The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-09-28
SEC. ALGER RETURNS.
Has Gained Much Informal
ton About Camps and
Hospitals.
WAR COMMISSION is WAITING
Gen. Wilson Of the Engineer
Corps Volunteers a States
ment of Ris Work.
WAR COMMISSION is WAITING


WASHINGTON, Sept. 2s. 1883 Secre~
tary Alger has returned to Washington
He came to the War Department imnas-
diately after breakfast and was soon be-
siesed by number of persons who HAYS
been waiting for his return. The sacrs@
tary looked much improved by his trip
although it was filled with hard work
after he left Detroit. He said that ne
had gained a great deal of information ~
to conditions in the camps and hospitals
BY his inspection, whicn might take snaps
in official action soon About noon he
Went to the White House ana had 4 long
ditions.
Only four members of the commission
appointed to investigate the conduct CT
the war was present al the forenoon ses-
sion today, and in the absence of replies
70 the interrogatories sent TO the SeaTe-
ldry of War and his subordinates, very
little business was transacted Colouef
Denby was elected yice-chairman Of the
Comnission, and in the absence of Chair
man Dodge presided oyer today s session.
The only important matter brought 10
the attention of the Commission was =
report by General Wilson. of the EnEi~
neer Department of the army, Of wsiicf1
ne IS the chief. No statement was called
for from him. because there were no
charges against his deps rtment. but Gen-
eral Wilson. being a member of the Com
mission. concluded that to furnish one
would be an appropriate proceeding Tho
aocument was neld for disposition by the
luli commission and consequently WAS
not given 10 the press.
II Is a detailed statement showing the
|, ,condltion of the Department on the first
OF last April, just before the declaration
the Slst Of August last, after the ce1ss.-e
tion of hostiltles. and !. leais especially
cluded in it is Letter written by General
Wilson to hfs suhordinates throughout
the country Just before .he beginning e<
the war, advising tnesn IF the prospect Of
hostilities and directing what courss
they should pursue members CT the
Engineer Depart ment.
few letters were received from per-
sons suffering to come before the CoIn-
mission These were replied to with q
circular letter, of which the following -
Dear Sir-ReferrIng to your communica-
ton OF --, the Commission requests
that, upon receipt of this, you viii for
specific and complete a form as may be
practicable all facts based upon your own
personal experience and knowledge, that
Will aid the pending investigation This
statement will be for the information OF
the Commission only.
Acting Secretary of the State Adeo had
q short consultation with President Me-
kinley today. 1t was at first thought the
visit had some connection with the pres
Rence in this city : Of Senor Agonoillo,
Aguinaldo's representative but MFR Adoo
denied that ii had any bearing on that
subject and said he came 10 talk aEsr-
some routine official papers he carried
with him Mr.. Adoo said the administers
ton had no official knowledge of Senor
Agoneillo'S visit and knew nothing or
ficially of his plans or intentions There
were some important callers upon the
President during the morning. including
several members of Congress now in the
city.
Paymaster General Stanton has receiv-
ed private letter from Major Charles
Mcclure, Chief Paymaster at Manila. He
says of the Philippines that the United
States should by all means retain pos
session of these fertile islands. The peo-
pie of that country, he states, have been
misgoverned for three hundred years.
With no opportunity to develop or i'm
prove themselves. The United States, he
says. in the interest OF humanity, should
assume government over the islands.
= Two valuable souvenirs of the capture
of Manila We're received at the Nary De-
partmeni today from Admiral Dewey.
One is ..the official flag of Manila" sewed
to which was linen memorandum. show
ing that the flag was hauled down Au-
gust 49, 1898. at $40 by Flag Lieutenant
Brumby and signal boys Stanton ard
Ferguson, from the flagship Olympia, al
ter the surrenies ae tas city 10 the eoIE-
bined naval and military .orces of shs
United States.
The other souvenir was the flag OF the
Spanish armed transport Cebu. captured
at Manila, August 10, 1898. These flags
were turned over to the chief clerk OF
the Navy Department for transmission
to the Naval Academy. where all such
trophies of the American navy are stored
and displayed