Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-01-20
FROM WASHINGTON.
CORRESPONDENCE of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, Jan. 20.

ton of the Panama canal treaty as
rapidly as possible, they do not expect
to be able to get an early vote upon it.
They anticipate a lengthy debate, es-
pecially in view of the intention OF the
democrats to offer further resolutions
calling for information, the discussion
of which in open session will enable the
continuation of speech making, and,
as the democrats believe, the ac-
emulation of political capital. The
final vote on the ratification OF the
treaty is not looked for until early in
March. On the democratic side, while
it is well understood that the
treaty will finally be ratified, there is an
lnsistence that all Of the facts relating to
he establishments the Republic of Pam
anna and the participation of the United
states therein. sha ! be laid bare. cit
is a very prolific topic for discussion,
said Senator TIllman, today, land may
run for six weeks. AS for myself, shall
make no set speech but shall sit in the
Senate and throw rocks as best | can,
while the thing goes along. 1t seems
that the general expectation is thai the
treaty will be ratified finally. suppose
there is no stopping it."
At this mornings session OF the post
Office trials Judge Kumler, for the de-
Tense, renewed his charges that Post
office Inspector Mayer had coached wit
nesses for the prosecution before they
took the stand, including Postofice In
spector Gregory, also, in his a%rraignment.
He stated that he had procured two affi
dayits b the effect that these agents OF
the government had talked with witness
in the corridors of the court before they
were examined. "Do | understand that
YOU are making a motion that Mr.. Mayer
be excluded from the court room for con-
Tempt" asked District Attorney Beach.
Judge Kumler said the afidavits could be
taken for what they were worth by the
court. Justice Pritchard announced the
matter would te taken up by the court,
the government having an opportunity
to examine the defense's evidence as to
Mayors alleged iDfraction Of the court
etiquette. 81 may as well say that our
alidavits affect Inspector Gregory as
we'll as Inspector Mayer" asserted Judge
Kumler, eff not to a greater extent" In
case the inspectors are barred from the
court room the government attorneys
will be considerably crippled for lack OF
their assistance. At the close of this
incident the taking Of testimony was
resumed. .
When the session Of the national board
of trade was resumed this morning f..
R. Wood, of Philadelphia, chairman OF
the committee on department OF COM
merce and labor, presented a report rec
%ommending that a committee OF the
national board be created to permanently
act as an advisory body to the secretary
of the department. A proposition look
ing to the incorporation of the national
board oftrade was voted down in accor'
dance with the recommendation OF the
committee on laws. After placing it.
self on record as fayoring an improved
consular service a recess was taken and
the board visited the White House in
a body to shake hands with President
Roosevelt.
The conference of democratic Senators
has been temporarily postponed until to-
morrow or Friday for the purpose otallow-
ing the committee appointed by Senator
German, under direction of yesterday S
conference, to meet and draft the resolu-
lion of inquiry which is to represent the
democratic desire for information regard
ing the Panama situation. The members
# the committee, Senators German, Car
mack, Culberson and Cockrell, met this
morning in Senator CockrelFs committee
room to prepare their first draft of the
cesolutiOn contemplated. The committee
vas in session for two hours but was
unable to finish the work of drafting a
resolution calling for all the information
the democrats want. Another meeting
will be held this afternoon. When COM
pleted the resolution will be presented to
4 caucus Of the democrats to be called by
Senator German and amended or agreed
to there. 1t will then be offered in the
Senate for adoption. Just what it will
ask for has not yet been definitely
determined.
Because of the recent testimony given
by Charles NJ. Schwab, ex-President
If the United States Steel Corporation,
to the effect that the government always
understood, before bids were submitted,
what the contracts with the Carnegie
and Bethlehem companies, who were to
share in the work of making armor
plates, would be, Admiral O'Neill,
Chief of the Bureau Of Ordnance, Navy
Department, was recently requested by
the House committee on naval affairs to
state what trath there vas in the asser-
%sertion, and how much business the two
companies in question have done with
the government in the last ten years.
Admiral O'NeilPs reply was made public
today. He says there is no reason to
suppose that there was the slightest col
fusion between the bidders and the gov
eminent.
The army appropriation bill was re-
ported to the House today by Governor
Hull, chairman of the military affairs
committee. The total amount appropri-
ated is s75, 56S, 92S. The bill contains
an appropriation of 1856, 900 for new
arms for the organized militia. Among
the largest appropriations in the meas
ure are the following For pay of
officers of the line, SIS, 900, 900; pay Of
enlisted men, SO, 600, 900; pay of re-
tired officers, 81, 1863, 900; subsistence
department, So, 500, 900; regular sup