Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-11-23
From Washington.
I Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette J
Washington. d. c., Nov. %.

Washington, ID. O., Nov. 70.
The sensational disclosures of the
financial condition OF the Panama Canal
Commission made by Secretary Bishop
through the Publishers Press Associ'
alton have attracted widespread atten-
ton. When questioned further this
morning as to the actual amount OF IN.
paid bills now owed by the Commission
Secretary Bishop assistant admitted that
counting present and future liabilities
already contracted, the commission now
actually owes $12, 900. The emergency
appropriation OF SIG, 900, 600 Tor which
Congress is TO be asked will, therefore,
be nearly all swallowed up in meeting
current obligations, leaving only 81,
900, 900 to be devoted TO the payment
of salaries and wages and the expenses
of excavation, etc. on the 18th mus up to
June 30th, 1906. Secretary Bishop de-
MES the accuracy of the statement that
the canal commission borrowed money
from the Panama Railroad. In view OF
the fact that the Canal Commission has
admittedly contracted liabilities far in
excess of the appropriations of Congress,
and of the further fact that Congress
recently passed stringent act prohib-
iting any officer of the government from
expanding more than the appropriations
for his Office under penalty of summary
removal or fine and Imprisonment, the
question has been raised as to whether
the members Of the Canal Commission
have not made themselves liable to the
operations of that law.
The National Banks of New York
city, Al in all, reporting under the
recent call of the Comptroller of the
Currency, show that Cd November 9
their resources and liabilities were
81, 49,, 424, 979 40; loand and discounts
$40, O93, 2l9.19; capital stock SlO6,
$50, 900; individual deposits 1886, 762, =
554. 81 and the percentage OF legal re.
serve to deposits and the percentage OF
cash on hand is 1926.
Another large crowd attended the
races at Benning today. The first race
resulted as follows G. l.. NJ, won;
Royal China, second; Frills, third.
Chairman Charles Fl. Keep, of the
commission, appointed by President
Roosevelt to report, after examination on
business methods in the various execu-
tive departments, has turned his inves-
tigators loose on the bureau of statistics
of the Agriculture Department.
The Commissioner OfInternal Revenue
will issue in few days an ORDER extend
ing the time till January l, or longer, for
taking effect of the recent ruling requir-
ing a special liquor license from manu-
facturers of patent medicines composed
of distilled spirits, in which drugs do not
impart any medicinal property.
The members of the interstate COM
merce committee of the Senate now in
session here have begun an earnest inter
change of ideas with view to the franz
ing of railroad rate regulation bill.
Secretary Taft has returned to this
city after his western trip during which
he discussed Panama Canal affairs at
st. Louis and PHILIPPINE matters at
Kansas City. He will now devote him
self to the preparation of his reports to
Congress on War Department affairs, on
the PHILIPPINES and on the Panama
Canal.
Congressman Swanson, of Virginia,
will retain his seat in Congress till the
latter part of January. His term OF
Office as Governor of his State will be-
gin on February l.
Employees in the government departments
are up in arms over new telephone arrange
ment being installed in the government
buildings They are saying it is scheme
of the telephone company to- get more revenue
out of the service and that the heads of the
departments, or those responsible for the new
order, are permitting it. Within the last few
DAYS nay stations have been established by the
telephone company in the census Office the
government printing Office, the pOstOtiCe
building and il is understood will Immediately
he placed in all the other buildings. An
employee desiring to call up must use the pay
telephone at g cost of five cents. Should any
one call for an employee he is notified 10y
the department operator, who insists that the
caller leave his number. This requires the
employee TO pay five cents at the pay station
in order to answer the call. 1t was stated at
the Department Of Commerce and Labor that
something had to be done in order to prevent
congestion of the department wires.
The report of the auditor for the Postofice
Department for the year ended June 80 shows
that the receipts were 1852, $780, $50 10 and the
expenditures $l67 1899, 1863 % deficit Of over
fourteen and half million dollars.
Secretary Root TODAY announced the ap-
poiutment of U. 5. Ambassador White to
represent the United States at the Morocco
conference Mr.. Gummere, u. S. Minister to
IL L.. ror.f