The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-09

the services which the soldiers have
rendered the country. A committee of
citizens has this day been appointed
to take certain action in the matter,
and the people of this city are ready
to act at once"
ALGER TO VISIT THE CAMPS.
Washington, September 6.-Secretary
Alger announced today that he intend
ed to make a tour Of the various camps
at which large bodies of men are now
stationed, with a view to ascertaining
for himself the exact condition of af
fairs. The secretary's intention is to
start very soon, probably next week.
PRISONERS NOT CRUELTY TREAT
ED BY PHILIPPINES.
Admiral Dewey was recently called
upon to investigate reports that the
Spanish prisoners taken by the insur-
gents in the Philippines were subjected
to cruel treatment. A cable message
was received from Admiral Dewey
today saying that the story probably
originated from the fact that insur-
gents were unable to meet the wants
of the sick Spanish prisoners, owing
to a lack of physicians and medical
supplies. He said he had been unable
to find any proof of acts of cruelty on
the part of the insurgents.
DEWEY'S POWERFUL FLEET.
A report from Constructor Capps at
+, Manila, just received here, states that,
aside from the small gunbOats which
have been raised and put into the SER
vice of Admiral Dewey, none of the
Spanish ships of war engaged in the
battle of Manila bay is likely to be
raised. Mr. CappS was sent to the
ASiatic station especially to assist in
putting the squadron in first class
condition for any emergency. Already
hn foo in md Dnln inh
have been dOcked and cleaned at Hong
Kong and the Boston arrived there last
Saturday for the same purpose. With
in the course of a few weeks, at the
outside, Admiral Dewey's squadron
will have been thoroughly renovated,
| and, reinforced as it has been by the
| Monterey and the , Moradnock and
! with other irOnclads within easy reach,
| the admiral will be in shape to meet
| any who may threaten to disturb his
| possession of Manila.
| THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION.
Shortly after II o'clock tonight Pres
ident Mckinley announced the names
| Of his appointees on the industrial
:. commission. They are: Andrew L.
| Harris, Ohio; S. N. D. North, Massa-
| chusetts; Frank P Sargent, Illinois;
| Ellison A. Smythe, South Carolina;
John NJ. Farquhar, New York; Eugene
| d. Conger. Michigan; Thomas w. Phil
| lips, Pennsylvania; Charles ]. Harris,
| North Carolina; G. M. D. RatchfOrd,
| Indiana.
| SENATOR GRAY RENDERED
| PEACE COMMISSIONERS
| 1t may be said positively now that
| Mr.. Justice White. of the United States
| supreme court, has finally declined the
tender of membership in the Spanish
1 American peace commission. The
1 fnr ~o1
days of the decision of Justice White
1 but for various reasons did not make
| it public In the same way it is now
| understood that the vacant place on
| the commission has been offered to
| Senator George Gray, of Delaware one
| of the leading democratic members of
| the senate and a member of the mi
| nority of the foreign relations COM
| mittee. Senator Gray had a long con-
| ference with the president today, the
| conference relating partly to the work
of the Canadian commission, of which
| Senator Gray is a member, and partly
| to the peace commission. While the
] senator has not definitely indicated his
| acceptance of the peace commissioner
| ship, it is regarded as not unlikely that
he will finally be the fifth member of
| the commission.
Washington, 1.-September An in
| vitation was extended to President Nc
| klnley today by delegation of prom
| inent AlabamianS to visit the city of
Birmingham about the Goth of October
/ when it is proposed to hold a peace ju-
| bilee there. The delegation was made
up of Representatives Clayton. STALL
| ings and Underwood, DR.. J.W. Hughes
Colonel Youngblood, E. W. Barrett, J.
! H. Bingham, Walker Percy and J. W.
| Bass. The members had a very pleas
ant and informal talk with the presi-
| dent, but the latter, While expressing
| a desire to visit the city, could give no
| definite assurance to his callers that
| VINO is in command of the troops at
| Jacksonville, the president said. was
| very anxious that he should visit that
| camp and review the troops stationed
| there. and if he found st practicable TO
| comply with General Lees request he
| would at the same time pay a visit to
| the Alabama city. The delegation as
! sured the president that any change
| necessary would be made in the date
! of the peace jubilee to suit his con-
| venience if he found it practicable to
| go south.
| Major John Earle. OF the First South
| Carolina regiment, stationed at jack
| sonyille was at the White house and
| war department today, representing
| the officers of that regiment, TO protest
| strongly against the mastering out OF
| the regiment. He says that the officers
| and men of the regiment do not want
| to be mustered out, but want to con-
| tinue in service. They are bitter against
| Governor Ellerbe for recommending
| that they be mustered out and threaten