Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-01-22
COL.HUGHES' MISSION
Thorough Investigation Of the
Arsenal contro.
versy.
10 HEAR BOTH SIDES OF TIE CASE.

Wni Pat in About Ten Days r.Aisg
sssseasass WHEN He VIII Rep rs
Direct to the De; r-sary Of ws.-Ds.
sliass 10 naks Any PropAesiss In Rsls-
t,ea 10 The O,teem..
Col 4 p. Hughes. the Uoit,d
states army inspector, delegated
~ Secretary Of War Alger to re-
port on the situation In regard to
the wages and piece work questions
Of Rock Island arsenal, has Instituted
. systematic and Thorough iuvesti.
gstion. which will be OF about 10
days duration. Col. Hughes has
been provided with quarters and an
orderly at the arsenal office building.
aud has decided to 6rst hear the
statements Il the men employ ed in
the various departments OF the work
shops. After he has fulfilled his
mission In this respect. Col. Hughes
will hear Commsn dant Blunt's side,
after which he will report direc. to
Secretary OF War Alger, who will de.
eide the controversy.
Col. Hughes Is stopping at the
Harper house. An ARGUS reporter
approached the inspector aud at.
tempted to gain some information
with reference to the probable out
come OF the investigation at the
arsenal.
81 am simply here under orders
from the secretary Of war;" replied
Col. Hughes.
"What do you think Of the situa-
tion-in your opinion. who will be
favored In the fiusl disposition OF the
controversy BY the government
further quizzed the newsgatherer.
Col. Hughes meditated q moment,
AID then replied: "l belong to the
corps Of inspectors Of the United
States army. and when you get any
information out Of them you have 90
get up pretty early in the morning."
The Colonel bid the reporter an
revoir, and walked away.
Committee Cell, on Him.
A committee representing the ar.
eenal employees called at the Hsrper
house last evening to interview The
colonel. He was in his room. A
bell boy was sent up with q card.
Col. Hughes instructed the BOY 10 in.
form the gentlemen that he was out.
When the lad reached the Office he
delivered this message to the CON-
mittee: "Col. Hughes is up in his
room. but he told me to tell you that
he WAS out"
The committee took advantage Of
the boys mistake and sent up au.
other request for an interview with
the inspector. who fioally granted it.
Col. Hughes is about s. years Of
age. He is native Of Pennsylvania.
lie enlisted from tina. state as q p.i.
vate infsntryman in April. 1861. in
Lincoln's FIRST call for 5000 men.
He was q man OF the sort TO com.
mand, and during the war rose to
the rank OF colonel. At its close he
had 30 proved his fitness for military
work that he was retained, being ap-
pointed a captain in the regular
army. He rose from this position
with the Third infantry by being
appointed major and inspector gen.
eral Feb. 10. 1855. In August, 1883,
he received the rank Of colonel
aud inspector. being now, as
stated. the senior officer in his de-
partment. He has occu pied import
ant positions as staff officer since the
war. and during that struggle re-
ceived ut least two brevets for dis
tinguished end meritorious services.
Col. Hughes has been supplied
With all the documents that have
been prepared BY the workmen. they
having been handed over to him BY
the secretary Of war, to whom the
workmen carried their grievances.
In order to preserve even the least
appearance OF freedom from untow-
ard Influences. he declined the invi-
tation Of Capt. Blunt to become an
H.