Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-09-04
From Washington

FROM WaSuluSIOH.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
The Department Of Justice is awaiting
with some impotence a report from
United States District Attorney Sims,
giving his reasons why he secured con-
tinuance of the Chicago and Alton re-
bate case at Chicago yesterday instead OF
disposing of the matter in accordance
with the instructions of the Att orney
General. Should District Attorney Sims
reasons for delay not prove satisfactory,
or should he refuse to execute further
orders in the Alton case, it is limited
that his official head may fall. Acting
Attorney General Russell is expecting
instructions from Attorney General Bon
apar.e, who is summeriDg at Lenox,
Mass, and who was Immediately advised
from here of the actions of the district
attorney. So far as officials OF The De
partment Of Justice know, Sims notified
no one that he purposed pOsiponing the
cases or that he had secured cout'nu-
ance. There is an impression that the
action, following a conference between
the district attorney and Judge Lands,
has decided bearing upon the Standard
Oil case.
All 'of the five Central American
States having accepted the proposition
advanced by Presidents Roosevelt and
Diaz for the assembling of & conference
to discuss means for the establishment
of basis of permanent peace N that
section of the world, interchsnges are
now taking place between the represent
stives of Costa Rics, Nicaragua, Guate-
mala, Honduras and Salvador, on the
one side, and the United States and
Mexico on the othe', with the object OF
arriving at conclusion as to where
and when the conference shall be held
and how many delegates to it shall be
sent by each of the interested republics.
There have been a number OF diverse
views presented on most of these ques-
tons but all seem to favor the idea OF
holding the conference in this city. As
for the time when it shall meet suggestions
have been made ranging all the way
from next December until next April.
The probabilities are that it will not
meet until the spring after Secretary OF
State Root has had an opportunity to
discuss the general Central American
situation with President Diaz, during
his coming visit 10 Mexico.
In view of the fact that the cases have
been carried to the Circuit Court of APP
peals and because Standard officials
have openly declared that the 500, 24O,-
900 fine will never be paid, 1t may be
that Judge Lands considers discretion
the better part of vslOr and that he will,
through District Attorney Sims, ask the
Department of Justice TO postpone ex-
tending immunity to the Chicago and
Alton people until a ruling has been had
from the higher court on disputed points.
n is no secret that District Attorney
Sims has consistently maintained that
although the railway people entered into
the immunity agreement with his pre-
decessor, they did not execute 1t in good
faith.
Midshipmen Clarence G. Riner, Of
Cheyenne, Wyoming, and o. G. Salb,
OF Indiana, fourth class men at the Naval
Academy, have appealed to the secre-
tary of the Navy against the sentence OF
d smissal passed upon them by Captain
Badger, superintendent of the academy.
The two men%ere charged with french
ing, Tor absence without leave. They went
over the walls of the academy grounds,
attended theatre party, and afterwards
entertained the chorus ladies at a late
supper. 10 attempting to return to the
academy at an early hour oil the morn
ing they we're caught. The boys say
they do not see why they should be dis
missed when other midshipmen, guilty
of the same ofiense, have been let off with
only fifty dement's against them. Not
withstanding this plea it is believed that
both the Secretary and the President, to
whom the case must go for final action,
will approve Captain Badgers recon-
mendatiou for the purpose of assisting
him in maintaining the discipline of the
academy. Two midshipmen of the first
class are also 10 trouble with probable
dismissal staring them in the face
George F. Humbert, of Pennsylvania
and James E. Austin, of New York.
They overstayed their leaves OF absence.
Acting Secretary Of the Navy New
berry has received letter from Presi-
dent Roosevelt requesting him to con-
graduate, in the Presidents name, the
officers and men who composed the
navy rife teams at the national shooting
match at Camp Perry, OHIO, on the ex-
cellent records they made. He also ex-
tends his congratulations to the mid
shipments team which had never CON-
ps ell before but which won sixth place
out Of As contestants.
George d. Souder has been appointed
postmaster at Dovesville, Rockingham
county, vice George Fittig. removed.