Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-03-11
From Washington.
( Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette. !
Washington. Msr. II.

Ambassador Bryce the negotiation OF
the pecuuisry claims treaty between
Great Britain aud the United States
and will probably come to az
agreement next week or shortly after
ward. The treaty Ia the last of the three
undertaken by Secretary Root to dis
pose of questions growing out of the re-
lations between the United States and
Canada and provides for the settlement
of claims in connection With the New
foundland fisher Is. II will be the frat
treaty TO be concluded by Secretary
Kuox The arrangements for the pres
eutstion Of the fisheries problem to the
Hague court have been agreed upon
also, and announcement will be made 10
a few days of the personnel Of the lribu-
nal and minor details determined by the
treaty itself.
The desire of Congress to have ap-
poinlments to the census buresu based
on the "spOils system" will not be re-
allied. Mr.. Roosevelt killed bill con.
tanning that provision and Mr.. Taft has
led 1t to be Known tha. he will veto the
bill if II is passed again and pat up to
him for signature. To meet his object
ions the House leaders have modified the
bill. Persons who want to help take the
next census will have to stand special
test examinations conducted by the
Civil Service CommisssoD. In Cases Of
emergency the census director is to be
permitted to appoint eligibles at hand, in
stead OF selecting sppointees according
to their rating. Al effort will be made
10 the House to avoid the appointment
Of census committee in the special ses-
sion. 1t is proposed to pass the old bill
as modified, uuder special rule.
1t is expected that, despite the efforts
Of President Taft to avoid the discussion
with Congress of any of the subjects that
we're responsible for the lack Of accord
between the last administration and the
legislative branch OF the government,
the new president will soon be called
upon to take a definite stand with regard
to Roosevelts Conservation Commission,
which was legislated out ofexistsnce 5y
rider on the sundry civil act. 1t Was
learned today that former Governor
Pardee of California and Senator New
Iauds of Nevada, besides other members
of the Roosevelt commission, made az
urgent appeal to Taft to ask Congress
10 provide for the expenses of the
commission. TAFT is understood to
have told them that be did not
want to reopen any of the old
,ubiects and thus disrupt harmony
until after the tariff bill is passed.
Meanwhile, the Conservation Commits
sion is in a quanda,y. There is very
delicate question involved, The lsw
spys plainly that none Of the money APP
propra.ed 10 the act shall be used to
deirsy the expenses of any commission
not authorized by Congress. Then there
IA the construction of this clause made by
Roosevelt 10 bis memorandum sccom-
osnyiug his signature 10 the bill in which
he says that this provision ia nncoush'
tulioaal because it limits the president
10 exercising bis constitutional function
Of Obtaining information on the state Of
the union. II is understood that the
constitutional lawyers Of the Taft admin
istrstiou have been asked for an opinion
50 that, if 1t be possible, the matter can
he adjusted without re-openiDg the old
fight.
President Taft today began the prep&
ration OF bis message to Congress upon
the assembling of that body 10 extra
session next Monday. The document
will be very short, it is understood, and
will be devoted exclusively to dlscus-
sion Of the tariff. The president expfcs
to have the manuscript ready for the
printer tomorrow.
A democratic congressmen ea'd today
there was no possible way of the Tin
surgents" uniting vito the democrats 10
an effort to drop Speaker Cannon for the
reason that if republican is to be
elected speaker majority of the demo
Gratis prefer Cannon to any other repub-
licsn member OF the House.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
in an opinion handed down today By
Commissioner Harlan, held it to be I'M
lawful for railroads to so adjust their
rate schedules as to force commodities
into particular city or port.
The president received delegation
from Alabama today who came to pro-
test against the appointment OF Oscar
R. Hundley, as federal judge for the
northeru district of that state. Repre-
sentative Underwood introduced the de.
legation to the president who said he
would give the matter consideration.
Judge Hundley was appointed by The
president to the position since the al
iournment of Congress, and hes not
been confirmed.
China Is about to tske census OF the
amounted millions within her borders.
Ia accordance with the programme for
constitutional reform, 40 edict has been
issued directing the police aud ptovln-
cisl tEessursTs to enumerste the iudiyid
uals and families of the empire. The
returns for the census of families must
be- completed by 1910 and for iDdivid-
uaEs by 1912. All Chinese living 10
foreign lands, whether IS students, mer-
chsuts OF lsborers, must be enumerated
according TO the prescribed method.
President TAFT will leave Washington
on Thursday morning, arriving IN New
York 10 time to attend the Cleveland
memorial meeting at Carnegie Hall that
afternoon. While 10 the city be will
make his home at the residence OF his
brother, Henry w. TAFT, aud Friday
morning be will take train for New
Haran Conn Rhern he will attand the