Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-02-10
From Washington.
Correspondence of the Alexandra Gazette
Washington, Feb. 10.

limelight and give the Senate chance.
For more than four weeks it has monop-
olized the attention of the country IN
its endeavors to carry out the various
features of the administration pro-
gramme. The work has been done. III
has provided an emergency approPrla-
ton for carrying on the WORK on the
Panama canal; it passed the Philippine
tariff bill; it passed the double statehood
bill, and last it passed the Hepburn
railroad rate regulation measure upon
which the Senate committee has agreed
to submit a report on February 10.
Three of the most important subjects
peudine in the Senate will be advanced
a stage during the next week. The ship
subsidy bill will be voted upon next
Wednesday afternoon. There is no
doubt that it will be passed, though 1t Is
said in the House that it will not be
given consideration there at this session.
As soon as the ship subsidy bill has been
disposed of, the statehood bill will be
taken up. The railroad bill will be re-
ported from committee on Friday next
and take its place on the calendar.
Ia committees the investigation oil
Panama canal affairs will continue
and there will be more hearings
on the Philippine tariff bill. The
programme in the House Tor next
week contains some matters OF general
public interest. Monday, devoted to
legislation for the District of Columbia,
will be enlivened by a debate on the
bill for the establishment of a whipping
post for wife-besters. On Tuesday the
ratification appropriation bill will be
taken up, to be followed by the army
appropriation bill, carrying about $780,
900, 900 and embodying provisions to
abolish the grade Of lieutenant general
and to prevent the retirement of briga.
der generals at their own request until
hey shall have served one year in that
capacity. The House will adjourn on
Friday over Monday, in order that mem
bers who are invited may have an OPP
portunity of attending the Longworth-
Roosevelt nuptials.
Messenger boys and express-wagon
drivers are arriving at the White House
10 an almost continuous procession with
wedding presents for Miss Alice. Many
of the packages bear foreign stamps and
quite large proportion Of these are evil
IDENTIFY of considerable value If the marks
placed upon them are to be believed.
Dressmakers, milliners and modists have
almost hourly canoes with Miss Roose-
welt and the last gowns and dainty ar
ticies of the trousseau are rapidly near
ing completion.
Congressman Nicholas Longworth is
still sick man, but his condition is
improving and he takes things philo-
sophically. With an occasional visit
from his fisncee and frequent telephone
messages to encourage him, he is quite
willing TO make the best of bis enforced
retirement. This morning he was with
on. fever, but still 10 some distress, suf-
ficient to make it advisable TO remain in
bed. At noon today Representative
Longworth's condition was reported to
be considerably improved. Mr.. Long
worth expects TO be out on Monday.
The compromise proposition IN connec-
ton with the pending railroad rate
legislation upon which an effort is
being made in the Senate committee
to secure an unanimous agreement is said
to provide that the railroads shall be
given specific power to appeal to the
courts as the "lawfulness" of an order
made by the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Neither hf use of Congress was in ses-
sion today having adjourned yesterday
till Monday.
Secretary Taft is seeking war chest
for possible military operations in China.
When the time comes for the United
States to land a column Of infantry ar
tillery in Chinese territory, there will
be small chance for preparation or appro :
pration of money by Congress to defray
the expences. An army officer, who
within the past few years made an ex-
teusive tour of China in the interest of the
Military Information Bureau, said Today
"The Chinese masses are smoldering and
it is only a question of time when the
new spirit fostered by agitstors will
cause the people to burst forth in a
seelhing fame Of resentment against
foreigners" Secretary Root and Secre-
tsry Taft ore agreed upon the danger OF
this combustion and the necessity OF
strong measures by the United States to
face the trouble when it arrives.
ny vote of to the House commit
tee on merchant, marine and fisheries
today ordered favorable report on the
bill removing compulsory p:lotage from
sailing vessels in the cosstwise trade.
The pilots associations from all over The
country have been fighting the measure
vigorously.
The House committee on approprl-
atoms dropped its age on Secretary
Shaw's emergency bill aud Topped of
about $50, 900 that he asked for the pay
ment of salaries in the custom houses,
postofices aud appraisers stores build
ings throughout the country. Secretary
Shaw has now announced that about 20
employees will be dropped and $50 re-
duced as a direct result OF this economy,
aud although that announcement wal
made only Yesterday and in the most