The evening times., 1898-11-22
LONGING TO come
BACK FROM PARIS
How the Peace officials Live in
the French Capital.
JUDGE DAY BUYS A LAMP
American Diplomats CHARTERED in
Poorly Lighted Apartments.
Captain Bradford Tells How the
Work Goes on Under Series of
Hardships and Difficulties.
JUDGE DAY BUYS A LAMP

Capt. Royal B. Bradford. chief of the
equipment bureau of the Navy Depart
ment. has returned to Washington from
Paris. where ne was called by the Peace
Commission as an expert adviser on ma
val affairs.
After four weeks of constant attendance
upon the Commissioners. Capt. Bradford
is naturally well Informed as 10 the la
bors of the arbitratorS, and he returns
disgusted with what he has experienced.
The idea seems 10 prevail here that
the American Commissioners are enjoy
ing a pleasure trip" said he 10 a Times
reporter last night but let me tell you
that they are engaged in the hardest
kind of work. These men who are used
to ease and comfort are working harder
than they ever did in their lives, and
harder, perhaps, than they ever will
again.
I'm the first place Paris should never
have been chosen as the place of meet
ing. 1t is not neutral. 1t Is anything but
neutral ground in fact. it is hostile to
the American Commission and its work
The French press is openly against our
representatives and French syndicate
is hard at work creating sentiment which
is intended TO force this country into TAX
ing up the Spanish bonds held by the
French, and convert the worthless paper
into gold.
Il can not say much about the joint
meetings Of the Spanish and American
Commissioners, which occur twice a week
at the Quai D'Osai. but | know chat moth
ing Is ever transacted there except the
handing over and receiving of vOlumi-
nous reports by each body. No time nor
love is wasted in talk. but each body re-
N haaHunartprS and liSSrptS
report received
This necessitateS long ana careful la
Dor in translating, reading and preparing
the reports. The Commissioners then
read and discuss each item of tha report
and begin the task of replying and pre-
pairing another renort.
'AIl this, the real work of the Commits
sioners, is done in their workshop, a suite
of rooms in the Hotel Continental. Here
great body of clerks. stenographers ana
translators work late into the morning,
so voluminous is the task of preparing
these reports.
THE fact that the Commissioners with
out an exception are eager and heartsick
to return home ought to disprove any
stories that they are having a good time.
Everything is against them in Paris, even
the climate Their rooms are poor and
ragged. Instead of steam heat they are
for light it is terrible They can get
nothing better than the dim blur of little
one-half candle power electric lights.
which make life miserable. One day
Judge Day managed to obtain a large
kerosene lamp for his room, and he was as
proud of it as a boy with a new top.
The Commissioners begin work at 10
a. m. and work steadily until p m.
every day except Sunday. They deserve
all the credit that can be given them for
their untiring energy for the safety of
American interests.
About the Spanish Commissioners, |
can say that our representatives are not
having an easy time with them. | ought
to say with one of them, for the Span
ish Commission is embodied in the chair
man, President Rios. The rest are very
fine looking diplomats bedecked in rib
bons and medals but they have nothing
to do with the workings of their side of
the game. They are figureheads. Rios
is the brain. This man Rios is a marvel.
He is one of the shrewdest diplomats in
the world, and has everything in his
grasp. He is imperturable and ii is caus-
ing our representatives much trouble to
keep track of his maneuvers. He viii. l
am sure, make wonderful fight for
lost cause
These Spaniards are very hard to deal
with. They are masters of the art of eX-
citing sympathy and they stop at nothi g
to attain their ends. In my opinion the
Spanish Commissioners are anxious to go
home with a treaty. but they must have
money. 1t is a matter of cash with them,
and they are holding off for more all the
time They will obtain no help from