The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-25
Editor VI. H. De Young, of the San
Francisco Chronicle, May Be Cho-
sen as Fifth Commissioners.
DAVIS 1T THE WHITE HOUSE
CONFERs WITH THE PRESIDENT ON
DUTIES OF TREATY MAKERS.
Instructions for the Cuban and Porte
Rican Military Commissions
Almost Completed.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.


WASHINGTON, Aug. 24.-Senators Davis
and Frye and Secretary Day, selected men,
bers OF the peace commission, win have a
conference with the President tomorrow,
and the ground plans of the work before
them will be discussed. They may be Joined
with Associate Justice White, of the Su-
preme Courts who has been offered a place
on the commission, a proffer to which he
has not yet made response. 1t is believed
he will accept Justice White is a Democrat
and Catholic. He is an American above
party or church, however and is rated as
a man of broad views and distinguished at
tainments. The President hesitated to in
vite a member of the Supreme Court to a
place on the peace commission. for the rea-
son that two members are already on the
Venezuelan commission, which will also
meet in Paris in October. The absence cf
three justices at the same time might en-
barrass the business of the court. 1t is that
feature of the case that causes Justice
White to think long and seriously before
accepting the honor rendered by the Presi-
dent. Editor De Young, of the San Fran
cisco Chronicle. may be the fifth commits
sioner.
An Associated Press dispatch says Sena-
tor Davis, chairman of the Senate COM
mittee on foreign relations, and selected as
member of the commission to negotiate
terms of peace with Spain. arrived in Wash
ington to-day. He went to the White House
very soon after his arrival and remained
with the President for an hour. The con-
ference was of preliminary character and
was devoted largely to the great question
which the administration will have to settle
of control of the Philippines. Afterwards
Senator Davis went to the State Depart
ment and saw Secretary Day. who is also
to be a member of the peace commission.
Senator Davis will remain in Washington
two or three days. and the terms of peace
for the American side will be formulated
as far as possible in the conferences which
will occur between the President, the Sec
retary of state and chairman of the foreign
relations committee. These prelminaries
will be of great Importance, as all the dip
lomatic questions, the examination of old
treaties, the many points to be involved in
the new treaty, of necessity will have to be
thoroughly considered by the commission
ers.
Senator Davis refused absolutely to dis
cuss with newspaper men any of the ques-
tions growing out of the war or the sub
Jects which might likely come before the
commission. He would neither express his
own views nor discuss the sentiment of the
people of his own State or other regions
respecting the Philippines. the government
of Porto Rico, or the management of affairs
in Cuba. Senator Davis briefly referred to
the success of the war and the achievements
of the American soldiers and sailors in the
different battles which occurred. He was
especially gratified at the gallant conduct
of the Thirteenth Minnesota in the battle
of Manila, and while here made arrange
ments with the War Department for bring
ing home the remains of Captain Bjornstad,
of that regiment, who died of wounds since
the battle was fought. Many members Of
the regiment are personal friends of the
senator, some of them living in his vicinity
at st. Paul.
It is learned that the government has
practically completed the Instructions to the
military commissions which are to have di
rection of affairs in Cuba and Porto Rico
pending the evacuation of the islands by
the Spanish forces. Within a few days
everything is expected to be in readiness
for the departure of the commissioners ear
1y in September
Negotiations have been opened through
diplomatic channels by which it is expected
the Spanish government will cooperate
with the authorities here in the removal of
the mines and torpedoes in Havana harbor
before the military commission assemblies
there, the naval authorities believing this
TO be proper precaution before any of our
naval ships enter the harbor with the COM
missioners. The suggestion was made
through the State Department, and has
been forwarded to the Spanish government
through the French ambassador. There is
little doubt that the matter will be ar
ranged.
General Flagler chief of the Ordnance
Bureau, has received further reports from
the officers in charge of the captured Span
ish arms at Santiago. They show that the
number taken will be about $4,000. with
several million" rounds of ammunition.
the exact number not stated The reports
say that these arms are Mauser and Rem
ingtons. and for the most part are in bad
condition, rusty and badly kept. The arms
will be sent TO New York and Springfield
to be cleaned up and examined critically.
Ordnance officers say that if they can be
put in proper condition they will be made
use of in the army.