Evening star., 1898-08-16
Secretary Alger's Order to Gut Down
the Army.
WILL DISBAND over $4,000 TROOPS
That Have Not Served
to Be Sent to Cuba.
ACE COM SSIONERS S

one OF the most important subjects be-
| fore the cabinet today was that of cut
ting down the army and navy. Secre-
tary Alger has in course of preparation an
| order reducing the army. This order will
be completed after further conferences with
the President, and will be made public
within a few days.
| The order, SO far as drawn, provides for
the disbandment of all the regiments or
| ga niZed under the second call for troops.
This call, it will be remembered, vas for
| 15,OO0 men. The most of these, about 80
| coo, were placed in service to fill TO the
| maximum the volunteer regiments formed
| under the first call. Throughout the var
! ious states, however, regiments have been,
! and are being, organized under the second
| call. All these will be ordered to return to
! peaceful pursuits.
| In addition to these it has been decided
to muster out of service number Of regi-
ments which saw service at Santiago, ard
| In which there is considerable Illness. The
regiments which lave suffered most, and
| in which the men have been greatly VT eak-
| ened. will be the cnes which will lease to
| serve Uncle Sam. Tie nuErlber of these is
| yet to be determined, but il is probable
| II at 1t will embrace nearly all of The vol
| unteer regiments which wen; to Santiago
| The District of Columba regiment may
| be among the number.
Regiments That Have Not Served.
| The ADMINISTRATORS idea is that in the
! service yet TO be done IN Cuba regiments
| will be selected from the states which old
| not furnish material in any of the cam
| paigns made. There are about eighteen of
| Il csc states, and each will be given a
| regiment.
| 1t cannot be learned what will be done
| with the Rough Riders, but as they suffer-
ed much at Santiago in battle and by dis
| ease they will likely lie dIsbandel when
| the order is issued.
| The army is already being relieved of
| large number of men by resigna:ions of
| officers who want to get back to their
homes. Whenever the a1ceptancs of these
designations does not cripple the army the
| men are allowed to leave.
The army will be cut down slowly after
! the order soon to be issued. The question
Of how many men will be needed in Cuba
| and Porto Rico is an open one, and until
there is definite idea on this subject
there will be no heavy decrease. In the
| case of the troops under the last call many
states have not been able to organize their
! quotas. The work has gone on slowly.
1t is thought that the coming order will
! disband from 80 100 to 40 600 men.
The cutting down of the navy will be
| done by board, which will soon get to
| work
| The Peace Commission.
The cabinet discussed the names of a
| number of men mentioned for the peace
| commission. The President having select
| ed the military commissions, will now take
| up the composition of the peace commits
sion, which may be announced by the end
| of the week. The President intends to
slowly pick his men, 1t is said on good au-
| thority that only two men have been agreed
| upon. These are Secretary Day and Sena-
tor Davis. 1t is thought that the President
| has succeeded in inducing Senator Davis to
become member of the commission.
| The cabinet also discussed the compost
| ton of the two military commissions The
| Presidents selections were commended and
| the appointments We're made public
Everything is yet at sea regarding civil af-
fairs for either Porto Rico or Cuba. These
| affairs will be considered slowly and care
fully by the officials of the administration
BOurke COckran's VISIT
One of the Presidents visitors during
| the morning was w. Bourke Cochran of
| New York. The visit excited widespread
comment. The former silver-t -tongued Tam
many orator stumped the country against
| Bryan two years ago. He severed his con-
rection with Tammany prior to that but
was still recognized a regular democrat
when Bryan was made the nominee of the
party. Ihe President is said to have ap-
| preciated the campaign services of the
noted orator. He is also said to have :;
! high regard for Mr.. Cockran's ability.
1t is not bpljeva6 hot
| ran was Offered a place the peace COM
| mission, but it is gossip that the Presf-
| dent may have offered him an advisory DO
sition. Mr.. Cochran is lawyer Of ability
and well-known linguist. Gossip also
gives him legal position with one of the
military commissions.
Senator Allison Sent For.
Senator Allison who was sent for by
President Mckinley, reached the CITY last
night from his home in Iowa, and went to
the White House this morning He re-
mained in conference with President Nc
kinley an hour, and was in the room with
the Presideat when the cabinet officials be-
gan to arrive for the regular session of the
cabinet.
There is not the slightest doubt that Sem
ator Allison was offered a place on the
peace commission, and came here to con-
fer with the President on that subject.
Senator Allison, who is looking remark
ably well, said he would not leave the city
at once. This is construed by many to
| mean that he Is still undecided as to the
peace commission.
Senator Allison has much work ahead
him before Congress meets. He is on sew
eral special committees, and these Will have
wAck to do soon. 1t is not the belief in ad-
m1nstration circles that the peace commits
sion will conclude treaty of peace before
some time in November, and it is among the
probabilities that the commission will still
be at work when Congress meets.
The positive statement can be made this
afternoon that Senator Allison will not
serve on the peace commission. Notwith-
standing the general retieence on the situa-
ton, it is known that the Iowa senator told
the President that owing to a multitude of
duties he would not be able to accept the
honor offered him. The President expressed
his regret at the senator's declination
1t is said today that while the President
will have no trouble in securing good men