The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-26
President Mckinley of the Opinion
that the Philippine Problem Can Be
Solved to Our Advantage.
Mr.. MEIKELJOHN'S NEW DUTIES
CHARGED WITH COLLECTION OF
REVENUES IN CONQUERED LANDS.
War Department to Supervise the Dis
trfbution of Relief to the Suf-
fering People of Cuba.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Aug 25.-The President
had plain talk with Peace Commissioners
Day, Davis and Frye to-day. He is deeply
impressed with the practical difficulties in
the way of our permanent retention of the
Philippine islands. He does not regard these
difficulties as insurmountable, but he is de-
termined that the peace commissioners shall
have all the facts and information which
he has obtained upon the subject. The
President believes in looking the Philippine
situation squarely in the face and not going
into expansion in that quarter of the world
blind to the consequences of such a policy.
The commissioners were at the White House
two hours and then went to the State De-
partment, where they remained for another
hour in consultation. The commission will
have TO be in Paris on the 1st of October
and the time at their disposal for a study of
the many and perplexing questions which
will he before them is none too long. The
work will be divided up among them to
some extent, each devoting himself to
study of special subjects. On the voyage
from New York to Paris they will compare
notes and arrive at general understanding
of the campaign before them.
The War Department has agreed to ship
sick Missouri soldiers back home from the
several camps in a special hospital train.
There are about two hundred sick Missouri
ians in the camps around about Washing
ton. These men will be taken to st. Louis,
put in the hospital of that city and from
there shipped to their local habitations all
at government expense. The sick soldiers
of other States will be similarly treated. as
fast as the War Department can get around
to it. s*s
Assistant Secretary of War Meikejohn
has been given new duties in connection
with Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines
which make him practically Colonial Sec
retary.'' The War Department will have
charge Of the business of collecting the rev.
enues of the conquered territory and of ad-
ministering the affairs thereof until stable
civil governments are established. The ac-
tual business will be done in large part by
treasury experts but they will be under the
direct personal direction of Mr.. Meikeljohn.
The newly established colonial department
of the government will be watched closely
as an interesting experiment
The President has decided to keep the
government relief work in Havana and
vicinity in the hands of the officials of the
War Department for the immediate future
instead of turning it over to the ladies of
the Red Cross as they have petitioned. He
is convinced that the ladies should not un-
dertake the work until conditions become
more settled. Major Niskern Of the COM
missary department at Tampa, will person
ally supervise the distribution of the first
million rations. General Blanco was against
permitting the United States government
to do any relief work in western Cuba until
it had formally taken possession. but suffer-
ing was so great that he finally relented.