gen. j. c. Breckenridge, In
spector General, vice Maj. Gen. II. p Hughes;
Brig. Gen. NJ. l. Ludingtop, Quartermaster
General, vice Breckenridge to be retired
Brig. Gen Jas +. Wade, vice Ludington TO
be retired.
Mrs. William Thaw, formerly of Pittsburg
but now resident of this city, has announced
the engagement of her daughter, Miss Alice
Thaw, 10 the Earl of Yarmouth. The Earl
has been in this country about three years in
an endeavor 10 retrieve the failing fortunes of
his house. He has tried the stage and he has
tried journalism, but carries away no medals
for either. Miss Thaw is the daughter of the
late millionaire iron man and commands more
than million in her own right. The Earl
has pressed his suit assiducusly in the face of
the opposition of the relatives of the young
woman. Recently he followed her to the
South, and, in order that the tongues of Cos
sip may be stilled, Mrs. Thaw deemed il wise
10 announce the engagement. The Earl and
his bride-to-be have been acquainted not more
than three months