Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-09-09

secret today with w. w. Beatle, vice
president Of the International Associa.
ton of Telegraphers. Gompers will
leave tonight for New York to confer
with President Small and other labor
leaders there.
The most notable case of land grating
the federal government has ever fought
came to an end today when the President
committed the two years imprisonment
sentence of aged Judge james l.. Brad
ford, of New Orleans, to expire October
20. He bad already served two months
of the time. The only condition under
which executive favor could be secured
was that Bradford should return to the
government the thousand or more acres
of valuable land in Louisiana which he
had fraudulently secured and pay the
fine of So, 500. Bradford, former resi-
dent of the District of Columbie, was
one of the SoUth's richest and most
prominent attorneys. On December %,
1905 he was convicted in New Orleans OF
the crime of conspiracy but fought with
every legal weapon possible up to the
Supreme Court of the United States
until June 10, of this year, when the
doors of the Parish prison closed on him.
Bowed with the weight OF 70 years and
the shocking disgrace, Bradford's con-
dition became so pitiful as to attract the
sympathetic support of bankers, clergy,
business and professional men in many
southern States. Many United States
Senators and Congressman used their in
6uence to secure pardon before he went
to Jail. The President refused all ap-
plications. Finally the prisoners age and
the state of his health prompted action,
but only after promise of full restitution
of his ili-gottOn property.
Honeymoon over, Chairman Knapp OF
the Interstate Commerce Commission, is
back at work. One of the first things
he will inquire into is the progress that
has been made in the preliminary ex-
animation into the business of the Hill
lines. When the Hartman inquiry was
begun last year, the order instiIuting
that investigation was made broad enough
to take ia all the railroads in the United
States. Last winter Minnesota lawyer
was engaged to ascertain whether the
Northern Pacific aud the Great Northern
we're being conducted in accordance with
law, but before he could make a report
he became i'll. The pressure of work
then had become so great that the COM
missioners were unable to pursue the
matter further at that time. Chairman
Knapp is pleased with the test that has
been made this year of the Erdman law.
Under il, he, as chairman of the Inter
state Commerce Commission, and Com
missioner Neil, of the Labor Bureau,
have been able to settle quickly and
amicably several labor disputes. The
application of the law shows, however,
that certain changes we're beneficial and
Congress will doubtless be called upon
this winter 10 make them. President
Roosevelt has discussed the suggested
changes with Chairman Knapp and Com
missioner Neill.
Tim mystery concerning The dislT-
pearance of Edwin II. Potts, abscOnding
bank clerk of the American National
Bank, supposed to be responsible for
$I1 900 in missing railroad bonds, was
augmented this morning when Cashier
Lynn, of the bank, received an envelope
containing three blocks of the stock.
President Roosevelt today approved
the mmendation Of Superintendent
Badher of the Naval Academy dismissine
Midshipman Oscar G. Salb, OF Indiana
and Clarence G. Riner, of Wyoming,
both of the fourth class, for "frenching."
1t was announced at the Department
of Justice today that the government Is
preparing to prosecute some OF the
Oregon land fraud cases at the fall term
of the Oregon federal court.
United States Judge r. w. Archibald, OF the
middle district of Pennsylvania, has beer
designated by Circuit Court Judge Gray Il
have the first motion in the case of the govern
ment against the powder trust at Whining
ton, Del, today. 1t is to secure jurisdiction
over the non resident defendants in Cleveland
Cincinnati and elsewhere. The department
of Justice is not advised whether the desig
nation of Judge Archibald is broad enough Il
give him absolute jurisdiction OF the po"de
trust suit.