Evening star., 1899-04-06
Grand Army Men Not Invited to Ar
lington Today.
PRESIDENT INVITED TO new ORLEANS
Gen. Hastings May Decline His
Recent Appointment.
THE SICK SECRETARIES

Several prominent District G. A R. men
were at the White House today on personal
errands. One of them, in talking with a
representative of The Star criticised the
failure of the War Department to officially
invite the District G. A. r. to take part in
the ceremonies at Arlington this afternoon
He considered that the organization, which
he says would gladly have turned out in a
body has been slighted, and on an occa-
sion In which it felt deep interest. He said
that on Decoration day the G. A. r. ex-
poets to decorate the graves of the soldier
dead of the Spanish war in Arlington, as
we'll as those of the civil war.
Calvin Farnsworth, the commander of the
District G. A. R., was one of those at the
White House. and when spoken to about
the criticism which had been made declined
TO talk, except to say that he had issued
no orders to the local organization about
turning out, in view Of the fact that in the
War Department orders on the subject
| there was nothing to indicate desire that
1t should do so.
Invited to New Orleans.
A large delegation of New Orleans mef-
chants and manufacturers, accompanied
by Senator Caffery and Representatives
Myer and Davy, called on the President to-
people of New orleans that he pay them
visit. The New Orleans people had hXed
upon May as the time ior peace jubilee
and exposition, and had great hopes OF Sc
curing the Presidents attendance. He re-
Gently said that he could not go, and the
delegation called today to say that they
would defer their festivities until this fall
if the President thought he could then be
present. The President agreed to consider
the invitation under these circumstances,
and will give the delegation a definite an
swer at early date.
The subject of Nicaragua's arbitrary ac-
ton in forcing American shippers in that
country to pay double duties not
brought to the attention of the President,
the New Orleans delegation having en-
tered a protest at the State Department
yesterday. The double taxation affects
New Orleans business men seriously.
Nearly all of them have business interests
in Nicaragua.
The Sick Secretaries.
Secretary John Addison Porter was rest
ing easily at his home today, and his ply
sicians are hopeful that he will show an
improvement.
Assistant Secretary Pruden. who has been
SICK, Is improving and expects to be at his
desk soon. He has been suffering from the
effects of grip and overwork.
Some of Today's Callers
Representative Mudd of Maryland was
at the White House today with Edmund B.
Iglehart Of Maryland. Mr.. Mudd is trying
to secure the appointment of Mr. IgIehart
as paymaster in the navy.
Senators Hale, Fairbanks and Thurston
saw the President during the morning, but
there were no extended conferences
Te-he-pe-rus or Pawnee Tom, the Indian
scout, who served with Gen. Custer for
years, was again visitor at the White
House. Pawnee Tom. who has valuable
recommends tions from army officers, saws
he is stranded, and wanted the President
He didn't see the President, and somebody
gave him a note to the pension office where
Commissioner Evans will have the fun of
wrestling with him.
Gen. Hastings May Decline.
Gen. Hastings, who was recently appoint
ed as chief of the bureau of American re-
publtcs, left the White House today for his
home after spending more than a week
with the President, with whom he has fire.
duently been a guest. Two daughters of
Gen. Hastings have been with him at the
White House.
Gen. Hastings was asked about a story
that he intended to decline the appointment
rendered him by the President. He said
that the President would have to be asked
about the matter. From other sources,
however, 1t is learned that Gen. Hastings
has the matter under consideration and will
soon definitely decide what he will do 1t
Is said that he may conclude to decline the
appointment Gen. Hastings is one of the
Presidents closest friends. He commanded
the Presidents regiment in the civil war;
and during the inaugural parade here two
years ago suffered a serious accident by
being run over by carriage For many
years his home has been in Bermuda