Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-03-23
From Washington.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.l
Washington, March %.


The report of the Keep commission
on the agricultural work OF the Census
bureau will soon be submitted to Presi-
dent Roosevelt. This investigation was
made at the suggestion of Secretary Will
son OF the Department of Agriculture,
who took exceptions to the commission
adopting the figures of the Census bu'
raau as its standard in criticising the
work of the bureau of statistics OF his
department. 1t is understood that the
Secretary will not be able TO secure
much comfort from the new report.
The federal commission appointed to
Investigate the wreck of the steamship
Valencia, off Vancouver Island, Will
submit its report to the President with
in few days. The two members OF the
commission from Washington, Assistant
Secretary Murray, of he Department OF
Commerce and Labor, and Herbert Knox
Smith, deputy commissioner OF corpora
tions, are now in the city at work on
the report. 1t is understood that no
blame will be attached to the officials OF
the steamboat inspection service on the
north Pacific coast, where the wreck oc
Cured.
The House committee on the judiciary
Today. by a vote, decided that insurance
is not an object of interstate commerce,
and that Congress has not power to leg
isIate liz connection With it, A report
on the subject will be submitted to the
House later.
The House committee on arts and ex-
positions today authorized favorable re-
port on bill carrying the following APP
propriations for the Jamestown expOsi-
lion: $3.50. 900, direct appropriation !;
$500, 900 for a government pier $780,
900 for government building $50, 900
lor officers rendezvous 500, 900 for
rendezvous for enlisted men 500, 600
for transportation of soldiers; $l00, 600
to the negro development company,
which will hold an exposition 10 connec-
ton with the event. The committee also
considered an appropriation of S25, 600
for a pier at jamestown Island 50, 600
for enclosing the grounds, and $40, 600
to continue excavations there in search
Of antiquities. Mr. Gaines offered 40
amendment appropriatiDg 500, 900 for
private cars for the President. Mr..
Littauer, OF New York, 10 charge of the
bill, raised a point of order against the
amendment, and It WAS ruled out.
AIfoHzo Zelaya, son of the President
of Nicaragua, secured marriage license
today 20 wed Msrgarita Lee Baker, the
Young woman to whom he has been en-
gagged and from whom his parents have
made vain efforts to separate him. When
young Zelaya called at the marriage
license clerks office he was accompanied
by friend, w. c. Gaynor, who acted
as witness. Zelaya gave his age as 81,
his home Managua, Nicaragua, and his
brides age as Is. Rev. |. o Baker,
Zelaya said, would perform the ceremony
either today or tomorrow.
Tue executive council of the American
Federation of Labor has under consider
alton the advisabilily Of calling the at
tention of the public to the advantages
of giving TO the people the initiative and
referendum, at the same time that ii is
defending its bill of grievances presented
TO President Roosevelt and Speaker
Cannon this week. William SHIRLEY, OF
this city, appeared before the council
this morning and argued in favor of TAX
ing advantage OF the attention which
has been attracted to the cause of labor
through its bill of grievances to urge the
adoption of the initiative and referendum
The council, as with all other questions
which came before it this morning. de-
ferred action until all the matters to be
presented are in.
Secretary Frank Morrison OF the
American Federation of Labor, today
received the following letter from Presi-
dent Roosevelt;
March p. 1906.
Ny dear Mr.. Morrison: AT our interview
yesterday ] requested you to bring to my at
tention any specific cases Of violation Of the
eight-hOur law, | would like you TO call my
attention as seon as possible to any Of these
complaints, and shall at once forward them
10 Mr.. Neil, Of the Labor Bureau, and direct
him to investigate them aud report direct TO
me. Furthermore, ] shall hereafter direct
all departments having control Of work as to
which this law applies to notify the Depart
ment Of Commerce and Labor when the work
is begun, and ! shall notify the Secretary Of
the Department Of Commerce and Labor
whenever such notification reaches him To
notify the head of the Labor Bureau, whose
business it will then be to take cognizance Of
any complain made Is to violations of this
law, TO Investigate the same and TO report 70
me. As you know, ! not only sympathze with
you and the eight hour law, but | intend, as
in the matter Of course 20 see that that law IL
efficiently enforced. NJ belief is that you
will find that with Commissioner NELL per
sonally supervising the enforcement OF the
law all just complaints will be met.
Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Secretary Bonaparle wishes to correct
report which has gained widespread
circulation as TO his testimony before
the House committee on naval affairs.
dr. Bonsparte was quoted as saving
that there was a conspiracy among the
midshipmen 10 maintain a lower stand
ard Of scholarship than might be main
tanned, star men being frowned upon for
their studiousuess. As a matter OF fact,
Mr. Bonspsrte in answer to question
stated that there was no such con-
spiracy, but that as in other schools
men standing high in their studies were