Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-11-18
FROM WASHINGTON

short session OF Congress mas alreauy
been taken informally by the senators
who are gathering at the capital.
Senators Hale, Burson, Borah, Bailey,
Money. Cullom, Culberson, Flint,
Oyerman and Piles have already OPEN
ed their Offices and several more came
in today. 1t isprobable that President
Taft, upon his return from Panama,
will confer with the republican leaders
on the question OF attempting to put
through a legislative programme. So
far the subjects, outside Of appropria-
tons, which may be considered are:
ship subsidy; reapportionment and de-
crease Of the membership OF the House;
President Taft programme.
Republican senators, however, anx-
ious they may be TO take up questions
outside appropriations are doubt
ful whether the democrats will allow it.
1t is expected that the democrats will
want all the glory they can get in the
congressional session. To this end
they will probably obstruct all but APP
preparation bills in order that they may
have the credit OF passing other popu-
lar measures later on. Both parties
are moving cautiously. Republican
leaders are specializing upon the atti-
tude that will be adopted by the insur-
gents. Greater harmony with the reg
ulars is looked for with the prospect
that there will be some compromising
on both sides. 1t is doubted, however,
that the extreme insurgents will yield
much in order to overcome the demo-
cratic advantage.
There are members Of both parties
who favor the passage OF ship sub
sidy bill II any additional legislation
can be put through without running
the risk Of an extra session it is prob
able that this will be the first to be
considered A nonpartisan method OF
Reproducing representation in the
House will inevitably come up il any
attempt is made to secure party advan-
tage by this means. Senator Burton long
ago proposed a nonpartisan method
and he has not changed his mind.
His plan calls for the appointment OF a
nonpartisan board of four members in
each state with a federal nonpartisan
board Of five members to act in all APP
peals.
Strong efforts will be made also to
reduce the membership Of the House
which is already considered unwieldly
because Of its size. Many OF the leg
islators are also of the opinion that it
will become more unwieldly il the
democrats carry out the proposed plan
Of taking the appointment Of commit
tees out ofthe hands of the speaker and
turning it over to a committee.
|. 1t is said that Senator Lodge, who
has closed his political headquarters in
Boston, has come to the conclusion that
he cannot be reelected to the United
States Senate. A rumor that he will be
appointed ambassador to England i"
current.
The capital is on tip-toe today
awaiting the arrival OF Mr. Roosevelt
who has not come back since he left
the White House for Oyster Bay in a
clustering snow storm on March 4, two
years ago. He will be met at the Union
station by representatives OF the Ma
tiona Press Club and the National
Geographical Society at 4:2O O'Clock.
He will go directly to the Press Club
for the reception of which he is to be
the guest Of honor. Here Roosevelt
may have some interesting things to
say of himself, as he is at home with
the Washington newspaper men. He
will address the Geographical Society
tonight on wild beast and wild man
in Africa. The full house" signs
have been posted at both places. Press
Club members have been requested to
bring no friends and the 5000 tickets
for the lecture tonight at Convention
Hall have been sold.
Henry NJ. Hoyt, Solicitor Of the
State Department is today in critical
condition from an intestinal trouble
which became acute while Mr.. Hoyt
was in Canada during the recent con
ference upon tariff reciprocity. Mr..
Hoyt had been in poor health for the
past year. Prior to his appointment as
Solicitor Of the State Department Mr.
Hoyt was Assistant Attorney General
and Solicitor General of the Department
of Justice His physicians hold out
but little hope for his recovery. MIR.
Hoyt is a native of Wilkes Barre. Pa.
Major General George Frank Elliott,
commandant Of the Marine Corps was,
by orders issued today placed upon the
retired list, his retirement to take
effect November 80. Secretary OF the
Navy Meyer has expressed his inten-
ton OF appointing a temporary acting
commandant for the Marine Corps
pending legislation 10y Congress which
will be asked for next session making
the position OF commandant an Office
Of detail lasting only four years instead
IF until, retirement from the service as
at present. It is generally believed
that Col. Biddle the ranking line colo
mel OF corps will be detailed as acting
commandant after November 80.
A call was issued by the Interstate
Commerce Commission today to the
representatives of the telephone and
telegraph companies for a conference
on December 7, on the construction of
the new interstate commerce law re-
ferring to those companies. The meet
ing will be held in the room Of the In.
terstate Commerce Commission.
Arrangements for saving the monitor
Puritan. which was sunk in shallow