Evening star., 1898-12-22
Consultation Over the Distribution oil
Rations in Cuba.
IMMEDIATE ORDERS TO GENERAL LEE
Arranging to Muster Out $4,000
Volunteers.
MANY RISTMA GIFTS S


kinley { good while today discussing the
mastering out of more troops and the des-
titutiOn in Havana province and in some of
the nearby cities. The President last night
issued an order directing the War Depart
ment to take steps to relieve the destitu-
ton Secretary Alger said that he tele-
-raphed Maj. Gen. Lee this morning to I'M
mediately begin the distribution of supplies
IN the best way possible to relieve distress
Gen Lee has supplies on hand for his army
and will use these. The order to him. Cen
Alger said. does not restrict the distribution
IN any way. and the whole matter is left in
the hands of Gen. Lee. The President was
informed of the situation last night. and
was so touched that he did not wait for
turther facts Further rations will he sent
TO Cen Lee as fast as he needs them.
Mastering Out of Troops.
The President and Secretary Alger find a
big job awaiting them in the mastering
out OF troops. as agreed upon at the cab
net meeting yesterday. Secretary Alger
said today that it had been decided to mus
ter out 2J.oOo of the state volunteer troops
at once. and 50 soon practicable to mus
ter out 2J,'uD of the volunteers who enlist
ed IN the regular army when it was
increased from 5000 to 10000 men at the
beginning of the war. 1t is feared that the
muster out of the volunteers in the regular
army VIII be accompanied by many incon-
VenienCes.
Secretary Alger said that the first of the
state volunteers to be mustered out would
be those on duty in the Philippines They
have served long and faithfully and deserve
10 come home. After the release of these
men the department will try to arrive at
some satisfactory plan about mastering out
other regiments Senator Berry this morn
ing asked the President to muster out the
1St Arkansas Regiment the only one in
the fed from that state. a similar request
mas been made on behalf of the 1st Texas
A number Of the states have only one regi-
ment in service. while others have several
The perDleXins question will be as to the
states which Will have their troops mus
tered out
Loads of Christmas Gifts
The influx of Christmas presents for the
White House began the first of the week
and continues with vigor. Express wagons
and postmen every day deliver boxes. pack
ages. etc Fruits. flowers, jewelry and al
most every conceivable thing make up the
articles which reach the President and
mistress Of the White House during the
holidays. They are al sent by admiring
friends in various parts of the country
and even from abroad As a rule they are
CT no great value. or they would be re-
turned by the President. who is particu-
larly careful never to receive a present of
unusual value. no matter from what the
source More oranges are received than
Arizona. New Mexico. Florida and occa-
Ssonally from some South American coun-
try Noted cake bakers who want to give
enjoyment TO the President and his wife
send the product of their special work and
efforts to the White House
II Will be impossible for all the eata bles
received To be consumed at the White
House. and the President or Mrs Mckinley
viii send some of them to places where
they Will do good.
a number Of young relatives of President
and Mrs. Mckinley will come here for the
holidays. and the festivities will be on a
more extended scale than last year when
the mourning period for Mr.. McKinley's 8
S>other prevented the holidays being en-
t-sed TO their full extent.
New Mexico Wants Statehood.
Gov. Otero of New Mexftn called on the
President today to talk about affairs in his
territory Gov. Otero came on here to aid
in urging Congress to bestOw statehood
upon New Mexico, but he does not believe
that anything will be done by this Con-
gresS. Gov Otero says that the territory
contains $4,000 people, 2,UOU miles of rail
road ana property assessed at about
$4,000 900.
The territory" said Gov. Otero. has an
area equal to New York PENNSYLVANIA and
Ohio put together. and is growing in wealth
and population each day
what Mr. Rucker Wants.
H A Rucker. the colored collector of in
ternal revenue Of Georgia. saw the Presi-
dent today and complimented him upon his
speeches in the south. Mr.. RuCker came
here to urge Congress to erect a new public
building in Atlanta. The present one is en-
trely inadequate to the work for which il
Was built. Mr. RUCker has made such n
GOOD showing that the Secretary of the
treasury mas recommended that Congress
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