Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-02-19
From Washington.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Ga1ette.l
Washington, d. O., February IL.

| WdsuluBtOnf ~ ~
Surgeon General P. NJ. Rixey, of the
Navy Department, is about to win out
over the Bureau OF Navigation 10 an
other fight regarding the matter OF hos
pital ships. DR.. Rixey has recommend
ed that the SoIace, which was used BY
the navy as q hospital ship in the Span
lisb- American war, be fitted out for hos
pilql purposes, to be commanded By a
medical officer. CoincideDt with this
recommendation was one from the Navi-
CATION Bureau that the Solace be fitted
out az "motber ship" for the subma.
rine fotilla that is to be shortly orgs-
uized on the Pacific coast. After having
the question under consideration for
some time, Secretary Metcalf has direct
ed that survey Of the SOlsce be made
| T. determine the expense necessary, to Nc
her out TOR hospital purposes.
Astounding revelations In the grant,
ing of rebates by railroads In Virginia,
are promised as the outcome OF an
inquiry begun 10 the federal court build
iug, at Richmond, today. Interstate
Commerce Commissioner Lane, who has
become known as the Hartman in
uuisitor, left here last night TO institute
such an inquiry into the operations oil
iuterstate lines 10 the South, as he
expects he will disclose an illegal stu
alton, duplicating prominent railroad
Official. The greatest secrecy has sur.
rounded the inquiry. 1t is announced
upon excellent suthoritythst the necessity
for these unusual precautions was to pre-
vent giving alarm to the railroad CON-
psny said to be involved and thus
enable Commissioner LaDe to secure
records disclosing a startling crime be-
fore any attempt could be made to have
them destroyed.
Chief Constructor Oapps, Of the Navy
Department, personally conveyed to the
naval affairs committee OF the House to-
day his detailed report on naval construc
ton, which was prepared by direction oil
Secretary Metcslf. The report, which
was submitted toSecretsrY Metcalf Mon
day, was approved by him late es'erday,
and the chief constructor was instructed
to transmit the document 10 the nsva
affairs committee of each house. Each
committee will be requested to have the
report published as publ document n
order that it may be available to all who
are interested in the reply TO the criti'
cisms of Artist Rsuterdahl and the Navy
Magazine. The report is longer thar
that of Rear Admiral Converse, which
was made public Monday, and covers
over 100 typewriter psges. Secretary
Metcalf is greatly impressed with the
value of the technical information given
In detail 10 the report, and will have 6
copy of it placed in the hands Of every
naval officer, as a matter Of information.
'1n God We Trust" according Il
the mandate today of the House COM
mittee or coinage, weights and mea-
sures, will go back on the gold coins.
The committee fsvorably reported the
Mckinley bill that provides "That the
motto, Tn God We Trust, heretofore in
scribed on certain denominations of the
gold and silver coins of the United States
of America, shall be inscribed hereafttr
upon aIl such denominations Of said
coins as heretofore. The law is to he
effective thirty days after the date of It's
passage. President Roosevelt, it Is IN
derstood, deserving the artistic to yield
to the protests of the religious and pc
triotic citizens, will not oppose the bill.
The speedy passage of the bill by the
House Is assured by Representative
| Mckinley (rep. lily, author of the bill
and chairman OF the coinage committee.
During the committee discussion Repre-
sentative Knowland suggested that the
bill be 80 framed as to compel clearing
house certificates to be labeled 81 know
my redeemer liveth." The suggestion
of the California member was not &C.
Cepted.
President Roosevelt this afternoon d.
rected the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion to make an investigation of labor
conditions on railroads, where there is a
possibility of q conflict between en-
ployers aud employees over the question
of wages. The order was prompted by
recent notices by certain railroads, not
ably the Louisville and Nashville, an
neuncing reduction Of wages, and alleg-
ing that the "drastic laws inimical TO
the interests OF the railroads that have
in the past year or two been enacted by
congress and the s'ae legislature" are
largely, or chiefly, responsible for the
conditions requiring the reduction.
Secretary Taft will arrive in Wash
ington tonorrow to plunge at once into
tho work that bas accumulated during
bis recent trip. he will arrive on the
federal express from Boston at 9:45 q.
N. and will probably 60 to the Capitol
at once for conference with one OF the
committees. He will give his attention
entirely to the department matters
during the several days before bis next
trip, among these being the disposition
OF the Deems and Hancock cases and
the nomination of the new major gene
raj to succeed Gen. Greedy who retires
next month.
1t was announced at tie Esyy De-
partner. this sfteruoon that Rear Ad-
miral Sperryj now commanding the
fourth division of the battleship feet,
had been selected 70 command the new
Philippine naval station on his arrival
there. He will take the Kentucky,
Kesrsarge, Illinois, and Alabama with
him.
The President has received letter
from I. J. Dolsn, president Of the In
terDstionsl Union Of Steam Shoyelers
aud dredgemen who is nov visiting 10
Panama, in which he says: "rbis is one
nj the heat eoninnad and heat handled