Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-02-07
FROM WASHINGTON

stances OF the SlnklnS OF the monitol
Puritan. that Secretary Meyer today be-
gan an exhaustive review OF the testi-
mony and the courts conclusions.
Secretary Meyer believes the criticism
deserved, but the courts findings are
50 extremely condemnatory that he
wished to satisfy himself of their basis
before approving the record. That
courts martial will be the outcome is
believed to be inevitable. The ordnance
officers are criticised for not making
preparations to prevent the sinking OF
the Puritan, IN the test of the Isham
method Of exploding nitrogelatin at
Hampton Roads, last November. The
truth OF the matter is that the naval
officers concerned had scoffed at Isham' S
theories, and were not anticipating any
serious damage to the vessel. AS it
! was, however, the armor plate vas SO
| much injured that the vessel sank to
the bottom in less than "a hours. A
loss OF at least $3.50, 900 is consequent
at the most conservative estimate.
Upon complaint of Representative
Smith. of Texas, Ambassador Wilson
at Mexico City, was today orkered by
Secretary Knox to investigate the
charge that Mexican troops had fred
| at the Red Cross flag during the fight
| ing near Juarez last Saturday. DR..
Bush, OF FL Paso, asserts that he was
fred on several times while displaying
Red Cross flag on the battlefield.
Asserting that the promise made by
President Taft, in the famous Norton
patronage letter" that the ban against
progressive" would I've lifted, has
not been kept, and that Cannon and
Aldrich controlled Congress in the in
terests OF the trusts, Representative G.
A. Lindberg (rpn. MIMI, one OF the
House progressives, this afternoon
issued hot statement outlining his
future position on appointment matters.
Among other things Lindberg charged
that while the postoflice department,
| asserted in letters to constituents, that
appointments we're controlled by Con-
gressman-including progressives-as
a matter OF fact the writers of such
letters took pains to see to it that the
progressives did not control them. He
asserted that hereafter he would 20 on
the assumption that the president would
enforce recognition OF regulars and
progrcssives and that. this being fully
understood, the violation OF Taft's rules
by department chiefs would not be the
fault OF the progressive who had ex-
pecte1 square deal.
That Benjamin d. Greene and John
F. Gaynor, convicted participants in
the Savannah harbor frauds, can and
probably will obtain their release from
the Federal penitentiary, at Atlanta,
Ga, within thirty days by turning over
oil their worldly possessions to the gov
crnment, thereby making it possible
for them to take the poor debtors oath
logitimately, was the opinion expressed
by Department OF Justice officials here
today. The men have already COM
pIeted a four year sentence and are now
being held for non-payment OF 800
900 fine which was also imposed on
them. The possibility OF Green and
Gaynor obtaining their release by turn
ing over only certain portion OF their
fine, from rumored hidden treasure
fund, was secuted by Frank Cole,
secretary to Attorney General Wicker
sham. There can be no compromise"
be declared. The men must give the
government every particle OF their
property, both real aod personal, or,
If they take the poor debtors oath, they
may be resentenced for perjury. They
know this and it is improbable that they
will waste precious time, or run any
unnecessary chances by trying to held
back some OF the money they are re-
ported to have stored away.
What are alleged to be the tricks
of race-track promoters and poolroom
managers we're described to the House
committee on interstate commerce by
Harry Brolaski. former racing book
maker, who urged the passage of the
Sims anti-gambling bill, TO prevent
international or interstate transmission
Of racing results. Brolaski declared
that the gambling is done, not at tho
tracks, but BY Geographic and telc-
phonic communication with other
cities, where gambling is illegal. He
told in detail OF the practices OF book
makers, poolrooms, jockeys and horse
owners, as he knew them in % years
experience. Rev., Wilbur d. Crafts, OF
the International Reform Bureau
spoke 10 behalf of the bill, rs did
also former U. S. Senator H. w.
Blair.
An article published in the Ma
nassas Democrat of January 26, re-
flectipg on H. T. Davies, common
wealths attorney Of Prince William
county, whom it declares abused the
power of his office, the senctity OF his
public trust" in recent case, was
found by the grand jury yesterday to
be false and malicious. Following the
publication OF the article, Mr.. Davies
asked tho court to direct the grand
jury to make full investigation. and
this body reported yesterday as above.
Declaring the original sentence to
have been oppression, President Taft
today granted full pardon to Guy
Livingston, a ranchman OF Dunkirk,
Montana, sentenced to Jail for 60 days
aud to pay fine OF 800 because he
carried bottle OF whisky in bis grip
while passing through the Blackfoot
Indian Reservation.
Authorization was today granted by
the House to the states Of New York