The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-20
Into the Conduct Of the War Department to
be Rigid and Thorough.
MONEY ORDER RULES EXTENDED
as Six
InchG Guns aiken from This Cruiser
como -Redist o be
Made. .OurP eComm Sail from New
York. the Com
miSsiOnerShip.

Washington, September 17-Mr. Evan
=. Howell, Of Atlanta, Ga, who was
asked by the president 20 serve on the
commission TO investigate certain de-
partments Of the army in connection
with the war, was at the White house
today and formally accepted the ap-
pcirtment. In his interview the pres-
dent assured Mr.. Howell that it was
his purpose to secure commission
which, without fear or favor, would
probe to the bottom the charges made
by newspapers and individuals, invOlv-
ing the efficiency and integrity Of Of
ficcrs Of the army, and give to the
country the facts. The secretary of
war had asked for an investigation and
the president thought it due to all
concerned that the investigation be
made at once by u commission in
whose honesty Of purpose and ability
there could be no question. Under
these circumstances Mr.. Howell assur-
ed the president that he would gladly
accept the appointment, as he regard
ed it a duty which no citizen should
evade. Mr.. Howell thought that there
would be no necessity for the commits
sion to leave Washington during the
inquiry Offices for it's use would be Sc
cured in or convenient to the war de-
parthment, where the official records
would be at hand. The only purpose
of the president in securing, if pOssi-
BILE, nine members of the commission,
is to tighten the labOrs of the indiVid-
ual members. According to his idea,
the work Of the commission could be
parCeled out to sub committees so
that the larger the commission the
easier would be the work for the in
dividual members. If, however, the
president is unable to secure the SER
vices of nine members he will proceed
with seven. He expects that in any
event the commission will be completed
within the next few days. The gentle
men who already have accepted or
who, it is confidently expected, will
consent to serve are: Mr.. Sexton, Cen
eral Dodge. Mr.. DENLY, Mr.. Howell,
Mr.. Gilman and DR.. Keene. AS to
the power of the commission to COM
pei officers and others to testify as to
facts within their knowledge, the pres
ident assured Mr.. Howell that if the
commission met with any difficulty in
that regard, which, however, he did
not expect, he, the president, would
know the reason why.
After half an hours conference with
the president today General SchOfield
announced that he would not serve as
"a member of the commission.
MONEY ORDERS PAYABLE AT OF
FICE OF ISSUE.
The public will greatly appreciate
the convenience afforded through an
order issued today by First Assistant
Postmaster General Heath, which au
hf,r n SSpn
orders payable at their own offices.
This practice has not been heretofore
followed and the new departure Will
be an accommodation to the great
number of people, who, not having an
account at a bank, desire to follow this
economical and absolutely safe method
in payment Of bills, etc. These money
orders may now be used, for illustra-
ton, in payment of gas bills, merchants
and grOcers bills, etc. In smaller
places, the person indebted to a farmer
may have an order drawn in favor of
the latter, payable to him at any 1ime
and sent to him by a neighbOr who
obtains and delivers the mail for the
neigm,orhoOd, the entire cost, say for
$40. bang but 10 cents.
The war department today received
a dispatch from General Brooke, dated
Ponce. stating that three American
soldiers died in Porto Rico yesterday
from INpnOlu lever
TO FLOAT THE MARIA TERESA
TOMORROW.
Captain CrowninsfIield, who was to-
day acting as secretary of the navy,
-;eCeived 4, cabegram from Commodore
Watson as Guantanamo, stating that
the WreCkerS have recovered ten
S-!nCh guns from the Spanish flagship
Maria Teresa and placed them on the
corier Lecnldas. The commodore says
thai it is expected the Spanish ship
viii be fOa1ad next Monday and ne will
start for home Tuesday, He is under
orders to take command at the Mare
Island navy yard.
The reports received at the navy de-
partlrant in6fcs1a that the big tropical
hurricane, which did so much damag ge
in Barbados did not strike near the
United States naval vessels at Cal
fnanera. but passed we'll 20 the east
ward.
1t is learned that the monitor AM
Fphitrite, which was recently reported
as broken down at Mole st. Nicholas.
Hayti. is now on her way to Norfolk.
in tow of the cruiser Yosemite.
DISPOSITION OF CAVALRY REG1-
MENTS.
Orders will be issued from the war
department for the disposition OF the
five regiments of regular cavalry now
at Camp Wikoff in command of Major
General Wheeler. Three of them are
to be sent TO a camp hereafter to be
designated within 100 miles of Hunts
vile, Ala, the Second regiment is to
go to South Dakota to relieve the
Eighth regiment, with headquarters at
Fort Meade, and the Ninth is to be dis
tributed throughout Arizona and New