Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-04-22
FROM WASHINGTON

coal situation developed TO-DAY When IL
was announced that the control and
regulation OF railroad rates in Alask a
is in the hands Of the secretary OF the
interior from whom the only appeal
will be to the United States Supreme
Court Senator La Toilette charges
that the Guggenhelm syndicate has OBJ
tained control Of the only railroad
route by which the Alaskan coal could
be taken TO tide-water. Through. this
railroad, it was alleged, the Guggen-
helms could dictate the price OF coal
and dominate the situation. In the
case Of the Humboldt Steamship Com
pany against the White Pass Railway
Company, the Interstate Commerce
Commission declared that it had no
jurisdiction over Alaska railroads. The
announcement today, putting the au-
thority in the hands of the secretary OF
the interior, places the full responsible
ity for fair and undiscrlmlnating ope-
ration of the railroads upon Walter L.
Fisher, the new conservatlonist cabinet
member.
Az investigation of the sudden death
OF II year old George Smith, colored,
today disclosed the fact that for ten
days the boy attended school and
played with his companions without
even headache, while suffering from
fatal fracture Of the skull which ply
sicians had described as slight scalp
wound.
President Taft today signed pro2la-
nation ,onjoining the Choctawhatchee
and the Orala national forests, Florida,
| under the name of the Florida National
Forest. a similar proclamation was
signed which combines the Coronado
and Garces National Forests, Arizona,
| under the name OF the Coronado Ma
tional Forest.
Two convicted murderers, serving
life sentences in the Leavenworth penn
tertiary for crimes committed IN boy
hood were today declared TO have atoned
for their crimes and were granted elem
ency by President TAFT. The prs-
oners are Cbipon Cossee, full b.ooded
Seminole, who was convicted on con-
ticting testimony OF killing his chum
II years ago and who has been in the
peuitentiary ever since, and George
Robertson, CT the Indian territory, who
when sixteen years DID, shot and killed
farmer who caught him stealing
fruit. Robertson has been in jail
nearly twenty years.
| Through the confession OF Albert
Stevens, arrested in Chicago last night,
secret service operatives have broken
up one OF the largest counterfeiting
plants in the west in that city, accord
ing to message received by Acting
Chief Moran here today. John Jose,
partner of Stevens was at the plant
when it was raided. He leaped through
window and made target for re-
yolvers Of secret service man who fired
at him several times but missed. Jose
escaped but bis capture is expected be-
fore night.
An invitation to Champ Clark and
House democrats who have been inter
ested in PHILIPPINE legislation to visit
the island was extended today by Resi-
dent Commissioner Manuel l.. Queen.
The invitation came direct from the
Philippine assembly, and the trip Is
calculated to show Philippine hos
pitality and the fitness OF the Filipino
for independence. The proposal Is
10 line with the campaign for Philippine
independence.
With a controversy between the reg
| ular and progressive Of the Senate COM
| mittee an committees open the COM
| mittee after session today adjourned
until Tuesday The programme were
invited TO present a list Of their com
mittee preferences to Chairman Gal
linger but they took the matter under
considerati n. Mr. (:allinger expects
to have tentative list ready for sub
mission TO the committee al the next
meeting.
Charging the Southern Railway with
fixing higher rate on phosphate I'm
der name than wher shipped under
another name, the Virginia Chemical
Company today filed a complaint ask
ing the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion first to make such rates Identical
aud then to slosh the schedules.
President Taft today promised a
committee from the Presbyterian
Mission at the leper camps in Iudia
that he would write an open letter call
ing attention to the famine and rarageS
OF the plague in India.
a protrac'ed period in committee
and vordy battle on the floor were
predicted today for the Canadian re-
cipruclty agreement in the Senate
following lis passage in the House by
266 to So, all but eleven Of the demo
Gratis supporting it. President TAFT is
convinced that tue measure has far
better chance than in the previous
Senate by which it was ignored and is
even hopeful OF signal success. But
many of its enemies in the Senate
remain aud it is in the upper House
that the Zig fight will take place.
Several senators are already loaded =
for big speeches, but for the presen,
all business is tied up by row between
ieoublican regulars and progr2sSireS
over Senate committee representations.
Aid was solicited Of President TAFT
today in a movement TO elevate the
condition declared TO exist n Russia
where the car is prosecuting Arme-
mans and Turks as political prisoners.
Representative Needham introduced +.
Amount. an editor from CONSTANT
nople who bias been touring the United
States to secure aid.
Do, l