Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-01-21
From Washington.
IOorreSpondencs of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington. jar. u.


have within the past few days. 1t 10
stated that President Roosevelt fOreseea
the gravest consequences, II the legis'
lature OF California insists on passing
the anti-Japsntss bills now pending.
he hopes that the legislature will accept
the advice OF GOV. Gilleit that the bills
be killed not only Ia order that Japan
may be given the "squsre deal" In view
Of the carrying out by the government
of its end Of the immigration agreement
entered into two years sgo, but also for
the sske OF international peace. The
report OF the general staff on the de-
fenselessness of Gan Pedro Bay, Cal. 4,
given out today, shows 1t is claimed how
essy 1t would be for Japan to obtain
base Ia this country, 10 the event OF war.
Other points on The Pacific coast, 1t Is
said, are only a little. better protected.
Il is pointed out today that this Is Gall
fornis's second Offense. Once before the
big stick" prevented the enactment OF
similar bills. OsliforniaBs 10 Washing
ton generally deplore the attitude taken
by the more radical members Of the leg
islsture, while at the same time they are
open In expressing their regrets that
President Roosevelt did not heed their
request last summer to retain the battle
ship feet Ia the Pacific OCEAN. The
presidents answer to this criticism lie
that we're the feet there now, Japan
might very readily assume that the &C
ton Of the legislature was conniVed at
by the federal government for the very
purpose of bringing on war. The abb
sence of the feet Is of itself an assur-
ance that the federal government has
had 20 part In the theatened legislation.
That The figures on Japanese immi-
grafton to the Pacific coast which have
been compiled by the Department OF
Commerce and Labor are authentic and
that the figures complied BY the Jspa'
nese Exclusion League of the Pacific
coast are calculated 10 arouse upjuStihed
sutsgonism, Is the attitude of the admin
istratiou. While no statement was
given out, it Is known that the
president and the State Depart
meut are inclirsd to look upon
the alarming figures of the increase Of
Japanese immigration complied BY the
coast people ss unfounded. The presi.
dent Is reported to have told his callers
today thst If be could get the sensible
people of California to thioking for them.
selves, they would be on bis side and
the agitation would be stopped. The
authorities at Washington take the aitl-
tude that the passage of the disputed
bills by the California legislature would
be the violation OF g contract that that
state entered Into two years sgoin which
It was virtually agreed that the ration
should handle the Japanese problem In
the Pacific coast states.
That the immediate forti6cation of
tae San Pedro hsrbor 10 southern Call
forpia ls necessary for the welfare Of the
nation, Is the statement made in & re-
port to Congress by the general staff of
the army today. The report lays
especial stress upon the case with which
under existing conditions, Japan could
occupy the hsrbor and use it as base
for operations against the rest of the
Pacific coast aud the Panama canal.
Japan Is not named anywhere in the re.
port, but is referred to as "a certain
oriental power" which has recently &C.
qulred great potential strength as an
enemy. The board estimates tba! 1t
would case IS, 6b5, 1853 to fortIfy the hsr'
Dor.
The international crisis brought about
through the anticipates situation in
California brought q number Of mem.
bers of Congress hurrying to the White
House today to discuss the question with
President Roosevelt. While these de
clinsd to discuss the question for publi-
cation, they did not attempt to conceal
their belief that the situation WsS one
that must be handled with great dslioscy.
Incidentally the desirability ofincressing
the naval programme for battleShips
was touched upon. Administration
friends in Congress are eager to renew
the former fight for four big war ships.
What the outcome will be is not known.
10 the Russo-J apaness war the Amer
lean steamer MOntsrs, of the Pacific
Ooas! Company, was captured as prize
by japanese naval official. That caused
her to lose her American registry and
when later she was sold to an American
citizen and he tried to bring her 10.
to an American port, he was obliged to
gay tonnsge taxes and light dues just
as though she had been foreign ship.
Subsequently the Montars was given
another American register and today
the Senate committee on commerce made
favorable report on bill to refund the
taxes paid upon her.
DR.. Walter FeWks, Ph. D, of the
8 mithsOnisn Institution, last night de.
livered an address before the members of
the Cameron Club at Christ Church
Parish Hsll, taking for his subject,
"PrebiStoric Ruins Ia the Southwest"
The lecture wsS illustrated With stereop-
ticOn views aud was very Intervening.
A preliminary survey looking 10 the
improvement of the MatapOni river,
Virgins, was today approved BY the
Senate committee on commerce.
Lieut.. Dol. Clarence P. ToWusley,
commanding the artillery district Of
Pensacola, has been promoted to the
command Of the artillery district Of
Chesapeake Bay. He will relieve Col.
Geo. F. E. Harrison, who is placed on
the retired list as the result of bis in-
ability to take the horsemanship test.
The military affairs committee today
approved the bill granting to sll commits
stoned officers who saw more than one
wars service In the civil war and who