Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-12-16
From Washington.
correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, ID. c., Dec. &c.


Washington, d. c., Dec. l6.
Seldom has Congress settled down TO
business with the promptness which
characterized tie early days of the pres
ent session. The House is prepared to
pass a railroad rate measure acceptable
TO the President, and it is growing evil
dent that the opposition manifested in
the Senate to such measure is waning.
Already the debates have indicated a
drawing of the lines, on the question OF
the regulation of insurance, of statehood
for the Territories, of ship subsidy legis-
lation. Already it has been evident that
the power OF the Speaker will be exer-
cised against the passage OF public
buildings bill.
la the Senate the management OF
Panama canal affairs has been severely
criticised and a foundation has been laid
for searching investigation into the way
the money has been expended. The
President, Secretary of War Taft, Chair
man Shonts and "Press Agent" Bishop
have all came in for a share of this cnti-
cism, and ii is pretty certain that legs'
lation will later be adopted reducing
some of the high salaries now paid to OF
fcers of the canal commission and res
tricting the power of the commission in
the future. Today the Senate will pass
the bill appropriating 81, 600, 600 for
the Panama canal. 1t has amended it
in several particulars so that it will have
to go back to the House to secure that
body's agreement to the changes. One of
these amendment is designed to prevent
the canal commission from repeating the
mistake of spending more money than has
been appropriated. The ship subsidy
bill recommended By the Merchant
Marine Commission, and the pure food
bill have been reported from committee,
and there will be an attempt made next
week to have one Of them taken up aud
made the standing order. The foreign
relations committee has had several
meetings considering the Santo Domingo
treaty, which was sent back to it by the
Senate for the purpose of amendment, the
Isle of Pines treaty, aud the important
bill proposing reorganization of the
consular service. The reorganization of
the Senate committees will be announc-
ed on Monday after caucus of the re-
publicans in the morning.
Congress will adjourn next Thursday
until the 4th OF January. 1t is not the
intention of the House leaders to bring
important measures before the House
next week. The Panama canal appro-
priation bill will be received as it passed
the Senate, and the House will endeay-
or to reincorporate in it the provision
governing the status of the bonds. If
the Senate should insist that this prOvis-
ion be incorporated in separate bill,
the House will be compelled to recede,
and it is urgently desirable that the ap-
preparation should be made before the
holiday adjournment. The question of
caring for the bonds will then be separ-
ately considered later in the session, in
which event the House will insist on its
right to originate the legislation in
question,
The German Ambassador called at the
State Department today and transmitted
to Secretary Root an informal explana-
ton of the Panther incident in Brazil.
He said that an officer and II men from
the cruiser landed there in civilian dress
in search Of deserter from the ship by
the name of Hessman. Their purpose
was to trace Hessman and upon locating
him, to obtain action by the local au-
thorties for his removal to the ship.
During the search the squad encounter
ed Steinhof, of whom the German gov.
eminent has no information. 1t does
not appear that he is deserter from the
German army or navy. The statement
is made that Steinhoff was not shanghaied
as reported He is believed to have left
Itsjay, aboard vessel which he himself
owned. 1t is admitted that the Panther
sailors had some trouble with him. The
German consul at ltsjay has made COM
plete investigation of the incident and
it is said that the Brazilian government
is satisfied. Ambassador Sternburg
regards the matter as a closed incident.
Secretary Taft and General Mckenzie,
chief of engineers U. 5. A., gave a hear
ing this morning to representatives of
shipping and commercial interests of
Port Arthur, Tex. The subject dis
cussed was the improvement of the har-
Dor facilities at Port Arthur. The gov
eminent has expressed its willingness
to improve the canal between the gulf
and the harbor, provided the local in
terests would provide the necessary right
of way; otherwise the government would
dredge the lake and marshy passage to
the sea. 1t was stated this morning by
the Port Arthur people that if given ten
days they would make arrangements for
the rights of way to deepen the canal
for sea going craft. This was agreed to
by the Secretary of War.