Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-11-22

laboring for compromise. AT the con-
ference of yesterday, after the departure
of the democratic members, the Rhode
Island Senator expressed the earnest
hope that the doctrine of majority party
rule should prevail in the committee.
He said he had great faith that before
the committee had concluded its coosld-
Grafton of the question basis would be
reached that would be fairly acceptable
to the majority. Some members who
wavered at first are now aggressively for
"the Presidents plan, ~ it has become
known. The attitude of democratic mem
bers has become known. -Four members
are now classed with the regulation forces
who six months ago were doubtful
CIapp, Newlands, Tillman and Carmack.
The new alignment Is placed this way
Aga:7st rate regulstion-Aldrich, Ell
kins, Foraker, Kean and Foster. For
regulation-Cullom, Dolliver, Clapp,
Carmack, Newlands aud Tillman. 10
doubt-Millard and McLaurin. AT this
afternoons meeting of the committee
there will be present rate regulation
bill drawn by the Interstate Commerce
Commission, at the suggestion OF the
Senate committee. The commissions
bill not only provides for the power 10
fix a reasonable rate, but it gives the
commission the power to fix a maximum
of the minimum rate in discrimination
cases between competitive points This is
to overcome the claim Of the railroads
that schedules within a certain territory
are so interdependent that the reduction
of one would necessarily lower others,
thus continuing the same discrimination
against certain competing points.
The general land Office has decided at
last, after four years, to relinquish
United States sovereignty over the Isle OF
Pines. Notwithstanding the attitude of
the administration on this subject, to the
effect that the United States never did
possess such sovereignty, all the official
maps gotten out by the land office since
1900 designate the little dot OF land OF
the Island of Cuba, as "Pine Island ~.
81" In the forthcoming map for 1905,
the "U. s." will be cut out Under the
treaty of Paris, Spain coded to the
United States Porto Rico "and other
islands now under Spanish sovereignty
in the West Indies" while she merely
relinquished her title to Cuba. The land
Office officials apparently construed the
Isle of Pines as being one OF the "other
islands" of the West Indies, ard not
part of Cuba. Under the Plat amend
ment, which was made an appendix to
the Cuban constitution, the status of the
Isle of Pines was left to future adjust
ment by treaty between Cuba and The
United States. The treaty has been ne
gotiated, but still awaits ratification by
tho Senate.
The sarcastic remarks of Governor
Odell aimed at President ROosevelps ef-
forts to bring order out of chaos in New
York politics created something Of
sensation about the hotel Hobbies where
the Empire State mel cOngragate, but
did not raise a ripple at theWhite House.
If the President has decided to follow
Mr.. Odel's advice and invite Mr.. Hal
pin to leave the headship of the
county republican committee, ne has
thus far given no intimation OF the
move. During the forenoon the Presi'
dent held consultations with Represtn-
tative J. Sloat Fassett and Postmaster
William r. Wilcox of New York, and
it is presumed, went over the political
situation with them.
Besides spending the $40, 200, 600
cash appropriated by Congress, the Pan
ANA Canal Commission has made con
tracts to the amount of $4,000, 900
more, payment on which will become
due before the end of June next In
addition to this, Secretary Bishop says,
the Commission now owes lot Of bills,
payment on which is overdue. These,
together with the ordinary running ex-
penses of the Commission here and on
the Isthmus, including salaries and
wages, for the next six months, will
amount to $1,000, 900 more. In order
to meet the debt now due and the liabil-
tiles incurred The Commiss N will ask
Congress for an emergency apprOpria-
ton of 10000, 900 to become immedi'
ately available. The Commission hopes
that the money will be appropriated
before Congress takes its Xmas recess.
This statement of the financial condition
of the Canal Commission is likely to
strike Congress as rather startling, and
will probably heighten the demand for
an investigation as to the methods pur-
sued in the expenditure of so much
money.
Postmaster William R. Wilcox, OF
New York, is in town for the purpose of
comforting with Postmaster General
Cortelyou and members of Congress with
view to securing an increase of apprO-
priation for the conduct of his business.
1--WE are doing about an eleventh or
tenth of the entire postal business Of the
country in New York city, said Mr..
Wilcox, 'and we think that we ought
to get little more of the money that
we take in. Last year our receipts were
about $40, 900, 600 and this year will be
about $l2, 900, 000."
President Roosevelt received visit
this morning from his highness, FL
Hadji AbdulIahi Sadik Bahsa, Hokel OF
Harrar, the special representative OF
King Menelik of Abyssinia. The visitor,
with his ebony-hued countenauce, fex of
brilliant red, and the yards of gold lace
adjoining his uniform, made an imposing
appearance. There accompanied him
to the door of the Executive Mansion