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

! ing, as FAR as meats are concerned, VIII
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 pric. Of cattle foods. Naturally
the prices OF meats became high. Now
however, corn is plentiful, wheat con-
ditions are very promising, and fodder
is abundant. Cattle food is both cheap
and 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 seen-the decrease
in meat prices" When asked whether
or not he thought the high prices Of
foodtuffs 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 AssC citation Of railway
commissioners at their convention to-
day. a motion was adopted to appoint
a special committee to conduct an in
ouiry 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
ers expressed the opinion that the state
and federal authorities we're at arms,
length and that there should be 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. lie 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 i'll conference.
That the fundamental theory under
lying the use of high explosives in war
fare has been completely overthrow
by the tests made near Norfolk yester
day when two charges Of unconined
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 TO ordnance
experts the practicability of perfecting
an aerial bomb which could be used
with deadly effect from, an aeroplane.
Proposed increases in rates by rail-
roads operating between the Mississippi
and Missouri rivers we're 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 whole and by counties:
Indiana 200, $40, increase 1874, Ala 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 re-
garded a. fragrant attempt 10 discredit
the law by taking revenge on the work
ing men. Nothing can be done by the
department topreyent the wage decrease
but it was intimated that facts in posses
sion Of the department relating to some
Of the directors OF the glass company,
might at a future time figure in court
proceeding The attorney general was
greatly disappointed 10y the light
penalty innict d by the judge in the
case. Fifteen directors were fined $500
each and the corporation 80, 800. The |
trust was regarded as one of the worst
offenders against the strust law with
which the department has to deal. The
attorney general is convinced that the
e.fectual destruction of criminal trust
can be accomplished only through the
sentencing Of the guilty officials to the
penetentiary. Officers Of the depart
ment who prosecute trusts in the |
future will be directed to insist upon
prison punishment in every case Of
guilt
Upon his return from Norfolk where
he had witnessed the test of the ex-
plosion OF unconfned charges Of ex-
plosive gelltine, the most powerful Of
all nitro-gycCrna 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 sub
jccted to similar test under practical
conditions OF warfare Such an ex
plosive" said Admiral Mason,
''is far too delicate to be fired
from a ship and its use would be
ycry much ike catching bird with
salt. don't see any more CHARGE of
getting this explosive to an enemies
ship than do OF getting salt on the
birds tail Ii probably could be used
as a hand bomb, but We have not con-
sidered its use in connection with aero
planes. Mr.. Isham, who fostered the