Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-11-16
FROM WASHINGTON

regarding the prices OF foodStllffs. A
permanent decrease in the cost OF liy-
ing, as far as meats are concerned, will
be brought about by the heavy growth
OF corn and wheat" said the secretary.
Prices have not come down heretofore
because the farmers have not been
feeding freely. Hay, corn, and wheat
have been scarce. Therefore the farm
ers could not feed freely because OF the.
high prc. OF cattle foods. Naturally
the prices OF meats became high. Now
however, corn is plentiful, wheat con-
ditinns arc very promising, and fodder
is abundant Cattle food is both cheap
ana plentiful. The markets are flooded
with cattle and will continue to be as
long as conditions remain the same.
Farmers have been induced to send
large quantities of cattle to the mar
kets. These cattle are fed properly and
the result is plainly sGen-the decrease
in meat prices" When asked whether
or not he thought the high prices OF
food>tuffs would show prospective de-
cline the secretary paused and then
said that he would rather not discuss
the subject.
An investigation OF express, telegraph
and telephone companies was decided
by the National Asst citation Of railway
commissioners at their convention to-
day. A motion was adopted to appoint
a special committee to conduct an in
curry as to the service and rates OF the
express companies. Another committee
will investigate the rates charged by
the telegraph and telephone companies.
The greater part OF the morning session
was devoted to general discussion OF
the state and federal railroad commits
sion. Several OF the state commission
crs expressed the opinion, that the state
and federal authorities we're at arms,
length and that there should DO more
harmonious relations. Member Gle
ments, OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission said that the commission
had orders TO stop cordial cooperation,
as far as possible, with the state COM
missions. He thought that the fact
that there we're occasional failures to
agree should not be regarded as indi-
eating lack of the cooperative spirit.
1t was not to be expected that meu
should always agree in conference.
That the fundamental theory under
lying the use OF high explosives in war
fare has been completely overthrown
by the tests made near Norfolk yester
day when two charges Of uncontined
explosives stove in the steel protected
turret OF the monitor Puritan and sent
the ship to the bottom, is the opinion
unofficially advanced by naval experts
here. The most startling claim made
for The new explosive tried upon the
Puritan is that it has shown 10 ordnance
experts the practicabiity OF perfectlng
an aerial bomb which could be used
with deadly effect from, an aeroplane.
Proposed increases in rates by rail
roads operating between the Mississippi
aud Missouri rivers were suspended to-
day by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission until March 81, 1911.
The census office today announced
the 1910 enumeration for the state OF
Indiana, as a whole and by counties:
Indiana 2,7O0,S76, increase lS4,4l4 or
7.3 per cent.
A report that the officers of the I'm
perial Glass Company will reduce the
wages OF about 500 employees, on the
ground tnat it is necessary on account
of recent fines OF $4,000, for violation
of the sherman antitrust act, created
an unpleasant impression at the De-
partner; Of Justice today. 1t was ro-
garded rs fragrant attempt 10 discredit
the law by taking revenge on the work
ing meu Nothing can be done by the
department toprevent the wage decrease
but it was intimatcd that facts in posses
sion OF the department. relating to some
Of the directors OF the glass company,
might at future time figure in court
proceeding The attorney general was
greatly disappointed by the light
penalty inti;ct d by the judge in the
case. Fifteen directors were fined $500
each and the corporation 900. The
trust was regarded as one of the worst
o:fenCer; against the strIst law with
which the department has to deal. The
attorney general is convinced that the
e:tectual destruction of criminal trust
can be accomplished only through the
sentencing Of the guilty officials to the
penetentiary. Officers of the depart
mcnt who prosecute trusts in the
future will be directed to Insist upon
prison punishment in every case Of
guilt.
Upon bis return from Norfolk where
he had witnessed the test of the ex-
plosion of unconhned charges of 'ex-
plosiye gelltine," the most powerful OF
all nitro-glyctr compounds, Rear
Admiral Mason, chief Of the bureau OF
ordinance issued a statement comment
ing upon the lessons Of the test, stating
that though the damage done to the
armour plate of the Puritan was far
greater than had been expected, he
doubted il tho Puritan could be SUBJ
jccted to similar test under practical
conditions OF warfare. Such an cx-
plosivo," said Admiral Mason,
ia FIR too delicate to be fired
from ship and it's use would be
rcry much like catching a bird with
salt. l don't see any more CHARGE of
getting this explosive to All enemies
ship thanI do OF getting salt on the
birds tail. il probably could be used
as a hand bomb, but We have not con-
sidered its use in connection with aero
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