Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-10-07
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.l
Washington, d. O., Oct. Z.

AnOtnef CTduk lIlcu W bOt w Wv
President this morning. About 10
o'clock a stranger was observed by one
of the officers on duty at the White
House wandering about in the north
lobby. He had sneaked in the front
door without being noticed. On being
questioned he gave his name as John
Decker and his home as Norwich, Conn.
He merely wanted TO see the President,
he said. The officers thereupon turned
him over to the police. He was not
armed and made no hostile denoDstra-
ton. according TO the statement OF the
officer in charge. Decker is about A
wears of age. From his general be-
bayior the officers are convinced that he
is mentally unbalanced. He is locked
up at the third precinct police station.
Under order from the White House the
police authorities decline to let any one
see or talk with him. 1t is learned
that while at the White House the
man talked in a rambling, inooherent
manner. Among other things he said ::
sThe devil IS on my back and | want
some one to take him off" Decker
will be examined for insanity this after
noon and undoubtedly will be committed
to st. EIizabeth's Hospital.
1t is probable that conference be-
tween President Roosevelt and the re-
publican leaders of both the Senate and
the House of Representatives will be
held within a few days. The President
has not vet decided whether under the
Spooner act canal by the Panama route
is impossible. This is the point upon
which he desires the advice of his party
leaders. Although Colombia has in
many ways demonstrated the fact
that she would not submit to American
domination of the isthmus unless she
receives in return a large money consld-
GRAFTON, it is evident that the admins
tration will turn to the Nicaragua route
only with the greatest reluctance. The
Presidents idea, apparently, in asking a
conference Of his party associates is to
obtain moral support for delay IN
turning to the second alternative. 1t Is
also this question and its urgency which
this morning called to Washington Sec
rotary Hay who had planned to remain
at his summer home near Lake Sunapee
until November l.
What is believed to be an important
conference was held at the Postofice
Department today between Postmaster
General and Charles Emory Smith, OF
Philadelphia, his predecessor, Chief In
spector Cochran and Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow were called
in, and it is supposed that the Tulloch
charges which are reported to have been
sustained by Holmes Conrad and
Charles J. Bonaparte, appointed by the
President to investigate the same, were
the subiectof the conference.
President Roosevelt discussed the
canal situation very thoroughly this
morning with Mr.. Nelson Cromwell, the
principal attorney for the Panama Canal
Company, and afterwards with Sec
retary of State Hay who called at the
White House before noon. The Presi-
dent will discuss the canal in his mes
sage to Congress upon the converting
of the regular session. In the mean
time he is not indicating what his coun-
sci in the matter will be.
Ex-Postmaster General Emory Smith
called upon Postmaster General Payne
at the department this morning. Later
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow and Chief Cochran of the in
spector's we're called into the conference
which. was continued by Mr.. Smith and
Mr. Bristow until after the return of the
postmaster general from the White
House where he had been summon
ed at / o'clock by the President
Mr.. Payne denied that the subject
under consideration had any refer
ences to the special report on the
Tulloch charges, recently placed in the
hands of the President by his special
legal commissioners, Attorneys Bona
parte and Conrad.
President Roosevelt will on or before
the 18th inst. issue his proclamation
calling Congress in extraordinary ses-
sion. The proclamation will merely
state the single reason that of disposal
of The Cuban resolution, for calling the
legislative branch of the Government
into session. The paper will be very
short, probably not longer than 200
words
One of the most brilliant military
weddings ever celebrated in Washington
will take place this afternoon at the
Church of the Epiphany, when Miss
Elizabeth Young, the only daughter of
Lieutenant General S. NJ. B. Young,
chief of staff of the army, and Lieuten-
ant Robert Hannay, U. S. army, will be
united in marriage The wedding will
be essentially military function, and
will be attended by practically all of the
army, navy and marine corps officers in
Washington. The President and Mrs.
Roosevelt have promised to be present
at the church and also later at the home |
of the bride, where wedding supper is to
be served to few of the intimate friends
of the family. Miss Young is considered |
one of the most attractive ''army girls
in Washington society. Lieut.. Hannay
is a young officer who has served in the
Philippines, where he was severely |
wounded.
According to the annual report of
Surgeon Gen. r. M. O'Reilly, of the |
U. S. Army, made public today, the |
death rate for the year 1902 was 1919
for each 1000 of the entire strength, as
with 1894 for the year pre-
vious.
The President has appointed VIM. R.
Pope to be associate Justice of the
Court of New Mexico.