Evening star., 1898-09-28
Mr.. ALGER RETURNS
Found Conditions Of the Camps
Improved.
EXPECTS THEM TO Be MADE BETTER
Had Two Hours Conference
With the President.
NO UNPLEASANT INCIDENT

Secretary Alger returned to Washington
at s o'clock this morning. He went to the
War Department Immediately after break
fast and was soon besieged by number of
persons who have been waiting for two or
three weeks for his return. The Secretary
locked much improved by his trip, although
it was filled with hard work after he left
Detroit. He said that he had gained a
great deal of information as to conditions
in the camps and hospitals by his inspec-
ton, which might take shape in official ac-
ton soon. About noon he went over to the
White House and had a long talk with the
President about army conditions.
The party which returned to the city with
the Secretary included Quartermaster Gen
eral Ludington, Surgeon General Sternberg.
Colonel Hecker of the quartermaster'S de-
partment and Major Hopkins of the Secre-
tarys office. These gentlemen were not
disposed to talk about their recent eXpe-
riences in the southern camps for pubi-
cation, in view of the general military in
Vestigation now under way by the presden-
tial commission.
Secretary Alger went to the White House
at II o'clock and remained in conference
with the President more than two hours
talking over his inspection of military
camps in the south. There was little inter-
rupton to the conference. Secretary Long
and Senator Chandler going in to see the
President just before Secretary Alger left.
The Secretary of War looked ruddy faced
and healthy, and his friends congra tula ed
him on his appearance and the apparent
benefit he had received from his trip. The
Secretary also appeared to be in better hui
NOR than in weeks and gave every indica-
ton that mis- conference with the President
had been a pleasant one. The repeated at
tackS on the Secretary just before his de-
mand for an investigation had naturally
annoyed him and had somewhat soured an
ordinarily sunny disposition.
Pleased With Condition of Camps.
Il am exceedingly gratified at the excel
lent condition of the camps I visited" said
the Secretary. Il believe there has been
an Improvement and that every effort is
making to preserve and protect the health
OF the soldiers. In every camp / visited
the appearance of the sick men themselves
was good, and many of them cheerfully eX-
pressed the hopes of their speedy recovery
and their satisfaction with the methods of
caring for them. | have seen since [ left
some Of the camps, blood-curdling stories
OF lll-tTeatment, but no such stories were
told me, and | personally talked with many
OF the SICK men, asking them to tell me OF
any lack OF attention, any shortage of food
or medicines.
Secretary Alger said that the general
condition of the regiments at all points was
satisfactory. He said that ma turally some
OF the regiments were in better shape than
others. This was due to the officers The
difficulty was that there was a lack of
knowledge as to how to care for them
selves In some regiments the men are
careless about scattering watermelon rinds
and other refuse about, as we'll as in To-
eating sinks. He thought that experience
and repeated warnings would better this
state of affairs. He considered, however,
that there had be IN marked Improvement
in the care of regiments by the officers.
No Unpleasant Incident.
Secretary Alger denied positively that any
scene had occurred in Gen. Sanger's camp
at Lexington, as charged in the press dis
patches. He said that no unpleasant Incl
dent or scene had occurred while he was
at Lexington.
General Alger declined to say whether
any important action will result from his
ir1