The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1899-03-16
At THE NATIONS CAPITOL
Newsy Gossip From the Seat Of
Government.
THE CANAL Commission TO Be APPOINTED
The President Asks for Opinion of Judge
Lieber In Enlisting Volunteers for
Philippine Army-Gen. Wheeler
Desires to Go There.

Desires to Go There.
The war department gave out the
following cablegram received from
General Otis:
"Manila not safe place for officers
families. Great difficulty experienced
in caring for those now here and their
safety one of the chief causes OF anI-
iety. Officers families should remain
IN the United States"
Under snch conditions the secretary
Of war regrets that no more families OF
officers of enlisted men can be per-
mitted to carry troops.
The navy department has been in
formed that the care which Admiral
Dewey has given to the fleet on the
Asiatic station is shown in the condi-
ton of the vessels, which is much bet
ter than could be expected in view OF
the long service they have undergone
far from repair stations.
With the same information comes
reports that the shops at Cavite have
been re-established, and that under
the direction of American mechanics
the native workmen have been able
to make all the ordinary repairs which
the ships need.
For cleaning the bottoms they have
to be run to Hong Kong and docked,
but the other routine work has been
/ done at Cavite.
General Joseph Wheeler saw the
president few days ago concerning
his future status. Subsequently he
said that while the question of his re-
manning in the army had not been
definitely decided, it was probable
that he would not remain in the
service. He thought the president
would be unable to find a place
for him and he was not pushing the
matter.
''But would like to remain in the
SERVICE" he said, "and be sent to the
Philippines, where there is fighting.
I would not care SO much to stay in
the army if 1 had to remain in this
country"
The president has not yet appoint
ed the members of the isthmiam canal
commission, but he has practically
concluded to adhere to his original
plan, and instead OF creating an en-
tirely new commission, simply to in.
crease the membership of the existing
Nicaragua canal commission by two
or three members, leaving Admiral
Walker at the head of the body.
1t is the object of the president in
making his selections to choose men
of such reputation in the public mind
as will command for their report sbso-
lutte confidence, a consideration OF the
most vital Importance, when it is re-
called that the choice to be made by
the commission involves interests run
ming up into the hundreds of millions.
The war department has asked
Judge Advocate General Leiber for an
opinion as to the authority of the
president to enlist general volunteer
officers for service in the Philippines,
and General Leiber makes the follow
ing reply:
-'I am Of the opinion that under the
proviso referred to general officers Of
volunteers may be enlisted for abso
lutely necessary purposes in the Phil.
ippine Islands. The president is by
the proviso authorized to enlist off
GERS and men individually, or by or.
CARNATIONS and this in my opinion
gives him authority to enlist general
officers individually I attach no sig
nifcance to the word enlist y"
Under the construction of the law
President Mckinley eau appoint OF
"enlist," as the law says, such gen.
eral officers and volunteers as may be
necessary This will mean that the
troops in the Philippines will be sup.
piled with general officers in sufficient
numb ers.
The administration is contemplating
q change in some features of the gov
eminent of Cuba. 1t is probable that
the military government will, to a GER
tain extent, be replaced with civil gov
eminent.
The head of the government must,
of course, remain military, but the
change in contemplation is to have
civil officers in places Of the military
men in the cabinet and subordinate
positions.
1t is believed that experts in differ
ent lines, such as finance and revenue,
and in the management of much of the