Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-08-03
From Washington
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington, Aug. 8

law. and the member who WAS chosen by
the House committee on interstate and
foreign commerce to lead the tight for
rate legislation on the floor of the
House, has prepared for the unite
press timely discussion of the rate
situation with particular reference to
conditions in North Carolina and other
states where there is conflict between
The States and federal authorities.
Mr.. Townsend concluded his articles as
follows: The railroad agitation now ex-
tant ought to be crystalizsd into q
policy at once fair to the railroad and
lust to the people. In my judgement
this can only be brought to pass by one
uniform plan or law, and that adopted
and enforced by the general government.
II this is rot done and each state is
permitted to regulate q portion OF
the interstate system in what
seems to be its own interests, but
without regards to the rights and
interests of others there will be no
such thing as equality and justice.
The dersl government is thoroughly
arlused to its responsibility in referenc
to interstate commerce and there will be
no STEPS backward. Ii the carriers
should foolishly persist in fighting just
regulation, an appraisal and valuation
of their properties by the government
may be necessary in order that it may
be known whether more than a just
return upon their Investment is being
exactcd from the people, and it is more
than possible that all carriers may be
forced to incorporate under a national
law. The North Carolina incidents are
fastening the day and it seems certain
that capital stock of carriers to be is
sued in the near future will be confined
to property as real tangible basis of
value. Until the present law has been
fairly tried, am expecting any great
or radical changes in it.
The record Of million cubic yards OF
excavation per month on the Panama
Canal, for which engineers have
been striving, has been reached and
passed. Cable advices from Panama to the
Offices of the Isthmiau Canal Commis-
sion 10 this city today announce the feet
that during the month Of July last a
total of l OBS, 776 cubic yards Of ma
terial was dredged out of the canal
channel. The news of the achieve
ment was received with great satisfaction
by the canal officers here. 1t not only Is
the largest months work done yet but, il
the record is kept up, as there is every
reason to expect that it vii BE-, it means
that the canal will be completed within
the time calculations of the engineers,
that is to say in about five years.
The United States has money coming
to it from Spain. 1t will be news TO
most people that Spain has been in our
debt for the lest seventy years or more
and it may come something like shock
10 learn that the debt is about to be
paid, despite the fact that war has &C.
CURED between the two countries in
the meantime "a condition which
usually yiliates all contracts and OBJ
legations. The State Department today
made public translation OF royal
decree signed by King Alfonso, OF Spain,
June 10Th last, authorizing the minister
of finance to pay to the United States
the debt acknowledged by the conven-
ton between Spain aud the United
States in 1884. 10 that convention the
Spanish government promised to pay a
balance due for damages done to Ameri-
can shipping and commerce amounting
to $4,000, 900 "rials velloD," which is
5000, 900 in American money, "fn in
scriptions of perpetual rentes."
A petition will be presented to Presi-
dent Roosevelt next week, asking that
the Chinese exclusion laws be repealed.
The document is in the hands Of M. ID.
Kercheval, of Sacramento, representa-
tive of the International Equity League,
of California, composed largely of fruit
growers who want to use Chinese coolies
as laborers in their orchards. After
stating that Chinese labor would increase
the products of the state, and therefore
increase the opportunities of employ
ment of white labor in the transporta'
ton and distribution Of such products,
the petition says "To save California
from the decadence of her industries re-
lated TO the soil, we demand admission
to this state, in equal numbers, of Chin
ese and Japanese fee laborers. and to
the enforcement OF this demand we
pledge every energy and effort that the
extinct of self-presvrvation can call into
action"
Today's treasury ststemsnt were: Rec
eipts 81, 779, $40; expenditures 81, $780,
600.
U. s, Minister Beaupre has reported to the
State DEPARTMENT that on a re-examinatiOn Of
the consignment of American deviled ham
which was refused admission TO the Argentine
Republic on the ground that it contained no
10 AK in harmful quantities the experts of that
government have discovered that ii contains
absolutely no borax and the consignment has
been admitted.
Fire which started in the developing room of
photographed gallery, damaged the Hudson
Building, 9]2-934936 + street, northwest,
early today 10 the extent OF SlV,UUO. "A num-
be of officers in the building were damaged
and the store below suff .red from water.
TALK OF EXTRA SESSION.
1.-THE Corporation Commission make0
the request Governor Swanson will order
an extra session of the legislature to
deal with amendments TO the copstitu-
ton concerning the two-cent rate case.
Commissioner Henry O. Stuart said 10
Richmond, yesterday, that, in the alb
sence of his colleagues, he did not care
to discuss the matter. The States coun-