Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-01-07
From Washington.

States has not been formally sgreed up
on. II is understood that 10 substance
negotiations have been concluded, and
that the document itself will be ready
for signatures within a few days. The
agreement will bring about no material
changes in the existing tariff arrange
mems. Tho most important feature Will
be the creation of a commission in the
United States To work with a similar
commission 10 France, which will in
spect and mutually report upon the OPP
GRAFTON of the present tariff and ADJUST
some of the difficulties that Lave arisen
over the application Of the pure food law
and other regulations. The object
of the negotiations on the part oil
the United States is merely to main
tain certain advantages IS the result
of the application of the minimum
tariff on American products by France.
These are mainly petroleum, the bulk OF
which imported by France comes from
the United States aud Porto Rican stuff.
10 return for these concessions the
United States will grant q twenty per
cent. decrease on chsmpagnes imported
from France. If this concession were
not granted, the French government,
under existing tariff laws, will be obliged
to raise the duty on the American prod
ucts involved in the treaty which are
now admitted at the minimum rate, cut
ting Of a large foreign market. 1t will
be seen, therefore, that America simply
continues to enjoy the present advantages
in return for the concession regarding
imports of champagne.
To Secretary COItelyOu's alleged po-
litical aspirations is ascribed the reluc-
lance of Assistant Postmaster General
Hitchcock formally to align himself
with the business end OF the Taft boom.
He hes had an offer under consideration
for more than week. 1t is understood
to have been q fattering one, providing
among other things that he devote his
whole time to the TAFT candidacy, at a
salary at least equal to what he is now
paid. The answer Hitchcock made
President Roosevelt and Secretary Taft
when invited to get on the band wagon
was that che would consult with Sscre-
tary Corlelyou. Hitchcock is loyal to
his friend and former chief in the Post
Office Department, and those on the in
side declare that be will accept no offer
from any presidential candidate until
be receives assurance from Cortelyou
that the latter will not enter the presi'
Dental game. Powerful Influences from
the middle west are opposing the selec'
ton of Hitchcock as TAFT manager.
Secretary Of the Interior Garfield does
not favor the selection. 1t was stated
on trustworthy authority today that
Hitchcock had not declined the Taft Of.
fer, as had been reported in a morn
ing paper.
The great legal battle over the inter-
probation of the rebate laws of the land
was on in earnest today in the U. s.
Supreme Court. The Great Northern
Railway Company, which is directly in
terested, the Standard Oil Company,
aud a number of other railroads indirect
| " concerned, had host of lawyers 10
the court, while Attorney General Bona
parte and Assistant Attorney General
Purdy represented the government. The
Great Northern attorneys are asking the
court to vacste judgment Of the lower
court, which fined that road $15, 900 for
grant rebates TO the w. P. Deveyeaux
Company, on goods shipped from Min
neapolis to Seattle. The fines had been
imposed under the Elkins act, but after
the pzs,ge of the Hepburn ratio law.
The railroad aud the Standard Oil,
which has something OF a fine itself TO
pay for accepting rebates, assert that
one of the clauses of the Hepburn act
releases railroads and shippers from all
penalties for violating the snti-rebate
provisions of the Elkins act in cases
where prosecutions had not already been
begun at the date Of the passage of the
Hepburn acI.
Assistant Attorney General Goodwin
of the postofiice department who is the
authority on the admisSibly Of matter to
the mails, has decided that Mrs, Elmer
GYMS book, "Thles weeks" is obscene.
Iuasmuch as Judge Goodwin has de-
clsred the book TO be unfit for circuls-
ton through the mail. it is practically
certain that poslmasters detecting copies
oft in the mails, will now refuse delivery.
Representative Slemp of Virginia
was today named by Speaker Cannon
as a member of the committee on ac-
counts and on private land claims.
Richard A, BalliDger, of Iowa, COM
missioner Of the general land office, has
resigned, and his assistant, Fred Den
nett of North Dakota, has been sp-
pointed in his place.
REPRESENTATIVES Kahn and Hayes of
San Francisco called at the White
House today to try 10 change the Pres
idents opinion upon the subject of Jap
anese exclusion. 1t is not believed that
they succeeded.
The President today sent to the Senate
iodsy the nomination of George w.
Wsnnsmaker, of New York, to be ap.
praiser of merchandise 10 the district Of
New " :, George W. Wannamaker, of
New YrSk. The president also sent is
the non nation of Captain John q. PILE
bury to le chief If The Bureau of NAvi-
CATION with rank Of Rear Admiral to sue
coed Adm sifsl Crownsou, He also named
Lieutena " Commander Edward Ii.
Campbell 10 be Judge Advocate General
Of the Navy,
"The Virginia julep is more sncculent
and not near so dangerous to preaiden-
tial aspirations as the Fairbanks cock
tail" With this assurance as per-
suader, Secretary Taft was today invited