Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-03-26
From Washington.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette. !
Washington, March &c.


Cuba aud tho excellent work the United
States medical officers have done in
cleaning up the entire Island. During
the ak months United States troops
have been ia Cuba there has been only
one case OF yellow fever among them
and on the whole their general health
has been remarkably good. Unusual
care il being taken by the medical Off.
GERS stationed in Cuba to maintain the
island in sanitary condition. The
army is using an incinefator for the de-
struction OF ali excreta and Major Kean
has done everything possible to keep the
city of Havana clean. The water used
by the army is all sterilized.
That the administrator il somewhat
worried over decentralization Of panicky
conditions in New York Is manifest
from the action taken by Secretary Cor
telyou yesterday. Despite the admins
tralion's known opposition to tue policy
of Choking up" with Wall street, and
the recent announcement that the prac-
lice Of accepting railroad bonds as secu
rity for public deposits would be dis
continued, the Secretary after consulta-
ton with the President, offered to sub
st!tute high grade railroad and other
bonds for government iOurs of19O7. Only
last week the Treasury Department re
fused 10 make such q substitution for a
New York house for million dol
lars worth Of governments. Now, it
10 proposed to exchange something
like $l2,000,000 Of them. 1t is
believed that this action ia the re-
suit of recent conversations the Presi-
dent has had with railroad maguates
and other fnanciers, and that the pur-
pose Is TO demonstrate that the admins
trstion is not in the hostile frame Of mind
toward the railroad intereEs that has
been charged. Several Of the Presl-
dents callers, it is understood, attri-
buted the dIscrediting OF railroad secnri-
ties In the foreign markets to the sup
posed attitude Of the administration, In
making the present concession, which Is
said to be only temporary expedient,
the President, 1t is reported, does not
propose 10 recede from the genera prin-
ciple that the government ought to keep
out of Wall street. 1t has been repre-.
sented to him that thee government would
be responsible for panic, if one should
come. Although moi agreeing to such
proposition, 10 view Of the apparent seri-
business Of the present financial situation,
be Is willing to afford such relief at this
time as he can. This is what is said by
the defenders
Tbs Secretary Of the Treasury today
directed the deposit Of customs receipts
in national bank repositories of New
York city. This is an enlargement Of a
recent order Issued by him. " will in
crease the public deposits in that city
about SIS, 100000 Another statement
was issued an!iSln8tippsGz xii "si6d fhe' tour
per cent SS5Sh 81 1907, due April /, 80
as to make 1t payable Immediately.
Consisely put the known relief to the
money msrket in New York will be this:
| Immediate deposit OF accumulated cus-
toms receipts in public repositories Sl5
900, 900. Daily additions hereafter ST.
900, 900 Anticipated interest On bonds
| So, 100000. The national bank call Of
| Comptroller Of the Currency is taken in
financial circles to mean Ego almost as
far as you please in an emergency" al
though legally banks are supposed to
maintain their reserve intact.
It Ia q recognized fact, however, that
National bankscan materially ease up
and extend MD that they would refuse
In the face Of an approaching call for a
statement Of their condition. Secretary
Cortelyou, In explanation Of his action,
said it could be tskeu as indicative OF
generous policy" He said he was not
prepared to say when he would order
customs receipts placed In repositories
In other sub-treasury cities than New
York. The SecrelaryT formal announce
meut concludes. This action was
taken with q view 10 facilitating the re-
demption Of the four per cent bonds of
1907 and slsO to render available ad
ditional funds for the usual disburse.
ments occurring on the lat proximo."
While Secretary Of War Taft Is in
Panama he will take under considera-
ton the claims OF the various classes of
workmen on the canal that they are en-
titled TO q higher rate Of pay then they
arc now receiving. The workmen in
the canal zone have recently been OF
ganizing into unions and, while there is
no present strike OF any great proper
ton q strike Of dangerous size may not
be among the early improbsbiities.
An i1tol,rable condition is being
created In Central America. From the
American legation st Tegucigslps, the
ospital Of Honduras, the report comes
that President BOnilla, after the disss.
trous eight st Choluiecs, has recognized
his army and ia preparing to continue
the war with Nicaragua. The trium-
plant announcement from the victorious
Nicaraguans that Bonilla was fleeing, for
the purpose of getting out Of the country,
wSs, therefore, incorrect. On the other
hand the report from Nicaragusn sourcsE
that President Zelsya has oci upied the
Hondursn capital is probably correct
President Bonila has gathered around
him the scattered remnants of his army
aud is making an attempt 10 proloDg
the conflict in the hope thst other Of the
Central American States will come to
hia assistance.
President Roosevelt today announced
the appointment Of the members Of the
Immigration Commission which is to