Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-03-28
From Washington.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette. }
Washington, March 70

Correspondence OF the Ale1hnuria oa@e"''i
Washington, March %.
Scandalous conditions in the United
States Consular Service we're today dis
closed to the House of Representatives
by President Roosevelt and Secretary OF
State Root. John Gooduow, former
Consul General at Shanghai, and Robert
McWade, former Consul at Canton, are
made the subject OF official complaints.
There are eighty-two charges against
Goodnow arising in connection with the
collection of claims. and the conduct OF
his Office. McWade is charged with I'M
becoming conduct and with issuing false
Chinese certificates. President Roose-
welt today submitted to Congress the
report of former Third Assistant Secre-
taly Of State Herbert II. F. ID. Peirce,
dealing with the condition Of American
consnlates in the orient. Secretary Root
in transmitting the information called
for by House resolution calls alien
ton TO the fact that certain conhden-
tisl observations have been omitted.
He says: These reports disclose grave
misconduct on the part OF two consuls
formerly occupying important posts IN
the East. These cOnsuls are no longer
in the service. / regret to say, how
ever, that there are indications OF other
cases of misconduct or inefficiency
among consuls in various parts OF the
world" He argues from this that reg
ular and systematic supervision is shown
10 be the most essential requisite for the
good administration of the consular
service. The report also mentions sew
eral other consular officers by name who
have passed the age of usefulness.
MidshipmaE Minor Meriwether, Jr,
according to the report of the medical
board, passed the physical examination
for promotion from the third to the
! second class at the Naval Academy. II
is improbable that bis resignation will
be accepted by the department unless
failure 10 the mental examinations alters
his stnding
The State Department is informed
by Ambassador White at Algeciras that
the delegates from the several govern
ments have agreed upon the police
question, and have referred the matter
TO their government on the adreferen-
dunn basis on which the convention met.
1t is believed that the foreign Offices will
agree to the F'sncoS Spanish policing
plan with supervising inspector ans
weratle to the Sultan and the diplomatic
corps.
Orders were issued at the War Depart
ment today for Brig. Gen. j. r. Bell ia
proceed to Washington TO assume the
duties of Chief of Staff.
President Z osevelt sent fer District
Commissioner mcfarland this morning
and announced that it was his desire ia
resppoint him to serve third term as
District Commissioner.
Some difficulty attends the change i'll
ambassadors at Vienna. No response
has been received at the State Depart
ment TO Secretary Roots message to the
Austrian government of the recall OF Mr.
StOrer and the direction to Mr.. Rives to
act as charge d'effaires until the arrival
of Ambassador Francis. The Austrian
government, according to advices from
Mr.. Rives has expressed its unwilling
ness to receive the letter Of recall OF Mr.
Storer at the hands of IN emissary OF less
grade than an ambassador. Therefore
Mr.. Riyes will not present the letter Of
recall, and the Austrian government
knows of the change only by the mes
sage to that effect from Secretary Root.
Ambassador Francis will probably pre-
sent the letter of recall of his predecess )r
upon his arrival in Vienna. Mr.. Storer
who is now on his way back to Vienna
from Egypt, will spend but few days
in the Austrian capital, and will exercise
only the prerogatiyes of plain Amerl-
can citizen while there.
The races at Benning we're again large
ly attended today, the weather being the
best since the opening day. The sport
was fine.
Senator Martin was in the Senate yesterday
for the first time since his return from Able
marie, where he was called last week by the
fatal illness Of his mother.
II is said that Judge l.. l. Lewis will be
employed to represent the government IN the
prosecution of Representative Spencer Black
burn. of North Carolina, indicted for viola
ton of the federal statute in accepting fee
for practicing before one of the departments
while member of Congress.