Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-08-16
LEE GOING TO HAVANA.
Mentioned as Certain to he One OF Cu'
ban Commission.
CONFERS WITH M'K1NLEY.
Discusses State of Affairs In Cuba--ihe
President Getting Opinions on Size
Of Army That Should lie Mann
tained Hereafter.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16.-Major Genera
Lee WAS at the war department early.
He had a long talk with General Corp'i'
before the secretary arrived and tneii
entered the secretary's room' anu
discussion proceeded at consioeraoie
length, devoted mainly to conditions IN
Cuba, although General Lee told the
secretary something about his own
troops.
General lee is here for the purpose OK
discussing the admin. stration OF Cuba'
and as he no doubt will be one OF the
commissioners appointed under the pro-
tocol the views of Secretary Alger and
of President Mckinley will be MADE
known to him, and he will tender such
advice as his residence in Cuba enables
him to give.
General Lee and Secretary Alger later
went to the White House, the presid mt
desiring to discuss with them the gen.
eral matters re'ating to the government
of Cuba General Lee was asked If he
was to he one Of the Cuban military
commission and replied that he did not
know. He was an officer and sub1e
to orders but he could not tell what he
was going to do. He had been ordered
to Washington and probably in due
time would learn the reason for SUCH
order. When his duty here was COM
pleted, he no doubt would be sent back
to his command or to some point where
he could be of more service.
The Standing Army.
President Mckinley is canvassng
public sentiment as to the needs of mill
itary organization in the time OF peace
and has consulted a number OF visitors
as to how great an army they think
should be kept up after the treaty OF
peace is executed. No conclusion has
been reached as yet on this point, but it
Is receiving considerable attention on
the part Of the administration.
Governor Shaw of Iowa was one of
the few prominent visitors at the White
House. He was presented by Secretary
of Agriculture Wilson, who drove over
with him from the department and
placed his carriage at the disposal of
the governor, who has just reached here
from trip OF inspection at Chickamau-
ga and Jacksonville and also visit to
L
represents the state.
He paid his respects to the president
and took occasion to report the condi-
ton of the Iowa troops in camp. He
said that in general way they were in
very fair shape. but made number OF
suggestions looking to their convenience
and comfort. He asked also how long
it would be before their disarmament
might be effected now that the peace
protocol is a closed document, but the
president himself has not now a fixed
opinion on this point.
To Appoint Naval Board.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Allen
was with the president, going over i'm
portant matters of detail inciGe.t to the
close of the war, including the question
of reorganization of the navy and it's
to what is actually needed.
1t was decided to create a board of five
naval officers to pass upon the matter.
Acting Secretary Allen said that the
board would be appointed Immediately
and that 1t would convene probably be-
fore the close of this week
Its function will be to determine
what vessels now in the navy should Be
retained which of them should have
their government charters discontinued
or their use by the government other
wise dispensed with, what changes to
make in the vessels kept, etc. This
board will consist. as now planned, of
three officers of all round naval ability,
one engineer and one constructor
Secretary Day had a brief conference
with the president but had nothing new
to disclose. A few other officials called
during the day. but the absence of the
rush that has characterized the depart
nent du'in ing the war was very market