Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-07-01
ErOm Washington.

on Company I0I LDe DulluiuB vi IOhos
about Havana. This action is probably
the result Of representations made BY the
State Department on behalf Of tie
American company which has received
nothing from the Onban government
since the termination CT the provisional
government. The 800, 900 covers the
pawn ent due up to June lat. The con-
tract was entered into by Gov. Magoon
aud payments wers promptly made so
long as be remained in charge. When the
present government took hold OF affairs
the payments were deferred pending the
securing of a lean. The government
however has remained In arrears up
to The present time.
A memorial was presented 10 the
Senate today by Senator ShivelY, of In
diana, from American residents OF APis,
Samoa, asking for the payment Of 49,
933. the amount of their claim for dam
ages resulting from the bOmbardment OF
Apia BY British aud American warships
in March, April and May, 1895, during
the trouble between Malietoa and Ma
taass. The claims of people Of other Ds-
tiouaIities have ell been settled but
those OF American property owners are
still unpaid, although King Oscar, OF
Sweden, to whom the matter WAS sub
mitted for arbitration, declared that the
bombsrdment was unwsrranred and I'M
necessary.
President Taft returned to Washing
ton from New Haven, Conn.,, at 1922
a. m. today, his train, the express from
Boston, being 81 minutes late. The
delay wss caused by the ferry transfer at
Harlem river. No incident occurred on
the homesard journey. Charlie Taft,
the presidents younger son, was at the
station to meet mis- father aud in COM
psny with Captain Archibald Bait, the
presidents chief military aide, rode at
once to the White House ia The big
touring car.
George McWllliams Mss yesterday
convicted in the Circuit Court of the
County and sentenced to serve one year
in jail for assaulting and rohbing Ed
ward Martin near the Chain Bridge on
June G. AS stated yesterday, Charles
Brown his aGcOmplice was previously
sentenced to serve eighteen months 10
the peniientiary.
George w. Rsik, of Baltimore,
formerly assistant chief clerk of the
Postoffice D partment, was today ap-
pointed private secretary to Postmaster
General Hitchcock
The president today sent to the Sep
ate the nominations of George N Kober
and John Joy E1sOn, to be members
of the board of charities Of the District
of Columbia.
Senator Jones, Of Washington, today
presented in the Senate telegram
from the Spokane Clearing House As
ISOLATION declaring its uUslterable Op'
position to the ley-Oummins lsx
bill and urging him TO vote against Ii.
Senator Blrkett, of Nebraska, today
proposed sn amendment to the cOrpor-
alton tax amendment. Ii provides that
the proposed tax shall not sPPly to
fraterAal beneficiary societies, orders on
associations, operating under the Lodge
system and providing for the payment
of life, sick, accident and other benefits
to their members.
Despite the apparent object OF his
visit to Japan, Us officially announced,
there is suppositiOn in diplomatic circles
that the hastY departure of Ambassador
Takabira is of q much more mysterious
character than has been intimated. 1t
may mean that he is slated for the post
at Toxic, in lieu Of his knowledge OF the
relst on between japan and America or
it may mean that Japan wishes to dis
cuss with him a great many problems
in which America is the dominating
factor. There is, therefore, much room
to speculate over the real object OF Am.
bassador Takahirs's sudden recall. More
likely than not important announce
ments will be forthcoming not long after
his arrival.
The Wright brothers are today tsckling the
problem Of how TO get more speed out OF thelr
engine. They believed they have discovered
what was the cause Of its bad behavior IN the
attempted flights yesterday and the day be-
fore As Explained by Wilbur Wright
the machine they are now using IS
heavier than the one in which Orville made
his flights last fall over The same field. Also
the surface Of the planes is slightly smaller.
As result the airship requires a speed of
81 fiou Lgtr in order IN he
sustained in the air The engine is practi'
eally the same as the one used last year. Or
V He Wright admitted today that If he had
made similar descent in last years mschine
10 that he made last night, the craft would
probably have been materially damaged ow-
ing 10 lis lighter construction. As II was,
only one Of the skids was broken. This was
repsre1 this morning, and the rest Of the dav
was devoted to tuning up tine engine. Or
Vile announced this morning that he hoped
TO be able TO make another attempt this after
noon about O'Clock.
the Navy Department announced today
the applications Of eight naval officers for
voluntary retirement under the naval person.
ral act Of March 3, 1899 This leaves bnt
niue vacancies 20 he created by the personnel
board, which is in session today and will
make its report to the secretary. The officers
who applied for voluntary retiremen, are
Captains Harry George, Harry Dombaugh
aud VIM c. Herbert and Commo iores VIM.
Braunersreuther, Frank II. Eldrdge, |. S X.
Reeves. Moses l.. Wool and stacy Potts.
TIE AIR SHIP.
Fluttering third Of a mile 10 half a
minute down the Fort Mver drill field a.
a height of 90 feet the Wright brothers
aeroplaue, piloted by Orville Wright,
landed abruptly near the center of the
parade grounds and broke one Of its
wooden skids shortly before Z O'Clock
La oron;no Two fhouaand nPraOns