Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-10-25

position was that, Ia making him the
offer, the president suggested to him that
it would be g stepping stone to his ulti'
mate appointment to the Supreme Court
which mas been his lifelong ambition.
Other names that have been suggested
as possible sppointees are former Secre-
tary of War Luke E. Wright, OF Ten.
uessee; Secretary of War Dickiosco:
Senator Root, of New York; and Secre-
tary of State Knox. Today, when the
Supreme Court met at noon, official an
oouncement Of the death was made and
the court then Immediately adjourned
out OF respect without the transaction Of
any business.
With voice full Of emotion the aged
Chief Justice NJ. W. Fuller announced
from the bar of the Supreme Court TO-
day the death OF Associate Justice Peck
nam. The court adjourned for week.
Justice Peckhsm's chair was draped
With Grape. When the court entered at
noon the chief justice made the follow
iDg announcement: at is with deep
sorrow that announce the passing oil an
,minent colleague and dear friend, Mr..
Justice Peckham. he died at his sum-
ner home at Altamont only yesterday
-venIng at halt past eight. The court
sill transact no business and will sd-
lurn until next Monday"
1t Ia expected that a msJority OF the
court will attend the funeral of their
colleague. No de6nite arrangements
nave yet been made, pending iDforms-
ion ss to the time al which the funeral
will occur.
The most sincere regret was expressed
y members of the court, by whom JUS
ice Pecksm was highly esteemed.
President Taft today committed the
sntebce of Thomas w. Harvey, who is
ow serving q sentence of seven years
a The Wes err Pennsylvania Peniteuu-
ry fer making false entries 10 the books
the Eatrprise Nstioral Bank OF
Allegheny, Pa. His sentence has bee
.ductd to thr"e yesrs from June 1908
% the ground that he vas not among
me chief cOOspiTslois bot Was merely
leir tool The president also COM
nuted the sentence of George d. ROls
u. Who WAS charged with embezzliue
tiers from he Chicago pOstofice and
vas sentenced 10 serve three and bali
ars 10 the Cook county House Of
direction. That sentence the presi-
ant reduces to tEo years on the ground
ist the original penalty was excessive.
(. NJ. Long, convicted of Illicit dis
ling 10 lhe eastern Nor!h Carolina
ns,rict who wss sentenced to serve two
vesrs and hal already served Is months
me president directs shall be released
Immediately.
Notwithstanding the apparent indif-
ference OF The State Department, 1t Is
cow evident that Secretary Knox's
Chinese loan scheme is perilously near
he rocks. The difficulty is due to the
opposition of France and Germany
principally, although there is some To-
iicaiOn on the part of the Chinese them
selves of tendency TO protest against
the division of spois among the financial
interests of the four powers. For some
lime the negotiations for the loan have
reached what may be considered su i'm
passe. France and Germany both OBJ
| ct to allowing the American bankers q
snare on the ground that they would moi
be receiving their proportionate shares
10 case the loan we're increased to ad'
init the United States. The point Of
tspute is not the amount OF the loan so
much IS the division of the work among
The nations and the supplying OF materi'
sic. Although this feature lie not q
matter for the interference OF the State
Department, Secretary Knox has stood
out strongly for 1t. The consideration
is of the utmost importance 10 the steel
companies who expect to supply the ma.
terial Just as the loan itself Is Of imports
snce to the bankers who expect to sup
ply the money. Whether or not secre.
tsry Koox will be successful 10 securing
q slice of the pie for the Wall street
bankers and the steel companies remains
to be seen.
Ia the case brought by the United
States against the Union Pacific and
other railroads to bring about the disso'
lotion Of the merger of the so'cslled
Hartman lines the Department Of JUS
tice was today informed that Judge
| Vandeventer, at Cheyenne, Wyo., on
Saturday, granted an application made
by the attorneys for the defendants fol
an order pOstponiDg the date for begin
ing the taking OF testimony. O. A. Sew
ersuce, of st. Psul, appeared for the
government in opposition to the motion
Although T. was granted and postpone
N snt made until JsnusryS, 1t was only
on condition that the defendants mus
complete their testimony by March -
death OF JUSTICE PEOKHAM,