Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-04-04
From Washington.
Correspondence Of the AleHandria Gazette j
Washington. ID. c., April 4.

Slemp. of Virginia, and discussed mat
ters relating to the coming republican
State convention and Virginia politics
generally. The Alexandrians gave Col.
Slemp the benefit OF their knowledge
and experience in Virginia politics and
the conference was a most amicable one.
At its close Mr.. Crupper informed Col.
Slemp that more than one man in Alex
andria was claiming that ne had his en-
doisement and promise for the position
of postmaster at Alexandria and asked
the colonel concerning these claims. Col.
Slemp denied in the most positive man
ner that he had either endor ed CT
promised any man his support for the
Alexandria postmastership. 1t IL I'M
derstood here that Mr. Crnpper's deter
mination not to be an applicant tor re-
appointment as postmaster at Alexan.
dria is final, though he had received
many assurances that he could secure
reappointment. During Col. SlemP's
conversation with Mr. Agnew he tod the
latter that the Office If collector of in.
ternal reveue for the Sixth district, now
located in Alexandra, would be removed
TO Abingdon when Mr.. Summers sue
cesds Mr.. Aghew as collector. Alexan'
drians should bestir themselves in this
matter.
"The struggle Of the cities began
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission this morning. New York and
Boston are arrayed on the one side;
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk and
Newpor, News on the other. The
question involved is one of diferential
freight rates to and from North Atlantic
ports. New York and Boston are the
c ,mplainanls. These dillerentials, it is
alleged, operate against them in favor of
the other ports, building up for them an
export trade at the expense of New
York and Boston. The case was orig
inally brought in May, 1904, by the
Merch ,nts' Association of New York,
the Merchants Association of Boston,
and the Boston Chamber of Commerce
The arguments in the case began today
before a ull commission, ex Senator
Cockrell sitting with his colleagues Tor
the first time. They will consume four
or FIVE days.
II is said here that the Car Of Russia
is the only stumbling block between
peace and war between the Bear and
Rising Sun. Japan is ready for peace.
A prominent official of the United
States said this morning; "Both Rus
STA and Japan are anxious for peace.
Japan is ready, but she wants il on her
own terms and she has earned that con-
dition. But there is no prospect of an
early cessation of hostilities. The trouble
i. that there is doubt as to the posi-
bility of binding the Russian government
to any agreement mean that the
Gar is so changeable and uncertain that
/ doubt whether any government could
make binding engagement with him
on any subject"
Senior Gambia, the charge d afaires
of the Mexican Embassy, called at the
State Department this morning to make
final arrangements for the transfer of the
BODY of the late Ambassador, Senior Don
Manuel de Aspiroz to Mexico. The
cruiser Columbia has been assigned to
convey the remains to Vera Cruz. While
the date has not been definitely fixed
awaiting the pleasure of the bereaved
widow. il is expected that the body will
leave Washington on April 10.
Within eight hours from the time
their appointments had been announced,
the new Isthmian canal commissioners
had been sworn in, with the exception
of two who are not in the city had re-
ceived little talk from the Secretary of
Wa. on their duties had organized by
choosing an executive committee con-
sisting of Messrs. ShOnts, Magoon and
Wallace had disposed of all pending
business to which they fell heir from the
Old commission had decided to transfer
headquarterstO the canal zone and had
arranged for daily meetings here when
the transfer can be affected. In the
organization Of the new commission, in
accordance with the Presidents ideas,
the executive will really be the "whole
thing" Chief Engineer Wallace will
dig the canal Judge Magoon will keep
order on the zone and Mr.. Shonts will
look after the accounts. There will be
little for the other members IF the COM
mission to do but attend meetings TO
ratify the accounts of their working
crethern and sign the annual reports.
very estimable gentlemen
they will practically be dummies" so
far as the actual building Of the canal
is concerned The President was COM
PEELED under the law to appoint seven
members on the commission. In laying
out the work, however, he centralized
the authority in the chairman, the chief
engineer and the governor of the zone.
He will look to these three men for the
successful execution of the enterprise.
Next year he hopes to have Congress
pass law which will allow him to dis
pose of the four superhuous members.
In order to relieve the contested con
ditions Of Bilbid prison, Manila's famous
bastile, which has been pronounced
hotbed of tuberculous aud contsgion
generally, the plan has been adopted Of |
sending prisoners out to work on the |
railroads. According to the latest mail
advices 100 prisoners have just been con-
veyed to Illigan, Mindanao, to work on
the railway which is to run from that
port to the Lake Lanao country. One
hundred and fifty others have been
,h;n,ad b., coaaf nnarh hnaf Ganaral |