Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-05-24
From Washington.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, May "a.

4 4nCAC 10 . AAhChnOOo "a ASASA6A A8NSs-
ference Ia the strike of 6remen on the
Georgia Railroad. Under the recent In.
structiODs sent By the attorney general
to the district attorney st Macon, the
federal government put itself on record
as determining tbst there should be nc
interference with the U. 8. mail. Al
though the situation has not reached
such gravity as to warrant the necessity
for such action, it is understood that the
operation CT the mails would neceSsi'
tate the use OF federal troops, If deputy
| marshsls were unable to handle the sit
uatlon.
That the provisional court" estab'
Iished in Porto Rico shortly after the
Spanish American war Was legally
constituted tribunal was The decision
rendered today by the Supreme Court OF
the United States in the course of q
judgment on a suit for recovery of the
amount of promissory note brought TO
the highest court en- the question OF the
validity of the provisional court.
Permission has beer granted by the
federal government for the landing Of
cadets and sailors of the Japanese
cruisers with side arms for the opening
Of the ceremonies of the Alaska Yukon
Pacific Exposition. The request was
made Of the State Department a few
days ago and the Washington State
authorities having no objection, the
State Department granted the request.
Minister Russell, at Caracas, csbled
he State Department today that the
government had issued an executive de-
cree on the 18Th which sbolishes the
war expert tax on coffee, cocoa and hides.
The decree has been received with
popular manifestation OF approval.
The general Investigations Of the de-.
psrtments of the government Is provided
for in q resolution introduced by Senator
Aldrich today. 1t provides that the
S mate committee on public expenditures,
either in whole or by a subcommittee,
shall investigate the annual revenues,
Expenditures and business methods Of the
departments. The committee is given
full authority to send for witnesses ard
enforce the production Of papers.
Senator Aldrich hopes to be able to
btain a vote upon the lumber schedule
before today's session is over. The
iuauce committee retained the rates in
these schedule IS passed by the House
and had made no recommendations of its
owu so that the question es to whether
lumber shall be put on the free list or be
taxed at 81, $3.50, or 81 per thousaud
feet which latter is the rate under the
present existing law, will be left for the
Senate to determine by vote. Present
ndicstions are In favor OF tax OF 81. so
N rough lumber. Senator Aldrich and
ais associates on the france committee
are disposed to make concessions in the
rates on dressed or furnished lumber.
John Hays hammond, president Of
the League OF Republican Clubs, called
at the White House today and told the
president that be had decided to decline
the ministership to China, which Mr..
taft offered him several days ago. Bam- |
nond lie the highest priced mining ex-
pert In the world and Is said to be under
yearly contract with the Guggenheims
at az annual salary OF half q million dol
lars.
Elmer Dover, recently connected with
the advisory committee Of the national
republican committee and for years
secretary to the late Senator Hanna, is
not to get the appointment of national
bank examiner for New York which 1t
was announced had been decided upon.
Dover may be appointed q bank exami-
ner, but at much less salary then |
$12, 900, which the New York position |
pays. 1t is stated that when President |
Taft agreed to give Dover the place he |
had no knowledge that 1t WIS one of the |
best Offices within his disposal. When
Dover's friends In several parts of the |
country pointed with glee to the fat
PLAN to be given Dover. and alleging
that the reward was over the protest OF
Postmaster General Hitchcock and Taft
adherents in Ohio, the president recon-
sidered bis plan.
Chief Inspector Mcmillan of the
Postoffice Department had detailed q
special force of men to run down clews
10 the Omaha train robbery. The gov
srnment has been given free hand in
he case, and has announced its inIen-
ion not to let the matter rest Until the
.obbers are In jail.
An amendment to the Aldrich bill to
,lace licerice extracts on the free list
vas introduced by Mr.. Bsveridge, of
indiana, in the Senate today. He said
t was used very extensively Ia the
manufacture of tobacco, and was a
monopoly in the hands of the tobacco
rust.
The question of jurisdiction of states
nd of their police power on ground
within their borders owned by the
government navy yards, military reser-
atoms, and the like, was today decided
y the Supreme Court of the United
ates in the case of the Western Union
telegraph 90. vs. Samuel Chiles, In
'hich it was held that The Virginia
enslty law for delay In the transmission
I kilograms could not be held to
perate on land owned by the govern
TENT in that state.
Holding that the federal government :
lone had power to regulate interstate
quor shipments, the U. 8. Supreme
curt today, in decision rendered by
ustice Brewer, decided in favor of the :
dams Express Company 10 the suit
rOught by the state OF Kentucky against
for violation by an interstate ship
tent Of the state statute prohibiting
lilrosds from delivering liquor to known