The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-24

ceived very much thought from the press
idcnt and myself. but no definite conclu-
sion had been reached | then suggested
to the president that Galveston. Texas,
would be the best place In The United
States, in my judgment, where We could
send them that 1t was away from the
coast line travel. godd harbor; thar
there would be plenty Of room for camping
them, aud that its climate would be as
nearly similar 20 that Of Santiago as We
could possibly select This seemed TO
meet his approval, us Il was only ques-
ton of time. OF course, when their cip-
ture would be effected. ! went to my
house as nearly as can remember, about
2 O'clock In the morning, and being TOO
tired to sleep lay awake for whiie,
but finally doaed off awokc at daybreak
and my first thought was concerning the
Spanish prisoners and the new idea came
into my head, Why not send them back
TO SpalnH This thought impressed me
SO deeply that l formulated my plan, auu
on the morning OF July 10, instead OF
going TO the department direct Went
to the White House and laid the plan be-
fore the president, saying that II wouiu
be an unprecedented procedure and a
mcst gracious act; that TO transport tho
prisoners to Galveston would he haii tue
distance. that we should have TO clothe
shelter guard and feed them thore and no
doubt have to ship them back TO Spain IN
the end nlso stated that believed
that V would be great inducement to the
Spaniards to surrender, which General
Shafter afterwards assured me was the
effect The president readily approved
the plan and on the same day cahled
General Shafter rs follws;
General Shafter, Playa del Este, san
tiago, Cuba.
"war Department, July 10. 1895
Should the Spaulards surrender nncona'-
tionally and wish TO return to Spain, they
viii be sent back direct at the expense oil
the United States government
Or. A. Alger.'
on receiving this on July H. General
Shaftor sent the following to the COM
mpnder In chief of the Spanish forces
"Hoaduuarters of the Fifth Army Corps,
Camp Near Santiago de Cuba, July Ii,
1SaS.--SIr with the largely Increased
forces which have come 10 me, and the
fact that | have your line Of retreat Sc
cureIy In my hands. the time seems httinS
TINT | should again demand of your eX-
cellency the surrender of Santiago ana OF
your exceilency's army. l am authorlsch
also TO state that should your eNcelleney
so desire the government of the United
States will transport the entire command
of YOUR excellency to Spain. | have she
honor to he, very respectfully. your obe'
dent servant. William ShSler'
"Major General Commanding.
To which the commander replied as tol-
| lows:
Santiago do Cuba, July IL, lsaS,--Sir
! | have the honor To advise your eminene'
that your communication OF this date IL
received. and in reply desire to confirm
that which / said in my former communt'
cution, also 10 advise you that ] have COM
nttnicated your proposition to the genera
lin chief Relterntlng my sentiments, l
am very respectfully, your servant,
"Jose Toral,
Commander in Chief Fourth Corps ant
Military Governor of Santiago.
| Immediately upon the surrender steps
were taken to carry out the pledges of th'
( United States government TO ship TIT
/ Spaniards home. The quartcrmaster' de-
! purtment Immediately advertised for bid
10 transport the prisoners to Spain, Wit
/ the result that eight of the ocean trans
portation companies submitted comhine'
bid, which was. for officers $ll0 and 10
enlisted men SOS per capita, steamers 20 b
dispatched from Santiago de CUBA withi
forty eight hours of their reported ar
rival or demurrage to be paid at the RAJ
of GO cents per capita rer day, the sam
demurrage TO be paid II steamers be de
tanned at place of dobarlfaiion by quaran
time or other cause The Spanish Trans
nuantlc company's bid was $55 for officer
and 500 for enlisted men, with no demnr
rage The Spanish company's offer wa
accepted, The rations for the prisoner
/ were inspected by a United states govern
cnt official and this government paid TO
the transportation Of all the prisoners
4 S61s $50 The same number carried by th
other companies under their bid would
have cost the government $L3l2,ol5. Her.
was $500 900 saved to the United State
and probably as much moro In demurrage
Some days after this contract was award
ed the president said to me as ] entere'
/ the cabinet room: "Mr. Secretary, woul
YOU like to hear something favorable 4
you. printed in the New York Tines
and he went on 10 read the editorial com
ment complimentary to the man whose
mind originated the plan of Transporting
the Spaniards back 10 Spain