Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-07-07
From Washington.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington, July 7.

Who wants the first United States
bond to be issued to provide money for
the construction of the Panama canal -
No. l of the new issue of $50, 900, 0009
Treasury officials expect some fancy
bidding on this particular bond because
of the historical interest it will have in
the future. Bids on the bonds are COM
ing in rapid y but at present they are
from small prospective investors. The
big banks have not yet come forward.
They are waiting to figure their bids
down to the last decimal. Every con-
fdence is manifested at the Treasury
| Department that the issue will command
a premium but there are as many opin-
ions almost as their are officials as to
what will be the amount of that pre-
MUM. The best opinion is that they
will sell between 103 and 1O4. The
bond draws 2 per cent. interest
When Senator TllImsn made his last
comments on the conference report on
the railroad rate law and that feature OF
it which exempted pipe lines from the
necessity of divorcing production from
transportation, he predicted that Frank
S. Monnett, former attorney general of
Ohio, recently connected with the H.
terstate Commerce Commissions inves-
tigation of Standard Oil affairs, was
about to be separated from that honor
able and important position. Senator
Foraker interrupted to inquire how he
happened TO know, and Senator Tillman
replied that his assertion was based
on persistent rumor. At the Interstate
Commerce Commission it was admitted
today that Mr.. Monnett is no longer con-
nected with the work. "The service for
which Mr.. Monnet vas engaged" said
chairman Knapp, "has been performed,
be has been paid in full, and his con-
nection has terminated. He denied
that there was any other reason for the
step aud expressed himself as well salts.
fed With the character of service per-
formed by Mr. Monnett in connection
with the conduct of the oil hearings in
Ohio. Chairman Knapp added that
the Standard Oil Investigations were
drawing to a close aud that the prepare
ton of report might soon be begun.
There will be another hearing on the
subject in this city on the morning Of
July IL.
In compliance with the recently en-.
acted naval appropriation bill the Secre-
tary of the Navy has sent circular let.
ter to eli the principal shipbuilding con-
cerns of the country asking them to
submit plans and specification for the
biggest battleship ever built for this
or any other country, which it is pro-
posed by Congress to have constructed
next year. Secretary Bonsparte has also
directed the Naval Board on Construc-
ton to submit to him preliminary plans
not later than Nov. 1st 1906 which,
with the accompanying specifications,
will be sufficiently full to furnish the in-
formation desired by Congress before the
actual appropriation for this ship is made.
Secretary Wilson of the Agriculture
Department, accompanied by Solicitor
McCabe, DR.. Melvin, chief of the Bureau
of Animal Industry, and DR.. Dorset,
chief of the biOchemic division, will
leave for Chicago at $40 this afternoon
to begin personal inspection of Chicago
packing institutions. "Before drafting
the regulations for the enforcement of
inspection law, ! want to see what is
going on for myself said Secretary
Wilson today. "My Chicago stay may
run through two weeks. l have not map
ped out any itinerary"
The Office Of the Supervising Archi-
tect of the Treasury is busily engaged in
putting into effect the omnibus public
building law recently passed by Con-
gress Advertisements are being sent
out at the rate OF 20 or 25 day asking
for bids on sites for public buildings au-
thorized. In those cases where sites
have already been secured and appropri-
alton has been made for the erection OF
building the Office is preparing the
necessary plans. Recognizing the ur-
gent need for public buildings in Toledo,
Ohio, Des Moines, Iowa, and Atlanta,
Georgia, above al others con tanned in
the new public buildings act, Secretary
of the Treasury Shaw today authorized
Supervising Architect Taylor of the
Treasury to prepare the plans for these
buildings in advance of all the others.
Secretary Wilson, of the Agriculture
Department, today directed that notice
be sent to all of the railroads., concern
ing the new law permitting cattle to be
hauled continuously for thirty-six hours,
without stoppage for rest and food. The
old law fixed the limit at twenty-eight
hours. cat the expiration of thirty
days." the inspectors will be directed to
report all Violations and these will be
transmitted to the Department of Justice
for institution of suit and the collection
of penalties. Under the old law, the
department pursued the plan of allowing
the railroad companies to confess judg-
ment and pay the minimum penalty of
800 per case. Thia practice will not
be followed in the enforcement OF this
law"
According to official reports received
at the War Department from Gen
Frederick Funston, commanding the
Department of California, he does not
think much more of the average officer
serving ~ the court martial than Assis-