Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-01-05
FROM WASHINGTON.
rcorrsspondence of the Alexandria Gazette J
Washington, Jan. 5.

I
Washington, Jan. 3.
The war claims committee has prom
ised Mr.. Rixey to give hearing on a
proposition for a general law for the re-
lief of churches. During the civil war
q large number of churches in the South
were seized, occupied and greatly dam
aged hy the federal troops, some being
used for hospitals and others even for
stables, and plan is on foot to frame a
general law under the provisions OF
which damages for these churches could
be ascertained and paid by the govern
ment.
Col. Allen in charge Of the improve,
ments to the Potomac river has Informed
Mr. Rixey that the engineer department
would recommend that the width OF the
channel of that river be increased to
400 feet aud that the depth be made "A
feet.
Mr.. JOS. Button, secretary OF the
Virginia Senate, was in the city yester-
day and while at the capitol said be
thought the legislature of the state
would adjourn by the end of this week;
He said the Senate would not be forced
by the House to pass at this session the
corporations bills and that the legislature
might Just as we'll have adjourned before
the HOLIDAYS when the Senate informed
the House that it was through with It's
business.
The House committee on elections to-
day continued consideration OF the
Howell Cornell election from the 10Th
Pennsylvania district.
The House committee on commerce
today took up consideration of the pend
ing pure food bills and heard Prot.
WILEY. chief chemist of the Department
of Agriculture. Prof Wiley urged the
incorporation of the food standard law
and the law regulating the importation
of foreign food products into the meas
ure which is to be reported to the
House.
A subcommittee of the House COM
mittee on postoffices and postroads today
began consideration of the pCstoffice ap-
propriation bill. Representative over
street, chairman OF the committee, was
present. An Indiana paper published a
charge against him to the effect that he
had placed a woman clerk on the post
Office department roll and had himself
collected her salary. He took occasi' >
today to denounce the story as an "uL
mitigated lie."
The House committee on approprla'
tons today began consideration OF the
urgent deficiency bill but it is the purpose
of the committee to first report the bill
making appropriations for the legislative
executive and judicial departments of the
government. This bill will be reported
tomorrow. Democrats of the House will
raise a certain amount of clamor
on the urgent deficiency bill, as it carries
a total of -S75, 900 for equipping five
companies of marines for service on the
Isthmus of Panama.
The entire republican delegation in
Congress from New York has united TO
tender a dinner tonight at the Shoreham,
to Senator Thomas G. Plat. The al
fair assumes national political Importance
from the fact that the purpose OF the
dinner is to emphasize the fact that Sena-
tor Platt is still the recognized leader OF
the republican party in New York State,
and the tenor of the speeches that will
be made will be to this effect.
Late this afternoon arguments were
begun in the Supreme Court of the
United States in the two cases OF Jack
son w. Giles, plaintiff in error, against
Charles b. Teasley, ct al, as the Board
of Registrars of Montgomery county,
Alabama. One of the cases is an action
for damages brought in the city of Mont
gomery against the board for refusing to
register Giles for no other reason, it is
alleged than that he is a negro. The
other case is on an application Tor WITT
of mandamus TO compel the defendants,
Who won both cases in the Supreme Court
of Alabama, to register the plaintiff and
to issue to him certificate of quaifica-
ton as an elector. Attorney Gunter,
for the State, submitted that no fedora.
question was raised or decided in the
and that, consequently, the
Court of the United States is
without jurisdiction.
That the gravity of the situation in
the Far East is appreciated by the
Administration is manifest from the
fact that nearly the whole time
Of the cabinet meeting today was
devoted to discussion of the Russian
Japanese imbroglio. While still hoping
that hostilities will be averted the men,
bers of the cabinet generally fear that
war is not far off.
Among the Presidents callers today was
Senator Plat, of New York. He came to as.
sure the President of the undivided support of
the republicans of his State for Roosevelt for
President IN 1904.
The prosecution of the impeachment charges !
against Judge Charles Swayne Of the Florida |
Federal Court. is 10 be actively pushed. |
Simeon Belden and General J. Hale Sypher,
sx- Representative from Louisiana, are here to |
assist in the case against him. They have
mad conference with Chairman jenkins, of
he House committee on the judiciary, but no |
important action was taken. The committee |
viii meet on Wednesday to arrange for hear
ngs in the case.
Prince Cupid, >" the Hawaiian delegate in |
Congress was in the police court this IN I'm !
ing charged with intOxicatiou and disorderiy |
,onduct He had spent the night in cell at
he police station, having refused to make
my attempt 10 get out on bond. He asserted
hat his arrest was an outrage and demanded
rindication. 1t was not until the court this
assured him of a fair and impartial
nearing that he allowed friend to deposit 50
collateral for his appearance on Thursday.
According to the arresting officer. the PRINCE