Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-05-17


chief military side, and Wendell Mischief,
his assistant secretary. Their departure
will take place at about 4 g. m. from the
Uuion station in Washington. AL
though the president will not prepare
any speeches for the Petersburg-Chsr-
Iolte trip and will be governed co1sid-
erably by the addresses that ne hears In
the formation OF his owD, he will praise
the heroism of the union and CoDfed'
crate soldiers and preach the gospel OF a
reunited country at Petersburg. at
Charlotte be will probably con6ue him.
self to the subject of the Declaration oil
independence, and both sides OF the
Mecklenburg controversy are snxiously
awaiting his words on the subject.
James T. Williams, who was appoint
ed q member of lie civil service commits
sion q few days ago, has Informed Presl-
dent Taft that be will be obliged to re-
sign his position and 90 the southwest
for bis health. His physicians have in'
formed Mr., Williams that he has tuber-
cuosis.
10 accordance with its plans to put
into effect as far as possible the civil
service rule, the State Department be-
gao today the examination of 20 sppli-
cants for minor positions in the diPlo-
matte corps. There are at present Only
six secretaryships vacant but this num-
Der will likely be increased after the de-
partmeut has made closer scrutiny of the
pres, n! list. Il is likely that several Sc
retsries will give place to the new men.
Senator Dick, Of Ohio, today intro
duced an amendment to the tsrlf bill
proposing to reduce the tariff on olives
ia bulk from 20 cents to 10 cents per
gallon.
The District of Columbia sewer and
water main law were today held con-
stitutional by decision OF the U, 5.
Supreme Court 10 the case OF Alice
Brooke against the District commission
era. The former was assessed for con-
nec.ion of sewer aud water mains to her
property on Third street southeast.
She refused payment and brought suit,
alleging that the Law was discriminatory
and unconstitutional. The Supreme
Court held that Congress bad right
to discriminate between resident sod
non. resident property owners in law OF
this kind.
s. H. D. North, director Of the cen
sus, returned here this morning from
Boston. and it is likely that he will re-
quest a hearing before the investigating
committee appointed by Secretary Nsgel,
If the Department of Commerce and
Labor to look into charges against
North. The iDquisition, which has been
going on for a week, is being continued
today and more witnesses are being sum-
moned to tell of methods in vogue at the
census bureau.
President Taft today rscAved gold
nugget studded telegraph key from the
projectors Of the Alaska Yukon Pacific
Exposition, and promised to use 1t on
June l to start the wheels in motion a.
the big show. Secretary Bsliuger, OF
the Interior Department, who was un-
| til his elevation to the cabinet vice.
president of the Exposition company,
made the presentation speech, and the
entire Congressional delegation from
Washington was present in the Exec
utive Office when Mr.. Taft accepted The
key.
Because information asked for 10 a
resolution by Senator Bristow has not
been forthcoming, he arose in the Senate
'odsy to ask about the prospects. The
resolution called upon the Treasury fer
report showing the amount of raw
sugar imported into the United States Ia
1908 by each sugar refinery in the
ccnntry, the countries from which the
sugar was imported aud the import
value. Vice.president Sherman said no
answer to the resolution had reached
him and he suggested that If Bristow
should telephone or telegraph to the
department he might ASCERTAIN what
progress Is being made 10 preparing the
answer to the resolution,
10 the suit brought against the
United States by The Merchants National
Bank, of Baltimore, Nd, the Supreme
Court, in decision rendered today by
Justice White, holds against the bank
aud declares that the tax of one-half Of
one per cent imposed by the national
banking act on bank notes in circulation
is just and legal.
The nomination Of Lieut. Commander
Il. l. Gone, to be chief of the Bureau
of Steam Engineering of the Navy De-
partment, will be reported favofably
by the Senate committee on naval
affairs.
In response TO the request Of the
United States government fer a
postpouement of the trial OF the
two American missionaries Morrison and
Shepherd, who are charged with crimi-
nal libel in connection with allegations
Of atrocities 10 the Kongo, the Belgian
government informs the Slate Depart
ment today that there were insurmount-
able legal obstacles presenting post
ponement or transfer to Another more
accessible point. The court itself is the
only authority which can sanction this
action. The two missionaries, with
their witnesses, are now on their way to
Leopoldville, where their trial is set for
hesring on May %.
The International Fisheries Com mis-
sion, which is arranging codi6cation of
lswsfOr th' regulation oi:fshiug in the iu-
land waterways on the Canadisn- Ameri-
can boundary, will meet in Washing
ION on Friday, May %, to make & final
report on their work.
A lumber yard and mill at Maryland
avenue and Four.and-a-bali street, we're
burned this evening.