Evening star., 1899-04-19
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Extended Conference Between Secre-
tary Alger and the President.
THE SUBJECT OF CUBAN CREDITS
A Decision Expected to Be Reached
This Afternoon.
SOME OTHER MATTERS

Secretary Alger had an extended confer
ence this morning with the President re-
garding army affairs. Col. Hecker, who
retires this afternoon from superintendence
of the transportation department was pres
ent part of the time. Gen. Corbln was pree-
ent afterwarc. Secretary Alger said that
the subject of disposition of troops was
under discussion. and that some interest
ing army plans would be decided upon this
afternoon.
The Secretary also conferred with the
President about the subject OF Cuban cred
its, and it is understood that a definite
decision will be reached this afternoon. AS
stated in The Star yesterday, the admlnis-
tration is disposed to be fair to all con-
cerned and to give a reasonable time for
the payment of mortgages. The majority
of creditors do not themselves desire pay
ment now. They do not want the lands
covered by mortgage and much prefer the
principal and the large interest they are 10
get. 1t is believed that the President will
grant an extension Of not less than two
years, with a probability that three wears
VIII be the time fixed. Three years Will be
the longest period to be allowed however,
the idea of commission. and this will not
enter into the extension to be granted. 1t
is generally urged that while two years
would be of great value to the Cuban
planters they would be sure 10 be I'm good
condition within three years. They will
just begin to reap the profits of their
sugar cane within two years and viii have
accumulated little by that time for the pay
ment of interest. By the end of three
years they wifi be in the heighth of money
making from their plantations and Will be
in condition to settle on their own terms
with creditors.
Invited To Scranton.
A delegation of prominent citizens Of
Scranton, Pa, waited upon the President
this afternoon and invited him to visit that
city on Labor day, September T. the occa-
sion being the convention and parade of the
National Letter Carriers Association. Five
thousand letter carriers will take part in
the parade. The President was unable to
give definite answer owing to the fact
that he may be in the west. on his western
tour, at this time. The delegation consisted
of Representative Connell Louis A watres,
eX-lieutenant governor; Charles Robinson.
Reese G. Brooks, L. Z. Robathan, Andrew
Bedford, j. Ii. Phillips and T. V. Powderly,
commissioner of immigration. The delega-
ton feels reasonably certain that If the
President is in Washington the first part OF
September he will visit Scranton.
Some of Today's Callers.
Senator Wetmore. who has been III for a
long time at his home in Rhode Island, IS
in Washington, much improved, and called
upon the President today to pay his re-
spects.
Representative Hepburn was also a caller.
Mr.. Hepburn has been suffering from sci-
atica for three weeks and has been cons
fined to his home. He is now improving.
Representative Brownlow of Tennessee
called to urge the President to find a good
place in the government service for Gen.
Allen S. Tate of Tennessee.
Protest Against Gov. Lees Position.
A number of letters are being received
here protesting against the position Of Gov.
Lee of South Dakota as to the recall of the
Dakota regiment in the Philippines. A
prominent member of the administration
today gave a representative Of The Star
the following copy of letter which has
been received here from South Dakota, and
says it is q sample of hundreds which are
coming from that state:
My Dear Sir: l see in yesterdays paper
n letter from Andrew e. Lee, governor Of
South Dakota, in which he boldly demands
that the LIST South Dakota Volunteers bo
mustered out and returned to South Da-
kota.
True the war with Spain is ended, and
consequently the terms OF their enlistment
may be ended. 1 have a son, private in
Company of the regiment, who was
wounded in the battle Of :. and it seems
TO me that his country still needs his serv-.
ices, and Ii Is surely his duty TO remain at
the front until he is relieved by others or
until the Filipinos are whipped. ! am proud
of the record of our brave boys j do not
agree with our governor in his demands
1t would be a shame and disgrace to our
state to have Old Glory pulled down at Ma
lolos or any of the advance posts because
our governor was so disloyal as to demand
their return, and thereby thin the ranks SO
as to compel Gen. Otis to withdraw his
lines in order to protect the city of Manila;
and, farther. do not believe that there are
ten of the good, loyal citizens of - but
will agree with me in this matter. ] saw
three years of hard service to maintain the
honor of that grand old flag, and helped to
free the blacks he speaks OF in his letters
and if my country needs me now all that is
needed is TO say so, and l believe my dear
boy will say amen to this
After the noble and heroic records our
boys have made l hope that the President OF
the United States will not think that Gov,
Lee voices a majority OF the citizens of
South Dakota"
An American and British Flag.
Some British subjects residing in China
have forwarded to the President through
the United States consul at Annoy, Mr. A.
johnson, a design made by Cap
tain Arthur Outerbridge, commanding the
British steamship Kweiyeng of the China
Company, Limited, of a flag
combining the features of the American and
British colors. The flag forwarded Is a silk
en- banner about six by twelve feet In d.
mensions and Is sent token Of the COR
dial relations existing between the citizens
Of the two countries.
SALE OF ARMY MULES.