Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13
The President Relieved From the
Strain of the Past Few Months.
CONSIDERING TIE COMMISSIONS
Personnel Of the Military and Peace
Bodies Being Discussed.
THE VOLU NTEER ARMY


months has been lessened. and his callers
today noticed and commented upon his
cheerful disposition. The President is
grateful for the kind words he is receiving
and shows his appreciation in many ways.
Since the wires first flashed the news of
the signing of the protocol hundreds of
telegrams of congratulation have reached
the White House. Democrats and popu-
lists have WED with republicans in sending
Commendatory words to the chief execu-
tive, who has conducted the war so sue
cessfully.
No one outside of official circles has any
idea of the immense amount of work the
President has done for four months. He
has kept track of even the smallest details.
From o'clock each morning until past
midnight of the same day he has remained
in his office seeing and talking with his
advisers and receiving and sending mes
sages.
A Vacation Hoped For.
While the responsibility will not be so
heavy until the actual close of war, the
President will remain at his post at least
another month without taking a rest. His
intention is to take brief vacation when
he has appointed the various commissioners
provided for and has given them their in
structions. He will hardly find things in
shape to do this before the middle of Sep
tember.
There has been no relaxation of the
Presidents work since yesterday. Today
he held conferences with Secretary Day,
Secretary Alger and Acting Secretary Allen
of the navy. These conferences were all
for the purpose of carrying out the many
things which remain to be DONE
The Military Commfssions.
The President will today take up the
question of the appointment of the military
commissions to sit at San Juan and Ha-
vana, respectively, to arrange for the eyac-
uation of the Spanish troops in Porto Rico
and Cuba. The commissions will probably
not be announced before Tuesday of next
week. The President intends to give study
10 the fitness of the names proposed for
this work. Adjutant General Curbin. whose
name has been mentioned in this connec-
tlon, says he will not be member of either
OF the commissions.
The Peace Commissioners.
After making the appointments for this
work the President will take I'D the per
sonnet of the peace commission to meet in
Paris He will be in no haste about making
up this commission. The protocol provides
that the peace commission shall meet in
Paris not later than the 1st of October. II
Is thought, however, that the American
commissioners will be ready to leave this
country by the 18th of September. After
'iie seieclon and appointment of the COM
iiiissloi'ers they Will remain in Washington
some time, receiving the instructions of tho
PRESIDENT and securing data for the mo-
mentous work in which they will be en-
"a
commissioners carefully and in detail
These representatives of the United
States will be the custodans of the position
Of this country on the Philippines and op
a hundred things which will come before
the body which meets in Paris. In sddi-
ton to the instructions to be given nv rho
PRESIDENT, the commissioners will most
themselves thoroughly on every question
winch Will come up. They will have their
hands full In coping with the Spanish rep-
resentatiyes.
May BE No Extra Session of San,.
1t is not now thought that an extra ses.
sion Of the Senate will be called. If is mot
believed that the peace commissioners u;u
conclude their work before some time in
November. Congress will meet In ree,r,!ar
session on the first Monday In December
II can then take up the treaty drafted at
Paris Should the commission reach =.
speedy conclusion, Which is not antic,natad
a special session of the Senate NAV he
called by the President.
IN accordance with the agreement of the
protocol, the President had his officials to
SEND word In every direction suspending
hostlhties. He was prompt in having this
done, but at the very time these messages
were going out it is reported the navy was
in pouring shot and shell into the
Spaniards at Manzanillo. The work would
nave been resumed this morning but tel
egram to stop fighting reached the COM
mander OF the ships at daylight 1t would
not surprise the President to find that there
has bean heavy fighting at Manila This
hghting may take place before the tele-
grams sent to Merritt and Dewey reach
them. Fighting of the severest kind may
be going on today, or may taks place to-
1t may have teen in progress at
the minute the protocol was signed
Captain General Blanco was badly stu
ated to get news about the signing of the
protocol. Every cable line from Madrid
was Shut off by Gen. Greely some time ago
and Blanco was isolated. Gen. Greely felt |
sorry for Blanco. and last night sent tele-
gram about what had occurred Gen.
Greely also permitted a telegram to go from
here to the French consul at Havana
Blanco learned the situation from this also |
No Immediate Dissolution of Armx
President Mckinley will not definite
ly take up the question of the dis
solution of the volunteer army for
some time. He has not yet decided
whether any of the regiments can be
released from service for good while 1t
is among the probabilities that every reei
ment will be kept in service until a treaty
OF peace is signed at Paris. The Philippine
question may prove to be grave one end
there are possibilities of trouble over II
with some of the countries of Europe I'm.
til these possibilities are removed the Presi- |
dent may deem it prudent to keep the army
intact If any of the regiments are dis
missed any time soon those which saw
ective service will be the ones. The details
of the reduction, whsther 1t comes sooner
or later. will be left to the War Depart-
ment
Invited to Pittsburg.
Invitations were today extended to Pres,-
dent Mckinley and members of his cabinet