Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-12-23
FROM WASHINGTON


Immediately after the House convenes
at the conclusion OF the holiday recess,
according to Mr.. George w. Norris,
rep, Nebr) the insurgent floor leader.
Norris today declared his intention of
introducing a resolution amending the
motion to discharge committee"
rules, which was put into effect during
the insurgent fight OF March II. This
intention was the result of numerous
conferences among the insurgents,
following the effort made in the House
last Monday to utterly discredit the
rule, as a means Of expediting business.
Under rulings by Speaker Cannon, and
work on the floor by his followers, a
lengthy postof1ice code revision bill was
put before the House for reading under
the motion to discharge rule, and the
whole legislative day was uselessly ex-
pended. Regulars chuckled gleefully
over what they termed the utterly use
less" rule. Calendar Wednesday too
has been under attack by the regulars.
A bill revising the judicial code, report
ed from the committee on judiciary by
Mr.. Moon, has occupied every Wednes-
day up to date, and as the bill is over
800 pages long, the calendar Wednesday
is probably choked for the remainder
of this session. THAT is hardly cxpe-
diting business, declared the regulars.
But the insurgents declare that if it was
not for calendar Wednesday, Moons
sweeping shifts in the judiciary would
never have reached the. floor OF the
House. Norris in his resolution will
provide that bills on the motion to dis
charge calendar shall be read by titles
only, thus eliminating situations such
as rose in the House Monday when Mr..
Mann insisted on the reading of few
hundred pages OF his postal code pro
vision bill. In addition to Norrls's
resolution the insurgents are contem-
plating several other minor changes to
perfect the rules they forced upon the
regulars last session. 1t is probable
that chaotic struggle will be prccipi-
tated by the calling up of these resolu-
tons. The insurgents can no longer
count upon.the support OF the solid
democratic minority, and while they
will recruit some strength from the
regular republicans, it is very question
able whether they will be able to con-
troll majority vote in the House.
The officials Of the numerous bureaus
of the government departments are
today trying TO kilLthe Christmas spirit
which annually causes their clerks to
send them varied assortment OF neck
ties, cuff links and scarf pins, by post
ing notices recalling the fact that such
gifts are prohibited by law. But no
laws, nor notices will be effective. Any
number of clerks will make presents
just the same. Some of them indeed,
have already sent their gifts which
their official superiors declare will be
returned.
President Taft today distributed 102
turkeys to the married employees OF
the White House establishment. The
unmarried employees were omitted.
The contract was signed today for
the raising OF the sunken monitor Pur-
itan by acting Secretary of the Navy,
Winthrop, with the Merit Chapman
Wrccking Company. The company
agrees to deliver the Puritan at the
Norfolk navy yard ailoat and in con-
dition to be handled, for the sum OF
$23 900. In case Of failure the COM
pany will receive no payment: Since
The sinking OF the Puritan in Hampton
Roads last month, after the vessel was
used in explosive tests, the Navy De
partmcnt attempted TO raise her but did
not have the necessary facilities.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Win
lhrop today appointed Rev. Leroy
Nelson Taylor, Methodist minister OF
Schenectady, New York, to be chap
lain in the navy.
The last member of the Taft family
to arrive home for the holidays was
Robert, WHO got in from Cambridge to-
day. A Christmas box was received
at the White. House from Aunt"
Della Tcrrcy, but its contents are deep
secret, as yet.
The jury verdict OF guilty brought
in against James n, Huston, formerly
treasurer Of the United States, on the
Charge Of using The mails to defraud,
was this afternoon set aside 10y Justice
Wright, in Criminal Court No. !, and
a new trial ordered. The court held
that the evidence was not sufficient to
warrant iniliction of sentence, and
granted Illusions appeal flor rctrial.
Harvey II. Lewis, Of Cincinnati, and
Buffalo, and Everett Dufour, of Wash
ington, who were implicated with
Huston. were each sentenced 10 two
-, I,,,4i,n NNrinlnt