Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-06-08
FROM WASHINGTON.
correspondence of Alexandria Gaze''el

The Senate committee on privileges at a
meeting to be held on Saturday. There
are no well-defned indications OF the
action that will be taken by the com
mittee.
A caucus of republican senator's will
be held late this evening. While 1t Is
given out that the only purpose Is to
fill a vacancy in the position OF assis-
tant door-keeper, the general impress
sion that the programme for the closing
DAYS Of the session will be considered.
Senate and House leaders, with the
co 0 )eration OF the president, begun a
vigorous campaign today for an early
adjournment of Congress. MIR. John
Dwight, the republican whip OF the
House. returned from the executive
Office and passed the word around
among his colleagues that an early
adjournment is desired. Looking to-
ward this end, the president hopes the
Senate will accept the postal savings
bank bill as it will be passed, in all
probability, by the House tomorrow
night. The bill now has the right OF
way. under a special rule, and will be
taken up again tomorrow. After
seven hours debate the previous ques-
tons will be ordered and Representa-
tive Week, in charge Of the measure,
has announced that he will ask for
vote before adjournment tomorrow.
The conferees on the railroad bill
went to work this afternoon on that
measure. Before beginning the initial
conference, Senator Aldrich expressed
the belief that by working eally and
late it would be possible to agree upon
the new rate law within a compare
lively few days. With the railroad bill
and postal savings out OF the way, it IS
not believed that any further general
legislation will be attempted IN the
House The Senate probably will dis
pose of the sundry civil appropriation
bill in short order and the general de-
ficiency will be reported to the House
and will pass perhaps within the next
ten days. The Senate will consume
but little time ON that measure.
According to the plans being formulated
among the House and Senate leaders
today. adjournment by July l seems
quite probable. House members on
both sides Of the chamber are becoming
restless, owing to pressing campaigns at
home. and are evidencing desire to
bring the session to close as soon as
possible.
Attorney General Wickersham left
TODAY for Zazereth Hall, Pennsylvania,
where he will deliver an address at the
commencement exercises OF the school
at which he received his early educa-
ton. He will be back at his desk at
the Department of Justice tomorrow.
Among the bills providing approprla-
ton for public buildings RECOMMENDED
for passaae by the Senate committee on
pnblic buildings today was one by
Waynesboro, Va, $4,000.
APresident Taft today refused request
presented by Senators Jones and
Pvles that the 25th Infantry-com-
posed of negroes-be removed from Fort
Lawton, upon complaint of mass
meeting of Seattle, Wash, which fol-
lowed the charge that a member Of the
regiment had committed an outrage.
This regiment was involved III the
Brownsville affair. The president de-
clarcd that the removal of the regiment
upon an improved charge would be un-
wise and would be most unfair. he
instructed the commanding officer Of
the post to make rigid investigation
an ordered an immediate report
Among senators a great deal of cur
iosity is expressed as to the basis OF the
cheerful satisfaction displayed by the
railroad presidents over their bargain
with President Taft regarding increased
freight rates, 1t is true that pleasure Is
also exhibited by the administration
folks, but the greater interest centers IN
the other crowd. Views as to the JOY
of the railroad men are various, but one
advanced by a senator who has given
close attention to the railroad bill Is Of
particular interest The railroad
presidents are happy" he said because
they have in all probability obtained an
amendment to the Sherman anti
trust law. They tried hard to get
such a provision into the bill in the
section legalizing rate agreements, but
the fire was so hot that the sponsors
for the bill were obliged to eliminate 1t.
Now the railroads seem to have won
their greatest desire by negotiation.
The government did not sue the rail
roads on the charge that they had
raised rates. The charge was that they
had violated the Sherman law by COM
bining to raise rates and thus forming
a conspiracy in restraint of interstate
commerce. That was the cause OF all
the excitement in the railroad world,
not the prospect that their new rates
would be held up for awhile. Under
the arrangement entered into, as 1t Is
generally understood, the increases will
be subject to the approval OF the
acknowledgements Commission, but
no question will be raised as to the
legality of the action Of the railroads in
having a common agent file rates uni
formly increased by many lines with
the Interstate Commerce Commission
in practically the same letter. 1t was
in the matter of acting together, rather
than the question Of railroads, that the
railroads were most interested and |
miss my guess if they have not gotten
under shelter
1t is expected by the progressives
and democrats that when the bill has
returned from conference it will be
found to have been short OF several
highly esteemed amendments that were
inserted in the Senate. With that con-