The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-26
Pay OF the Men Who Settled Spanish
War Left Wholly in the Hands
of the President.
THE EX-SECRETARY'S PLANS
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL BE
CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.
Former Cabinet Member Has Returned
to His Home in Canton to
Practice Law.

CANTON. o., Dec. 25.-Judge Day, presi-
dent of the late peace commission, and Mrs
Day reached their Canton home in time to
take Christmas dinner with the family. They
arrived at 1915 o'clock this morning over
the Pennsylvania Railroad. There was no
formal greeting arranged for them but a
committee of the Stark county bar, several
personal friends and members of their fam
ily were at the station to meet them. The
Judge is in excellent health and spirits and
the trip abroad has evidently been beneficial.
Mrs Day is also in excellent health, and
notwithstanding seasickness on the return
VOYAGE comes to her home in much better
health than when she left it,
Judge Day. when asked as to his plans for
the future, said he expects to remain in
Canton and resume the practice of law in
the firm of which he was a member before
entering the Cabinet of President Mckinley.
The work of the committee ended when the
treaty was delivered to the President, and
he does not expect to visit Washington
again in connection with any duties on that
commission.
Asked if he had any desires which the
State of Ohio could satisfy, he said: IF
you refer to political desires, | have not.
My only ambition is to be allowed to pur-
sue the practice of my profession
Later in the conversation he authorized
the direct statement that under no circum-
stances would he be candidate for Gov
ernor as has been reported during his alb
sence in Paris. While he talked freely on
many matters connected with his work in
Paris Judge Day did not feel at liberty TO
give an interview in detail ON the work of
the commission. He said the talk of 100000
compensation for the commissioners, or of
any sum approaching that amount, was
ridiculous and preposterous.
1.-The President fixes the compensation of
the commissioners, and none of them, it is
safe to say said Mr.. Day, accepted the
duties as a speculation. None of them has
an idea Of a large fee, such as would have
been paid had they performed the duties in
the capacity of regularly retained attorneys.
There is no actual precedent on which to
base an estimate, but the prediction is ven-
tured that the compensation of the commits
sioners viii not exceed $1,000 each and
reasonable expenses incurred on the trip
and in Paris. These expenses, however, viii
not include those incurred for the wives and
families of the attaches of the commission,
because all such went on the journey en-
tirely independent of the commission, and
party"
"It is probable that the stories of large
compensation were suggested by payments
in treaty negotiations of the past, notably
the Bering sea matter and Mr.. Fosters work
in connection with the China and Japan
treaty. In the case of Mr.. Foster there is
no parallel to the Paris commission. He
was retained for a very large fee to perform
certain duties. In the case of the Bering
Sea the commissioners were paid very mod
est sums for their work, but associated with
them were number of attorneys of note
in the capacity of counsel looking after
large interests. and as such were paid liberal
fees"
A number of friends have called on Judge
Day since his return, and to them he has
talked entertainingly. The work at Paris
as felt by the commissioners to be arduous
and left little or no opportunity for pleas
ures, which the judge would have been glad
to have enjoyed in city which impressed
him with its beauty and historic interest.
The French government treated the commits
sioners very well, and the room in which ne
gotiations were conducted was a magnificent
one, well adapted to the work in hand The
Americans were in session every day. and
during long hours most days, during their
soJourn in Paris. They took a vast amount
of testimony bearing on the questions to be
disposed of, and were in constant communi-
eation with the President. Whenever, under
instructions from Washington, the American
position was closely defined, a session was
held with the Spanish representatives, and
at such sessions the Americans always pre-
sented a firm and united position.
There were but two critical periods in
the negotiations, the first regarding the Gu
ban debt, which was an open question for
more than a month, during which time the
Americans never swerved from the position
presented to the Spaniards The other was
on the Philippine cession, and after the
Americans had reached conclusion in their
own councils as TO the concessions that
could be granted there was no deviation, and
the Spaniards finally accepted. The personal
relations between the representatives of the
two governments was at all times friendly
and cordial. The Americans had great re-
spect for the ability of the Spanish members,
and believe that nothing was left unsaid or
undone that could benefit the Spanish case.
The president of the Spanish commission
was remarked as man of great ability by
the Americans, and won their respect for
the able manner in which he conducted the
Spanish case