Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-04-16
From Washington.
Correspondence of the Alexandra Gazette.l
Washington. ID. c.. April 16.

goal OF the ledueTS Vi DOth AiO"oOo
such progress has been made with the
work in hand that it appears entirely
probable that they will be successful in
bringing this about. Everybody Is
animated by the same desire to get
away early. No bill to which there is
any decided opposition has any chance
of being passed by the Senate from now
on and legislation will be largely by
gentlemen agreement" So far as
the House is concerned the rules permit
only such bills to go through as com
mend themselves to the majority. This
probably makes certain the passage OF
The bill to provide government for
the Panama canal zone which might
otherwise occasion considerable debate.
Ia the Senate miscellaneous legislation
has been practically cleared up. There
remain only two appropriation bills yet
to be considered, the sUndry civil and
the general deficiency. All the Others
are in the hands of conference committees
and are in such shape that they can be
closed up without much delay. An effort
will probably be made to secure the pas
sage of the bill authorizing the issue OF
bonds for internal improvements IN the
Philippines. The conference reports
and the appropriation bills will occupy
most of the time cf the Senate next week
and there will probably be one more ex-
ecutive session fight before adjournment.
This will come if any effort is made to
secure the confirmation of Capt. Mills,
the superintendent of the Military Acad'
emv. who has been nominated by the
President to be a brigadier general
thus advancing him in rank over the
heads of S57 of his senior officers.
Enough business remains before the
House tol keep it working all OF next
week and perhaps all of the week after
that, although the hope Of adjournment
before May is still entertained by the
leaders. The only obstacle in the way
is the proposed legislation for the canal
zone in Panama, about which there are
many differences of opinion that must
be reconciled before final action can be
had. Besides the consideration of con-
terence reports, which will occupy much
# the time, there will be debates on the
statehood bill, on the various measures
providing new laws for Alaska, and the
bill to create commission to investigate
the needs of the merchant marine.
At the State Department the idea that
any American correspondent will be in
;erfered with by the recent Russian order
regarding the use of the wireless tele-
graph is not believed. Secretary Hay is
not here this morning and the excuse for
his absence is that he is indisposed. 1t
is believed, however, that he is att home
framing an answer to the Russian note
to refute any condition to the disadvan-
tage of American correspondents follow
ing the movement OF either the Russian
or japanese forces. The proposition
that newspaper representative outside
the line of either of the opposing armies
is not at liberty to send any and all the
news he may be able to obtain is repug-
nant to the State Department.
"There will be no further congressional
investigation of the Postotiice Depart
nent," was the emphatic statement made
today by Senator Beveridge, of Indiana,
a member of the committee on pOstOtlices
and post roads. Continuing he said :
'The democrats applauded the investi-
CATION when it was made. Now, they
want it over again. 1t has been done
once, and done we'll. There is nothing
more to do"
The rivers and harbors bill was con-
sidered by the Senate committee OH COM
merce today but was not completed.
Another meeting will be held on it on
Monday. The committee accepted, as
an amendment to the bill, Senator
Berry's proposition that one million
dollars of the money appropriated for
the Mississippi river commission for the
fiscal year 1906 may be used in 1905,
for leyee work on the Mississippi river
to repair damages by last years floods.
Surveys TO ascertain the cost of
deepening channels, etc. were author
lied in several instances, including that
for the channel from Hampton Roads to
the Norfolk navy yard in Virginia.
The conference committee on the
naval appropriation bill made partial |
report today, leaving thirteen items still
in disagreement.
The Senate committee on claims has
decided that the omnibus claims bill, |
which passed the House last week, should |
not be reported to the Senate this session.
The committee determined that all the |
data necessary for intelligent cOnsidera-
ton of the bill should be collected, and |
that it should be used in formulating |
a report on the bill at the beginning OF |
next session. In the meantime claims
not included in the House bill will have |
to be passed on by the Court of Claims,
and can be added to the bill.
Owing to the proximity of adjourn
ment it has been decided by the Presi
dent and members of the committee on
civil service reform that no bill will be |
introduced this session with the admin
istration's sanction for the pensioning OF
government employees. Next session
such a measure will be introduced and
it may be passed. The bill as now con-
templated will provide for fund to be
raised by monthly assessments from the
government clerks.
Representative Mann, Of Illinois, ap-
peared before the House committee on
patents today to urge an amendment of
existing patent laws, so that, in the fu-
iure, only the process of manufacturing