Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-04-27
From Washington.
Correspondence OF the Alexandra Gazeti

,Corspondence OF the Alexandria Gazette.
There is no one sitting on the admin
istration lid today, all the heavyweights,
aud, in fact all the members Of the
cabinet, as we'll as the President, being
oat of the city at one time. Aside from
This, nearly all of the First Assistant Sec
retaries are away. For brief hour
yesterday afternoon there was no head
to the State Department, which is with
out precedent, Secretary Root being
compelled to leave at $3.50 o'clock and
Third Assistant Secretary Wilson being
called home from jamestown 10 be act
ing secretary today. Secretary TAFT Of
the War Department, left during the
afternoon for Cincinnati, and, Gen.
Oliver, Assistant Secretary of War, being
at the exposition, the duties OF acting
Secretary fell today upon Major Gen. +.
/. Ainsworib, the Acjutant General.
Secretary Cortelyou and Secretary
Metcalf, of the Navy Department, as
members of the commission, went to the
exposition. 1t so happened that the
five cabinet members who did net 60 TO
jamestown are ell out of the city today.
SO far as is known, only twice before
within a score or more years has the
President and all the members OF his
cabinet been out OF Washington at one
time-to attend the funeral Of Secretary
of State Gresham, at Indianapolis, and
the funeral of President Mckinley, at
Canton. As consequence of this sit
uation, there is little business of impor-
lance, aside from the routine, being done
today.
Representative Theodore Burton, Of
Ohio, chief OF the J-am-for- TAFT advance
guard, returned to Washington from
Trenton, N. j., today, we'll pleased
with the wild-Gre enthusiasm with which
the name of William Fl. Taft, as the
next President, was greeted by the re-
publicans of that city. He thinks that
New Jersey can be counted on in the
convention for Taft. After dealing with
the problems of the day as handled by
President Roosevelt, Burton. in his
speech, showed how Taft had been
proficient off ,er in carrying out the
Presidents ideas.
The big land conspiracy case against
the San Francisco real estate syndicate,
composed Of John Benson, Frederick a.
Hyde, Henry P. Dlmond and Joost II.
Schneider, set for trial here next week
before a jury in the Supreme Court OF
the District Of Columbia, was today post
poned by Justice Stafford until October
on representations that it will occupy
three or four months, and thus would
seriously interfere with the vacation
sesson if called next week. 1t has been
on the docket since 1908. The indict-
ments charge conspiracy hstched in
this city in 1901 to defraud the United
States out of many thousands OF acres OF
public land in the west. 1t is alleged
that these men, operating through the
names OF fictitious persons, acquired
certain school lands In Oregon and Cali
fornia by false entries and forged sigma
lures, tue cnlIltb lhtCI OcluS tihhoioitcu
With the help Of information from SUBJ
sidized clerks in the General Land Office.
The jury in the case of Binger Her
mann, of Oregon, former land comIais-
sioner, charged With destroying govern:
ment records, returned verdict Of not
guilty this afternoon at 1915. The jury
had been out since $3.50 Yesterday after
noon. They received additional instruc-
tons from the court this morning. Her
mann received the verdict with unusual
calmuess. He said afterwards: at was
only what expected. | Was innocent,
and my friends have always believed me
to be so. Needless to say that | am
very greatly pleased 10 have my honor
thus indicated" When the jury came
in to ask for further instructions this
Justice Stafford told them that
they must be satisfied beyond q reason
able doubt that Hermann knew there
we're official letters in-the press copy
books which he destroyed, before they
could find him guilty.
Rev. Edward Fink for number Of years
pastor Of 81. AlOysins Church, has been or
dered to ST. Francis Xavier College. in New
York. He will be succeeded By Rev. Joseph