Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-10-07

10 be heard in the u. 5. Supreme Court
today q number OF persons gathered at
II g Capitol TO hear the arguments but as
the court does not meet till next Monday
of course they we're disappointed.
Twenty-seven hundred complaints,
two hundred of which are regularly
docketed casts, confronted the Inter
state Commercs Commission, when it
resumed its session after the summer re-
cess today. Not all of these csses will
be given the formally of hearing. A
portion will be taken up by special ex-
aminers, who will present the facts to
the commission for a decision. Some
criticism of the freight law has deyel-
oped since its application by the COM
mission. 1t is said that the phraseology
is not sufficiently accurate, particularly
with reference to the distinction between
companies and railroads. but the dispo-
sition seems to be TO test it further,
leaving its Interpretation 10 the COM
mission rather than endanger 1t by
again bringing it before Congress Tor re-
vision.
Several officers of the United States
army with game legs, fatty hearts, or
cantankerous liyers, fled mournfully into
the offices of surgeons of the army today
for examination in order to avoid the
killing horseback ride that President
Roosevelt has decreed all revolving chair
soldiers 10 Washington shall take tomor-
row. The ride is destined to go down
in history, for among these staff tfii GERS
are q number who can no more navigate
a horse than they could stick on the
COW that jumped over the moon. The
examinations left about thiriy-fve OIL
GERS physically fit to start. Fifteen miles,
FIVE on trot and FIVE on a gallop, is the
test. Envious eyes are turned toward
some of the officers who have saddle
horses in the city to which they are
accustomed. Officers who don't own
steeds, and who will be required TO take
mounts from Fort Myer, are mighty
glad that they 60 forth to do or die Oh
animals that are at least used to the
clank of the saber on the side. While
most of the officers privately denounce
the stunt as the most atrocicus thing
they ever heard Of, few of the young
sters are highly elated. II any OF the
old codgers should be retired because
of their bad horsemsuship, the chances
of the younger officers for promotion
would be improved just that much.
West Virginia has lowered the pride
Of Illinois by passing that State In the
production of coal. From 1876 to 1906,
illinois was the second State in the
union in the production of this fuel,
Pennsylvania being first. According to
a statement OF the Geological Survey,
issued today, West Virginia mined more
coal in 1906 than Illinois. Ohio comes
fourth, and Alabama crowds Indiana out
of fifth place into sixth.
The October number of The Navy, a
service publication, one of whose editors
is supposed to be retired admiral, con-
tinues its expose of alleged defects in the
construction Of The new baltleships. II
charges that the water-belt armor line is
placed too low, so that when the ships
are loaded with coal, supplies and am
munition, ready for actual war service,
these belts are either awasb, or 80 near
ly 30 as to fail to provide the protection
for which they we're intended.
The Treasury Department received a
letter today, pcs!msrked New York, and
signed ga Catholic" enclosing five ten
dollar bills, out of which the writer said
he had dcfrauied the governmental pay
of uar taA OH Wall street sIUcks aud
bonds.