Evening star., 1898-09-03
Harriss' Action. Based on Mohtauk
Committees Representations.
THE LAfrER'S REPORT TABLED
Reports From Many Of the Sub
Committees Made.
DETAILS Oh DISCUSSION


arrangements having in hand the prepara-
tions making for a reception to the home
coming District soldiers was held in the
parlors of the Ebbitt House last night. A
rather spirited discussion aross during the
evening, the report of the special commit
tee sent to Montauk by the citizens was
repudiated on the ground that in arrang-
ing for the return of the soldiers nsxt Fri
day the members had gone beyond their
invested powers, and a committee was ap-
pointed to confer with the adjutant gen.
eral of ths army and Col Harries with re-
gard to the proper time for the regiments s
reaching Washington. The arrival of the
soldiers on the 9th instant, as at present
contemplated, 1t was said, would upset all
the plans of the COMMITTEES for their recep-
tiGn.
Maj. Richard Sylvester. chairman. called
the meeting to order at $50 o'clock. Mr..
Alvey, the secretary, called the roll of
members. majority were present. Maj.
Sylvester then announced that DR.. Francis
Lane of the committee on program. and
Mr.. 8. w. Woodward Of the committee on
reception, had declined to serys. The next
of the report of the special committee dis
patched to Montauk to inquire into the
needs and condition of thu District soldiers.
The Full Report.
The report was read. as follows:
NEW YORK, September 2. 1898.
Maj. Richard Sylvester. Chairman General
Committee:
Dear Sir: telegraphed to you yesterday
of our intended departure from Montauk.
and the arrangement and understanding
arrived at as to the movements of the regi-
ment on its homeward return. II Camp
Wikoff were a camp Of instruction, 1 am
sure the soldiers gathered there would
hook forward to their departure with feel
irgs of regret, as its location is ideal, and
every arrangement and provision for the
comfort Of the mon there assembled has
been made by the War Department, sup
plemented by the Red Cross and other pa
triotically inclined people.
When the committee visited our boys on
Sunday last, after the greetings were ex-
changed, the first thing they wanted to
know was, when are we going home. That
inquiry was on every tongue and seemed
to be the all-absorbing theme. We met the
same anxious and pleading inquiry from
the members of the 1st Battalion on their
arrival. In fact, there was such general
feeling of homesickness as l have never
witnessed. and could only be appreciated
by coming in contact with it. Col Harries,
whose every thought is for the best inter-
est of the men, concluded that the proper
thing to do was to provide for their stom-
achs and build them up, so that when
they reached Washington instead of
marching a hundred or two soldiers, fol-
lowed by ambulances or other conveyances,
carrying the sick, that he could be greeted
with full ranks, and return to their fam
lies the boys In fine condition.
THIS proposition involved q stay Of Two
or three weeks in camp, and instead of
having the effect, which 1t was hoped 1t
might, when communicated to the men,
added additional spengs to their homesick-
ness. and the appeals to the committee
were most piteous to persuade him to
change his plans; so, after carefully dis
cussing the matter till nearly Midnight
Wednesday, we agreed to urge a change
of program and recommend that the de-
parture should be n ade on Thursday next
by steamer direct to Jersey City as a trip
down the sound would be both pleasing
and invigorating to the men. They would
cine on the boat and have supper in Jersey
City. leaving there during the night and
breakfasting in Philadelphia, arriving In
sun had warmed up the streets, making it
unpleasant for the men to march over.
These plans met the coloners hearty ap-
proval. and the details were added by his
thoughtful suggestion.
l wish you could have witnessed the ef-
feet Of his announcement to the men that
the date of their departure had been fixed,
and that they would reach home on the
9th of September. 1t cheered them. and l
am sure will do more toward building them
up physically than all the medicine in camp
would.
Your committee has had no picnic in this
trip. as 1t has been hard work, both physi-
cally and mentally. To DR.. H. L. e. John
son eTd Capt. ]. Harrison johnson of the
committee. and Mr.. Thomas ]. Petty the
District auditor, who has been with and
the general committee are due.
Very respectfully
JAMES Z. BELL, Chairman.
The report was laid on the table for later
discussion.
All Calculations Upset.
Mr.. H. L. West, chairman of the COM
mittee on medals said that the news of
the return of the soldiers on the 9th of Sep
tember, had upset all the calculations of
the committee, which was ready to let con-
tracts for the work as soon as something
definite was determined with regard to
the date of the regiments arrival. The
quickest time in which the medals could
be made, he said, was three weeks. If the
regiment returns Friday the medal idea,
he declared, Is not feasible. The medals
would not be here Mr.. West took occa sion
to remark also that Q o'clock in the morn
ing is not a time for a demonstration Of
the character planned for the District SOL
diers. Designs submitted to the committee
were very satisfactory The medals will
be commemorative of Santiago. Porto
Rico, the District and the boys Company
H will have special medals with the word
Porto Rico on the bar instead of Santiago.
The work Of casting the medals will be
carefully supervised that no extra ones
may be made and that no man shall have
a medal to which he is not entitled.
Reports of Committees.
Mr.. John Joy Edison, chairman of the
finance committee, reported that up to the
present time he had received over $1,000.
The prospects are that all the money nec-
essary will be subscribed.
Mr.. Walter Hutchins, chairman of the
committee on street railways, reported that
he was in conference with the District
Commissioners, and felt sure that he could
secure a stoppage of traffic along the line
Of march at the time of the parade.
A report from Mr.. Schafer, chairman Of
the committee on vehicles, was read. MIR.
Schafer asks for an appropriation Of 500,
saying that he secure ten carriages at
s5 each and any additional number at 50
each.
Veterans and Labor Bodies.
Mr.. Arthur Hendricks chairman Of the
committee on veteran organizations, said
that IL the regiment returns Friday an es-
cort of veterans is out of the question. He
said that the veterans are very much in
earnest with regard to the reception, and
are anxious to do the returning soldiers
every honor. If the regiment returns two
or three weeks later the veteran 0rpa nj "a