Evening star., 1898-09-02
IMPORTANT PROBLEMS.
Matters for the Citizens Committee
to Settle.

The citizens committee having in charge
the arrangements for the reception will
meet tonight at the Ebbitt House Owing
to the complicated state of the conditions
confronting the body, the meeting will be
an important one and the attendance of ev-
cry member now in Washington is earnestly
desired by the chairman. Major Sylvester
The committee is so representative in its
character, however, and is composed of
such experienced members that there Is lit-
tie doubt that its conclusions upon the sub
1ects to be considered will meet public ap-
proval.
The chief question to be discussed WILL
in all probability, be the actual physical
state of the regiment now at Montauk
and the advisability of receiving 1t as de-
meeting and approved by the committee.
1t may be deemed best to postpone the
ovation for few weeks, in order that all
the members of the regiment may partici-
pate in the honor, and also that more COM
plete arrangements be made for
demonstration worthy of the returning he
roes. The meeting, however, will assured
ly decide these vital points. with single
purpose of doing what is best for the regi-
ment as whole.
Not Able to March.
very valuable contribution to the pub
lie knowledge of the regiments condition
was made today by DR.. C. B. Gilbert of
this city, who has just returned from
visit to the camp at Montauk. He called
today on Maj. Sylvester at police head
quarters, anI. In the latter's absence left
a message for him with Secretary Alvey.
-! came 20 see Maj. Sylvester said DR..
Gilbert. ''in order to add my testimony to
that of DR.. H. l.. E. Johnson and the other
members Of the committee now at Mon
tauk that The District soldiers are in no
condition to march up Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. But they should be brought home a.
once.
Il spent several days at Montauk There
were 1000 men there Sunday and more
have since reached there.
Depressed and Homesick.
Il didn't hear a laugh, or shout, Or d
cheer. while l was there and seldom saw q
smile. The men are all depressed, appar-
entity in body and in soul. They look like
crowd that expects an execution on the
morrow. The District boys in camp are
just the same. Depressed physically and
mentally, sallow and emaciated. They are
all suffering from inconsistencies and L be-
lleVe they will get sicker if they are left
there much longer. Many of them will be
hard to recognize when they c,me home.
even by their best friends They are GER
tainly in no condition 10 do any marching
and won't be for some time. A hcspitai
steward told me If our boys were to be
they would all be dead. l wisn you would
impress upon Major Sylvester what L have
said.
Only Think of Home.
10 Star reporter who was present Dr.
Gilbert repeated this, and reiterated his
opinion that a march for the boys would
be out of the question.
The boys are being well taken care Of"
he said, but they want to get home. They
think by day and dream by night of roth
ing else. and SO they are dissatisfied even
with their good treatment and as | said
will get scker. The I'd and Sd Battalions
are doing well because they have been
there longer, but the 1st Battalion is in bad
condition. The boys in the hospital are do
ing We'll. but the men outside all want to
get home 1t was scorching there day De-
fore yesterday. The camp is shadeiess; no
trees or foliage, and is quite pleasant when
the ocean breeze blows, but in land
breeze. like that of Wednesday, it was
simply scorching. The nights are cold.
Correspondent Kern of The Star has stat
ed everything as it is in his letters The
renef committee from Washington cannot
be too highly commended for It's work
Yes, l saw Colonel Haries Colonel
Harries was on his bed in his tent No.
he is not seriously sick. He is suffering
the usual recurrence of the fever This
feVer shows many peculiar symptoms. A
sufferer Will have a very high tempera-
ture today, for instance, and in thirty-six
hours 1t will be below normal, and go there
with a dash"