Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-05-10
From Washington.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, May 10.


ment has been an active and successful
bidder in the worlds market for foreign
military secrets strike officers of the war
and navy departments here IS magma
tive. Foreign governments, particularly
those deeply interested in the balance
of war power in Europe, where the
smallest advantage is carefully guarded
lest it be shared by possible adversary,
are Just now unusually prone to allege
spying and bribery against other govern
meuts. 1t is a departure, however, Tor
the United States to be charged with
this kind of work. First Great Britain
believes the United States guilty OF hay-
obtained plans of the Dreadnought, the
new IS, 900 ton battIeship just built at
Chatham. Germany believes that GER
tain naval employees have sold TO u.
). diplomatic representative the secret
of a German naval torpedo and three
men have been implicated in the treach-
ery. As matter of fact, it is alleged thai
the u. 8. government has never officially
purchased any secrets for the very good
reason that such purchases are notorious
~ expensive and an economical Congress
sees to it that money is appropriated only
for the most honorable and necessary
purposes. There is no item of either
The army or navy appropriation bills
which by any stretch of imagination
could be made to cover EXPENSES entaied
In buying the honor of foreign officers
and the secrets of their governments.
The United States has really no need OF
keeping up the elaborate spying service
which governments like France and Ger
many are said to find indispensable. 1t
NAV be said, however, that while there
are only official denials for the story that
me Navy Department has obtalnhd the
Dreadnought plans some well informed
persons assert that American naval con-
struclors are very familiar with the latest
opinions prevailing in the British adj
miraty on baltleship construction
The State Department will, If com
plaint is made, catalogue the cases OF
the American fishing schooners Rsymah
and Pathia, seized two days ago by Ca
madam cruisers l1r alleged fishing with
in the Canadian three mile limit OF Cape
North. A number of disputed cases are
now before the department. In case the
,chOoners we're within the three mile
limit, and no controversy arises as to
the fact, the department will not attempt
to help the fishermen. They are faml'
liar with the law and know that they
commit poaching at their peril. If it is
Ease of territorial line being indefinite
N account of a projecting headland
which might offer ground for diplo-
matte inquiry the department may act
on behalf of the GlOucesiermen. The
Departments prOst to Great Britain
over alleged unjust seizures by the New
foundland authorities has not yet been
presented to the British government.
Secretary Metcalf of the Department
of Come cree aud Labor today through
Secretary Shaw of the Treasury Depart
ment requested Congress TO appropriate
500. 900 additional for the construction
of the immigration station at Angel
Island, a. San Francisco. Walter j.
Mathew. the architect, urged this in
crease when he submitted the completed
plans to the secretary upon the latter 5
recent trip TO California. The earth
quake, it is estimated, has greatly in
creased the cost of construction. Secre-
tary Melcalt is anxious TO give employ
ment TO labOrers at San Francisco aud is
DESTROYS of beginning work on the station
at once. The erection of the buildings
will not be delayed by the earthquake,
Mr.. Mathews Office building OF eleven
stories in Oakland, said to have been
three feet out of plum. not having been
damaged more than $50 by the shocks.
Owing to the fact that nearly all the
buildings he erected wilhstJod the
shock, SINCE the earthquake he has had
to give nearly all bis time TO consulting
architects from all parts of San Fran
cisco.
That the Germans are fast becoming
dog eaters in the Fatherland is show by
officials reports that 2,4O5 dogs we're
slaughtered in Germany during the
fourth quarter of 1905 as against l,7G2
during the same period Of 1904. Horses.
too, we're not such bad eating evidently,
for during the last quarter of 1905, 3d.
5S4 were slaughtered ia the Empire.
Associate Justice Harlan, OF the Su-
preme Court of the United States, today
obtained 3 marriage license for his grand
daughter. Edith Harlan Child, OF this
city, and Erastus Corning, of Albany,
New York. Rev. Wallace Radcliffe, OF
the New York Avenue Presbyterian
CHURCH will conduct the services on
May II.
Senator Blackburn, of Kentucky, call
ed at the Whit House today TO invite
the President to attend the commence
ment exercises at the State College at
Lexington on June 7. The President
said that it would be impossible iJr him
TO leave Washington at that time,
1t is said that the United States, at
The coming Hague Peace Conference,
will support any proposition which may
be introduced by the British representa-
tives looking toward the reduction in
armament among the powers. The aO-
lion Of the House of Commons yesterday
in adopting a motion directing the Brit
ISL government to take drastic steps inthis
direction leaves the way clear for the adj
ministrs.ion here to follow policy at the
Hague toward which il is said to be very
friendly, but for the initiation OF which
the authorities OF the State Department