Evening star., 1898-08-25
Members Of the Peace Commission
at the State Department.
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Senators Davis and Frye Call on
the President.
GU RRENT SPECULATION

that the peace commission will be an
nounced tomorrow or next day. The gossip
today about the commission is unfavorable
to the selection of General Tracy. The
fact that there has been opposition to AS
sociate Justice White is responsible for an
impression prevailing today that he may
not be appointed.
White House Conference
Senators Davis of Minnesota and Frye
Of Maine, whose selection as members of
the peace commission is positively as
sured, called at the White House soon after
3 O'Clock this morning and We're shown at
once into the Presidents room. Senator
Davis, whose arrival was announced yes-
terday, was Joined this morning by Sena-
TOR Frye, who had been summoned by the
president to come to Washington The
conference at the White House continued
for nearly three hours. Official callers
were apprised of the conference and went
away without announcing their presence to
the President asking for an audience at
the time.
Senator Davis and Senator Frye since
tIelr arrival in Washington have main
tanned the utmost reserve, absolutely re-
Iusins to discuss in any way the subject
which they have under consideration with
the PRESIDENT Their position is of unusual
delcacy, Tor they are not only to be mem
oers OF the commission which is to frame
the treaty, but are on the committee on
foreign relations of ,he Senate which will
hrst pass upon the ratification of the
treaty.
The Other Members
1t was the natural presumption that at
the conference today the President discuss
ed With the two senators the selection of
the additional republican and the democrat
lc member OF the commission, for it is
known that up to last night he had not
decided whom he would appoint
-Ihe President is being urged to give rep
resentaton on the commission to the eIe-
nent IN TINS country who hold pronounced
views IN favor Of wide territorial expan-
SION. In this connection the name of Judge
Grosscup of Chicago has been suggested
as the most typical representative of that
element. Judge Grosscup is a warm friend
OF the President, who entertains A high
estimate of his ability. If Judge Crosscup
shouIa go on the commission it would shut
out Gen. Tracy of New York
After their conference with tho presi-
dent, Senators Frye and Davis went to the
State department to call on Secretary Day.
VINO VIII be the head of the commission.
Remaining Members Selected.
The first formal meeting of the American
peace commissioners, or at least a ma
1ority of them, then took place For an
hour and quarter the senators remained
closeted with Secretary Day. Assistant
Secretary Moore, who is likely to accom-
paEy the commission to Paris in an ad-
Vlscry capacity. was present part of the
time. Mr.. Macarthur, first secretary of the
American legation at Madrid under Min
lister Woodford, was also called in during
the conference.
As result of the meeting it can be stated
with positiveness that Messrs. Day, Davis
ana Frye are members of the peace COM
mission. 1t is understood that the remain
ing two members have already been Sc
lected, and will be announced by Saturday.
Al the meeting today the general plans
OF the commission as to proceeding to
Paris were talked over and an understand
ing reached that the start would be made
between September 10 and 20. The exact
day was left open in order to permit fur
ther conference with all the members of
the commission. No definite arrangements
have been made thus far as to securing
quarters in Paris. This will be left to Am
paSsaaor pas Porter The plans of meeting
Will be arranged between Mr. Porter the
Spanish ambassador at Paris and the
French officials. The sessions will be held
in the Salon des Ambassadors through the
courtesy of the French government
Questions of Policy
Aside from these formalities, the com
missioners went into some of the more
serious questions of policy which will come
before them. The discussion was largely
upon prelini 1ary matters pertaining to
peace arrangements, but the commissi ion
ers md their work in this direction greatly
slmpllfed because of the familiarity of the
three members present today with the dip
lcmatlc matters pertaining to peace settle
ments and 10 many of the questions in
VclVed Much of the preliminary work had
been done by the State Department Off
clals, such as the collection of documents,
treaties, books and maps which will De used
by the commissioners abroad.
Ihe commissioners expect to be occup;ed
for several days, however, in a discussion
OF the more important matters to come be-
lore the tribunal and in the preparation of
the American side of the case.
The Language to Be Used.
The question as to whether the delibera-
tlons of the joint commission al Paris shall |
be conducted in the English or French ian
grage will be left open for settlement by
the commissioners themselves.
Although French is the language of |
diplomacy, there is disposition on the |
part of the American peace commissioners |
to nave the proceedings of the Joint COM
mission conducted in the English Ian
guage.
One strong reason for this preference is |
that Secretary Day, chairman of the
United States commission, does not under
stand French and does not like to be en- |
tlreiy dependent upon the interpreters |
POSSEL KILLED HIMSELF
suspected of Having Murdered HE