Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-10-21
From Washington.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, ID. c.. Oct. 81.

w ~ Oss wv 80
That the decision of Lieutenant-G Gen
eral Chaffee, commanding the army of
the United States, to drop the Taggart
case and to "6le without action" all
papers relating to the officers concerned
in it. does not meet with the universal
approval of the army is manifest from a
vigorous editorial published this morn
ing in the Army and Navy Journal,
which usually reflects quite accurately
the sentiments of officers in the army
and navy. The article says "The
Taggart case has subjected the army to
so much criticism that it is only just
that we should call attention to the
fact that public opinion in the army
holds that the most objectionable Of
all ofenses is that of leading astray
the wife of a brother officer. The
statute of limitations does not run
against public opinion and this will
punish. as with a whip of scorpions, any
officer proven guilty of his detestable
and cowardly act. The scandal has
been done. 1t only remains to deal
with the matter so thoroughly, 50
promptly, So effectively, as to be a notice
to the general public and to those who
are not restrained by obligations Of mo-
rality or honor, that the army will not
tolerate such acts as those cited by the
Judge in this case as basis for the de-
cision. That way lies honor for the
army; to shirk that plain duty is to dis
honor the service and every man in il. ,"
"The greatest thing for the Italian auto
mobile trade which has occurred this
year is the success of one of the principal
Italian machines in a series OF races,
reports Consul DunniOg, at Milan, Italy
to the Department of @ 'mmerce and
Labor. He dOesn'turge that Americans
strive to win future races, but he wants
them to send over respectable display
of machines to the Milan exposition of
1906, which celebrates the opening OF
the Simplon tunnel. Few people, he
continues, are more impressed by actual
successful performance than those OF
southern Europe. They do not like to
buy things unseen.
Fifty additional postofice clerks have
been authorized by the pOstofice depart
ment for duty in the new Chicago Office.
The work of transferring the office from
the temporary quarters to the federal
building just completed will begin Sat
urday night and will be carried on all
day Sunday Monday morning the new
Office will be in operation, il is hoped.
Efforts are being made now to accom-
date the wagon service in the best man
ner. First Assistant Postmaster Geuer-
al Hitchcock will probably witness the
transfer Of the gigantic office.
Through u. S. Minister LeishmaD, at
Constantinople, the State Department
has received the gift of handsome silk
rug made in the form of the American
flag. 1t is the handiwOrk of Armenian
orphan girls ia the American industrial
school at Harpoot, Turkey, and accord
ing to a letter accompanying it leach Of
its million knots, tied by hand, repre-
sents the gratitude which all the Ar
menian orphans feel towards their bene-
factors and the American people as
whole" The flag is valued at $500 and
the State Department paid $23. 10 duty
for its importation through the New
York Customs House. 1t has been hung
on the wall of the diplomatic anteroom
of the State Department.
Consul Conant, of Windsor, Ontario,
writes to the Department of Commerce
and Labor about the proposed tunnel
under the Detroit river between Wind
sor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan. 1t
is to be about 7 400 long. The methods
of construction are to be the most mod
ern in tunnel building, both in excavai-
ing and constructing the tunnel itself.
Lincoln Green, of the Southern Rail-
way, was today's witness before the Inter-
state Commerce Commission in the hear
ing relative TO excessive charges by refrig-
Grating car lines. He said that his lines
contract with the Armour Company pro.
vides that the latter's Iefrigerating rates
must be reasonable, and be said that the
present rates are lower than the carriers
themselves could make them. Attorney
Northrop, for the Southern, made state
ment to the effect that the "selfishness
of the Armour Company would induce
it TO maintain reasonable rates. Then
it is the sel6shness of the Armour line,"
interjected Commissioner Prouty, land
the grace of the Southern road on which
tho sh;orar ,ous. ,,anand9i1 Aftornev