Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-12-12
From Washington.
fCorl espondence Of the Alexandria Gazeitr.
Washington, d. c., Dec. II.


General Ehrman who is located in the
capital city of the new republic. Much
of The trade naturally is absorbed by the
United States, though Paris gets practi-
cally all the pearls which are found by
the fishermen, all London and European
cities most of the mOther-of-pesrl shell,
which forms an important item of trade.
Gold, silver and manganese are mined IN
large quantities in Panama anu there is
a growing trade in hard woods, rubber,
ivory. nuts, ipecac, sarsaparll!a and bal
sam. American shoes for men are in.
cressing 10 sales, but the trade in women
shoes is still held by foreign houses.
American women's shoes, it is said, are
too low in the instep to suit the Spanish
women. The aey currency will soon be
in use throughout the republic, Mr.. Ehr
man says. Specimens of the new coins
have already been received. The none.
tary unit is the gold "balboa' which will
not be coined. It corresponds 10 value
to our gold dollar One halt OF one
balboa is equal to one "peso," which is
the largest coin to be minted.
Senator Cullom, of Illinois, who has
had experience in connection with a
former attempt to enlarge the powers Of
the Interstate Commerce Commission, Is
very dubious about the President
ability to force any legislation OF the
kind through the present peSsion OF Con-
gress. IL am in favor of the plan, SAID
Senator Cullum this morning, "ior 1t Is
almost identical with the bill that l tried
to hGve passed several years ago when /
was chairman of the cOmmittee on Inter
state commerce. could not do any
thing with it then, failed TO even get it
reported by my own committee IN fact,
and was fore TO give it up as bad
lob. The President may possibly get 1t
through this session, but douOt il very
seriously indeed. II itpasses the House,
IL is almost certain to fail III the Senate. "
Most of the Senat jrs who are interviewed
on the subject are inclined to be reli-
cent. 81 don't care to talk about it just
now" said Senator Alger, of Michigan.
"Why? Well, you know if a man gives
bis views on 4 certain Important subject
IN advance and Afterwards changes his
mind, be looks like FIVE cent piece. l
may want TO change my MUD later.
"Kansas knows when she is licked,
and has given up all hope OF getting
either the Pension Commissicnersbip
or the Assistant Secretaryship OF Agri
cultre." said Representative Curtis, who
called at the White House with Senator
Long to press the claims Of constituents.
ave had so many candidates that we
could not agree on any one" said Hr.
Curtis, 'and that probably weakened
our chances"
Mr. J. Iierpont Morgan called at the
White House last night and had short
conference with the President and later
LETT for New York.
In the House today Mr. Rixey intro
duced the following A bill for the re-
lief of the trustees of Grove Baptist
Church, Of Fauquier county, Va, asking
ST.. 900 for the use and destruction Of
church property; bill granting an in
crease of pension 10 Chas. H. Pratt, OF
Remington, Fsuquier county, Va, ask
lug for $50 per month. with affidavitS to
accompany same; bill asking an ill.,
crease of penson to Henry 9. Steadman,
Of Taylorstown, Loudoun county, Va, to
SIS per month with affidavits to accom-
pany same, and bill for the relief of the
trustees of the Presbyterian Church at
Marshall, Fauquier county, Va, asking
for the payment of $500 for damages and
destruction of church property by Union
troops during the war between the
States.
Messrs. Hale, Lodge, Allison and
Spooner, was seen in earnest CONVEX
sation on the floor of the Senate
today which gave rise to the report
that something republican might be
doing at an early day.
Senator Smoot was early at the room
of the Senate committee on privileges
and elections this morning and seemed
cheerful. The attendance was all that
the capacity of the room permits, ninety
per cent. OF the audience being women.
Rev. DR.. J. NJ. Buckley, of Morristown,
n. j., was the first witness. He de-
clared that he had no knowledge ofSena-
tor Smoot save from common report.
He said: ~ asked everybody what
kind of man SmCot VAST Was he
polygamist? Not only in Utah, but in
California, and l must say that every
answer was that he was good man, that
he had never lived with any woman than
his WIFE" George Reynolds, OF Salt
Lake, a Mormon since 1865, and secre-
lary of the Mormon Church, was the
next witness. He revealed the fact that
a man who lived happily with twenty
wives might Mtel death be separated
from them, and upon their death find
himself eternslly separated from them.
Secretary of State Hay and Ambassa-
dor Durand this morning formally signed
the arbitration treaty between Great
Britain and the United States which was
recently negotiated.
Mr.. Rixey said to reporter of the
Gazette today that if river aud harbor
bill was presented in the House this ses-
sion he would look after the item con-
corning the widening and deepening OF
the channel of the Potomac river. Sen.
ator Marion will look after the matter
should it reach the Senate.