Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-01-28
FROM WASHINGTON.
9 CORRESPONDENCE Of the Alexandra Gazette.l
Washington, Jan. %.

IlAlXIl
Correspondence Of the Alexandra Gaze''e'l
Washington, Jan. %.
The case of the defense in the Machen-
Croft: Lorenz conspiracy trial was opened
this morning, the government having
concluded the presentation Ut its slce
Yesterday. In his opening statement 10
the iury. ex-Judge Samuel MADDOX,
attorney for the Grofs, made clear the
line of defense, which is that DIR. Lorenz
was a partner with the Grofls in the man
ufacture of the patent letter box fastener
and az such received 40 per cent Of the
profits thereon. Judge Maddox mentioned
the fact that it was Machen who reduced
The price Of the fasteners from ST.. so to
ST. rs. The Groffs, he said, were much
surprised at this action, but they had to
submit. Machen acted as q Jealous OIL
cial of the government in making the
reduction. Judge Maddox closed his
address by attacking the statements made
by the postofice inspectors. Judge
Kumler then made astrong appeal TO the
iury on behalf of the LOrenzes, claiming
that the defense would prove absolutely
the legitimate character of the transaction
with Machen. Conrad Syme addressed
the iury on Machen's behalf, corrobora-
ting the statements Of the other attorneys
a. to his clients connection with the
Lorenzes. Miss Ina Liebhardt, Machen's
cbief clerk WAS the first witness for the
defense today.
After an extensive argument on the
subject, by Representative Bartholdt, OF
Missouri, the House committee on for
eign affairs tOday authorized favorable
report on the Barth )ldt resolution to
extend the invitation Of Congress to the
Inter- Parliamentary Union for the pro-
motion of international arbitration,
which last met at Vienna, to meet next
wear at st. Louis. The resolution carries
an appropriation $50, 600 to meet the
expenses of the proposed convention.
Representative McDermott (dem. N.
J.) introduced a resolution in the House
today to amend the constitution so that
no State shall have The right to create
an interstate corporation, a v those
that do a bonding reinsurance business,
but that Congress alone shall! pass laws
regulating the corporate rights of inter
state organizations. Congress shall also
make laws for the reorganization of in
terstste corporations now in existence.
The House committee on labor today
heard arguments OF the Sibley bill, pro-
hibiting any officer Of the Federal gov
eminent from entering into a contract
for prison made goods. VIM. NJ. Tur-
ner, an attorney and a lessee CT convict
labor in Georgia, appeared against the
bill. Mr.. Turner said thst the employ
ment of convict labor in Georgia was a
benefit to the schools of the State and
that the prisoners we're better off under
the contract system both physically, and
mentally. To restrict the output OF
prison made goods, he said, would oper'
ate against the schools of the State, as
the money earned blythe State for the
lease of convicts goes to the school fund.
President Samuel Gompers, of the
American Federation of Labor, will sup
port the bill.
The House committee on foreign af-
fairs today finished preparation of the
diplomatic and consular appropriation
bill. 1t carries an appropriation of ST.
1916, 600, being an increase of $2S, $50
over the last bill. OF this increase, the
newly established diplomatic service in
Panama requires S12, 600, of which slO,-
900 is for the minister, and $4,000 for
the secretary. Included, also, isan item
of S1l, 900 for consular service in
Manchuria.
Senator Reed SmOOt denies that he
has any intention of resigning his seat
in the Senate in order TO avert the
threatened investigation of the relations
of the Mormon church to the United
States government. He says that
neither he nor the church has anything
to hide. The statement was that Apostle
Smoot, as a duty to his church, might
resign to save it from the searching in
vestigation proposed by the committee,
and let the State send a Gentle to the
Senate, until the present excitement
Richard Olney, Cleveland's Secretary
Of Stale, interviewed here today on the
democratic situation, said "There is
no democrat in the country today who
has so much strength among the conser-
vative people as Grover Cleveland. |
lm still satisfied that if he were nomi-
mated he would be elected"
The State Department has received a
dispatch from Toxic to the effect that it
vas expected there hat the formulation
If an answer to the japanese note would
De taken up at st. Petersburg yesterday.
One ofthe early acts Ex-Governor Taft's
administration as Secretary OF War,
which position he will assume next Mon.
lay, will be a reduction of the military
orces in the Philippines.
FAMOUS RoCKBRIDGE COUNTY.-The
ounty of Rockbridge boasts Of an honor
robably without a parallel in the his
A.