Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-03-14
From Washington.
correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.l
Washington, March IA.

he will accept the seat on the bench OF
the Supreme Court of the United States
which has been offered him by the Pres
ident. His other brother, Cbas. p. Taft,
of Cincinnati, will be present at the
m, eiiDg as well as some OF the Secretary's
political and business friends. The
question will be considered from po-
litical as we'll as family and personal
standpoint. II Mr.. Taft does decide to
don The ermine the interesting prediction
is made that Senator Spooner, OF Wis
consiD, will be appointed to succeed him
~ Secretary, of War. His unpleasant
relations with his present colleague, La
toilette. are well known. 1t is under
stood that in case Secretary Taft retires,
the supervision OF Panama canal affairs
will be transferred to the State Depart
ment and that First Assistant Secretary
Bacon will be placed in direct charge
Another name that is being considered
az possible successor TO Secretary TAFT
should he decide to go on the bench is
that of Col John I. McCoOk, the New
York lawyer.
Senator Depew, who has been various
~ reported at different sanitariums, is
in reality at his home in New York city
and is a sick man. Senator Plat, who
made this statement, this morning, says
that Senator Depew is receiving no call
ers whatever. 1t is his understanding
that Mr.. Depew will not return to
Washington this session. Senator Plat
denies the rumor that Senator Depew
and his wife have separated.
The claims OF the Brooklyn navy yard
were eloquently set forth at the White
House this morning by delegation Of
New York and Brooklyn Congressman
who called to discuss the matter OF war
ship construction with the President.
The President promised to do what he
could for the yard and seized the OppOr-
tuuity Tor advancing his greater navy
propaganda. off Congress will au'
thor;ze the construction Of three battle
ships instead OF one" he told the Con-
gressmeD, "RrOOklyn navy yard will
stand a much better chance of building
o. than if the appropriation bill pro-
yiles for only two " The represents
tives promised to work and work hard
for three.
An interesting and significant fact has
developed in the railroad rate regulation
situation in the Senate. Senator A!drich
representing that element in the Senate
which desires the insertion of ameud-
mtnts in the Hepburn bill to ensure a
full review by the courts of rate decisions
made by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, has notified the other side that
he is ready for a vote. This, of course,
means that he and his colleagues are
confident that they have votes enough to
write into the Hepburn bill the amend
ments they want. Senator Aldrich's
challenge has not yet been accepted and
from the number of speeches that have
been scheduled it begins TO look as
though the opponents OF the court review
proposition, realizing the strength OF the
other side, are sparring for time.
''What we want in the consular SER
vice." said Secretary Root this morning
IN addressing the National Reform Con-
vention, 'fs men who have not burned
out the FIRE of lifej men who have not
gone beyond the ambition of lifei men
who will do work and accomplish their
success in the consular service. What
we need is more than some 1000 men
scattered in all the countries of the world.
We have come to the time for reform.
A service that did well enough when
there was little to do is not good enough
today. Let's apply to ii the business
capacity that the American people have
applied to everything else that they dc"
The convention adopted resolution be-
fore the Secretary appeared, approving OF
the Lodge bill, but regretting that GER
tain features, which they regarded as of
great importance, had been stricken out
of the original bill.
The President sent the following NOM
nations to the Senate today: To be
Brigader Geueral-Lieutenant Colonel
Charles F. Powell. (Gen. Powell is TO
be retired Immediately, to be succeeded
as Brigadier General by Colonel John
w Bubb.)
The Navy Department is preparing a
list of guests to be Invited to the John
Paul JONES' ceremonies at Annapolis,
April "A. The guests will Include the
Senators and Representatives in Con
gress, officers aud delegations of the yari-
Gus national patriotic societies, and the
members of the French Embassy here. |
Government officials, high officers OF the
army and navy and many prominent
persons will also be invited. The dip |
lomatic corps as body will not Re in
vited, no foreign representatives except |
the Frenchmen being asked.
Secretary Bonaparte will present to
the President tomorrow morning Mrs.
II. Jacobs Barton aud party of promi-
nent Baltimore society women, acting IS
a committee 20 urge upon the President
the necessity Of the interference of the |
federal government for the preservation
of Niagara Falls. The women represent |
several patriotic organizations. They
will also urge cooperation between the
United States and Great Britain to pre-
vent the destruction of the cataract By
diversion Of water for power purposes.
1t is not expected that another delegation
of Alexandria women will call on the
President ia the near future.
Representative Hardwick, OF Georgia,
Intends to offer resolution in the House
to empower the committee on election
of The President, Vice President and
members of Congress, to summon