Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-08-04
From Washington.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington, d. O., August 4.

Washington, d. O., August 4.
Manila has discovered graft" in the
military supply depot. According 70
reports received here, the books were
fasifed to cover up shortages In prop
erty extending over period of four
years and involving not less than 500,
900. Chief Clerk VIM. Reeves, of the
depot, has been discharged and upon con-
yiction was sentenced to fifteen months
imprisonment for selling cases of surgi-
cal instruments stolen from the govern
ment. Paul L. Stangl, clerk, resigned
but was arrested, tried and convicted,
and sentenced to year and halt ID
Bilibid for stealing surgical instruments.
Scores Of cases of instruments, valued at
800 each, have disappeared. They
we're removed from the depot by the
cOnspirators in boxes marked "carbolic
acid" which went to coufederates.
Privates Strawser and Stonebraker, of the
hospital corps, each got FIVE year SEN
lence. Strawser has made a confession,
estimating the total of the graft at $50
600. The looting of the medical supply
depot has been the most systematic and
extensive of any scheme to defraud the
government that has been detected in the
PHILIPPINES since the famous commissary
scandals of FIVE years ago. Some old
time employees, vino have left the islands,
are also believed to be implicated.
Consul Snyder, of Bogota, reports to
the Department Of Commerce and Labor
that owing to the unprecedented dry
spsll, conditions are such in parts of
Colombia as to approach a famine.
Crops have been ruined, cattle are dy-
ing, and prices have risen enormously.
President Reyes has issued circulars to
all the departments asking for state
ment of the prevailing conditions, and
intends introducing into the country
large quantities of corn, rice, barley
flour and beans mainly from the United
States, to be sold at the lowest possible
price in order to relieve the widespread
suffering. Circulars have also been
sent to the heads of all transportation
companies in Colombia asking that they
move these articles free of charge.
Officials at the War Department are
taking considerable interest in the divorce
proceedings instituted by Captain Elmer
S. Taggart, against his wife, whom he
charges with infdeli,y. The case has
not yet been officially reported to the
War Department, and it is hardly ex-
pected that it will be, unless Captain
Taggart, at the conclusion of the civil
proceedings, should prefer formal charges
against the officers whom he has named
as correspondents. In any event, it is
said at the War Department, no action
looking to a court-martial of any officer
will be taken pending the conclusion Of
the civil suit for divorce. II Captain
Taggarts charges against his wife are
sustained by the court, the only way in
which The matter could be brought Of
fcially to the attention of the military
authorities would be by his preferring
charges against officers whom he has
named as correspondents or by action be-
ing taken by the department commander.
As a rule, however, purely personal
affairs Of this sort are not officially taken
up by the War Department.
The announcement from the City OF
Mexico that U. S. Ambassador Conger
is returning to the United States on
leave of absence of two months is under
stood here to point to his retirement from
the diplomatic service at the end of that
period When Mr.. Conger was recalled
from Pekin, China, where he was sue
ceeded as U. S. Minister by Mr.. Rock
hill, it was announced that he would be
given the post at Mexico City for a short
time so that he might retire to private
life with the rank OF an ambassador. 1t
was stated at the same time that he
would be sue .eeded in Mexico by David
E. Thompson, then U. S. Minister to
Brazil But since then several things
have happened which may change the
programme. Mr.. Conger has only been
in Mexico a couple of months and it is
now limited that his purpose in coming
to the United States on leave at the
present time is to ask the President TO
allow him to remain at his present post,
thus giving him longer tenure as am
bassadOr than was originally intended.
The statement from Toxic that the
japanese immigration officials have re-
ported adversely upon the idea of allow
ing japanese to 90 70 the lsthmus of
Panama to help dig the canal is regretted
by the canal officials here. The reasons
assigned for the adverse report, it is
pointed out here, are either erroneous or
have been removed since the visit of the
Japaeese Commissioners to the isthmus.
Surgeon General Wyman, of the
United States Marine Hospital Service
had a conference with Secretary of the
Treasury Shaw this morning in the course
of which the actions of the revenue cutter
Winona were discussed, General Wyman
has received kilograms from the officers
in command, disanowiDg any violations
of the United States laws, of Mississippi
or Louisiana. Congressman Bowers of
Mississippi is to be in the city today and
arrangements have been made for con-
ference between him and Secretary Shaw
and General Wyman.
That Primary.
Unofficial reports from the Richmond