Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-02-18
From Washington.
Correspondence Of the Alexandra Gazette.
Washington. ID. c.. Feb. Is.


state and foreign commerce yesterday
to the effect that members of the 18th
mian Canal Commission, as directors of
the Panama Railroad Company, had re-
ceiyed fees for attending directors meet
ings and that they owned shares oil
stock ia that railroad and received divi-
donds thereon, Admiral Walker, chair
man of the canal commission, said to-
day: cit is an attempt to throw mud
upon the commission and is 10 no way
justified The facts are these Some Of
the members of the commission believed
that we would be justified in accepting
the usual ices which are given to direc-
tors of all corporations in order to ensure
their attendance, and others thought, in
view of the presidents directions, that
members of the commission should
not receive anything except their
salaries that we ought not to accept
them. Because of this difference of
opinion, | took the question up to
the President himself. He said that the
acceptance of these fees was small mat
ter, which had not entered into his mind
when he issues his order, and heauth0r-
lied me on behalf of the commission to
accept the directors fees. 1t would
have been embarrassing to the old d.
rectors who had been accustomed to re-
ceiving these fees, had we refused TO &C
cept them. 60 far as the purchase of
tho stock was concerned had the full
authority of the Secretary of War. l
received an offer to sell 100 shares of
stock in the Panama Railroad, and later
an offer Of one share. | consulted the
the Secretary of War, and he authorized
me to purchase them at par. | did 80 and
assigned one share to each OF the mem
bers OF the commission. The shares were
bought by me as chairman of the Isthmian
Canal commission, and out of the funds
OF the government. They are held by
US as trustees OF the government. When
the dividend of 6vep per cent was declared
the checks in payment thereof were
received by US, and we're turned over to
the secretary of war by whom. they we're
deposited to the credit of of the govern
ment. That is all there is toit." ''lps
public necessity that the United States
government acquire the outstanding
stock of the Panama Railroad" said
VIM. Cromwell, attorney for the Panama
Railroad Company, whs followed Drake
on the stand.
By order of the Secretary of War
three large recruiting depots are to be
established. One will be at Columbus
barracks, Ohio, where recruits for the
infantry will be modified and given a
course of training before being assigned
to regiments; a second for cavalry re-
cruits at Jefferson barracks, Mo-, and a
third for artillery and infantry recruits
It Fort Slocum, New York. BY the
rider which establishes these big recruit
ug depots the smaller depots in cities
are done away with.
The portrait of tho Empress D0wager
# China which was exhibited at the st.
Louis Louisiana Purchase Exposition,
Sas received by President Roosevelt this
afternoon in behalf of the United States
Sir Chentung Liang- Chcng
the Chinese Minister made the presenta.
lion speech and the President made APP
oropri tie reply.
Business men, artisans, politicians,
hotel and boarding housekeepers and all
classes and conditions of men and women
in Washington are rushing their prepa-
rations for the Inauguration.
A bill aimed at the Standard Oil
trust, was introduced in the House today,
by Representative Hearst. 1t declares
that every contract or agreement that
creates or maintains monopoly in any
product of labor or of the soil, is illegal, |
and that the trade between states in
such monopolized products is prohibited.
A penalty of not more than S., 900. fine,
,r not more than one years imprison-
nent, or both, is provided for violations
If the proposed law.
Senator Foraker has succeeded in Sc
curing the adoption by the Senate COM
nttee on Postoffices aud post roads, of
lis amendment to the Postoffice bill,
for the extension of the pneu-
naIic tube mail service.
The House committee on merchant marine
md fisheries today authorized favorable re-
port on the Littlefeld bill. exempting sailing
'essels from employing licensed mates This
Vas the last meeting Of the committee for the
ession and resolutions. offered by the demo-
rats, were adopted thanking Chairman
ir0svenOr for his fairness and courtesy.
Both houses Of Congress will work under a {
all head of steam next week. Less than
welve legislative days remain and there is
much that must done to obv;ate the necessity
an extra session, which would follow in the
vent of the failure of any one or the great |
upply bills. Thus far but one Of these has
ec0me law, not counting a small urgent
efficiency bill which was pasSed-the one
r0viding for the needs of the legislative, jul {
icial and executive departments. Ii Is the
,tentiOn Of the House to pass all the other
preparation bills next week. The river
nd harbor bill will probably also be called [
nd the present intention is 10 pass II, al [
lOugh failure to pass this bill will not ne
ESTATE an extra session. Because Of the
lortness of the session the time of the Senate ! a
ext week, except that which will be devoted I,
} the Swayne impeachment case, will be en- :
roly consumed in the consideration of ap- :
reputation bills and conference reports On i
easures which, like the statehood bill, have /
cen amended in one branch of Congress and
.quires the concurrent action Of both before !
ley become laws. In view of the differences
hch have arisen between the House and b
snate regarding the admissions Of new :
.ates. the indications. are now that the bill
i'll fail entirely and there will be no new .
airs added TO the national flag. P
n
Trains Blocked.