Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-23

thahk you most heartily fOr the congratu-
lations and thanks you were pleased to
express. 1t will always be source of
pride to us all to have received such COM
mendation. Your cable will be published on
board the ships of the squadron tomorrow.
GEORGE DEWEY.
MANILA. Received August %, 1898.
The President, Washington:
For my troops and myself accept my sin
cerest Acknowledgements for your generous
praise of the success of our campaign.
America may well be proud of the troops
MERRITT.
The earliest callers at the White House
today were the members of a committee
from the Union Veteran Union, Depart
ment of the Potomac who called to invite
the President to attend coming campfire
and reception. The committee consisted Of
ex-National Commander H. l.. Street Mr.
Samuel X. Stratton, Mr.. A. H. Feathers
and Capt. George I. Foote U. S. A. re-
tired. The campfire is to be held at the
National Rifles Hall next Thursday even
iEg, and is in homer of Gen. Robert G. Dy-
renforth. reconnaissance of patents, who
is the new commander-in-chief Of the
Union Veteran Union.
The President was unable to give q defin-
ite reply at this time to the invitation, on
account of the press of public business, al
though he expressed the hope tha. he
might be able to attend
The President received a few callers be-
lore the cabinet meeting, among them Sen
ator Hansbrough of North Dakota. The
senator has spent the summer in the east
but will soon start for the west to take
part in the campaign.
Hawaiian Postal System.
Postmaster General Smith, at the White
House today, before he entered the cabinet
meeting, made the statement that the post
al system now in operation in the Hawaiian
Islands will be retained pending the rec
concentrations of the Hawaiian commission.
which has just begun its labors. 1t was
the original intention to Immediately ex-
tend the United States postal system to Ha-
wafi, but it was finally decided to make no
change Until the commission reports. The
Hawaiian system is said to be good one.
Ralph NJ. Easley. secretary of the Sara
toga conference on foreign policy, which
has just concluded its sessions, called on
the President yesterday to arrange a time
for the presentation Of the resolutions
adopted by the conference. Mr.. Mckinley
set the 18th of September, at which time a
committee of representative business men
and manufacturers. to be chosen, will wait
upon the President.
The Cabinet Meeting.
The cabinet spent about two hours today
discussing the general subject of the Phil
ippines. Postmaster General Smith, Sec
rstary Gage. Secretary Wilson, Secretary
Bliss, Secretary Day and Attorney General
Griggs were present. Secretary Alger Ii at
Montauk Point and Secretary Long Is in
Massa chusetts.
The meeting developed the fact that the
President has not reached decision upon
the personnel Of the peace commission
neither has he formulated the instructions
for the commission touching the subject
of the Philippines.
The President laid before the cabinet the
instructions to be given to the Cuban mill
tary commission, These are of rather q
general character. details being left in
large measure to the commissioners.
The Presidents Vacation.
The President mentioned the subject of
his vacation 2t the cabinet meeting today
He hopes to get away within a week for a
brief rest, as soon as he has selected the
pesce commission.
Later he will visit Montauk Point and
review the troops there. He is determined
TO see the Santiago heroes somewhere, but
the time and place will depend upon the
state OF their recuperation from the hard
Strips they have suffered.