The Washington times., 1902-08-16
70 CABLE HOME NAMES
OF SOLDIERS WHO Die
Present Custom a Surprise
to the President
FAMILIES IN SUSPENSE
At Present Only Officers Deaths Are
Wired, the Others Being Sent by Mail
Matter Settled at Mr.. Roosevelt's
Table at Oyster Bay.

OYSTER BAY, Aug. 15.-An order
proceeded FROM the Presidential lunch
con table today which. it is hoped, will
bring comfort and relief to the hearts
of many mothers Of american soldiers
in the Philippines. Among the guests
at the luncheon were Adjt. Gen. Corbin.
Brig. Gen. S NJ b. Young. Jacob A.
Ris, Chairman Robert c. Morris, of the
New York Republican county commit
tee, and Henry l.. Nelson. General Cor
bin and General Young had not expect
ed to have any official talk with the
President. They had come out to make
friendly visit on their way from
Washington to Germany, where they
are to be the guests of the Emperor
at the German army maneuvers.
Cabling Home Deaths.
One of the other guests told the
President of a number OF instances
where a great deal of distress and
hardship had been worked upon the
mothers and families of private soldiers
in the Philippines because the lists of
deaths of enlisted men and non-commis-
stoned officers we're sent to this cour-
try by mail and we're not cabled. as are
the deaths of officers. In one case the
Presidents guest told of a mother who
heard first of her sons death four
months after II occurred
The President was at first inclined
to doubt the accuracy of his friend s
information. He turned 10 General Cor
bin and asked for official information
on the subject. General Corbin re-
piled that the Presidents information
was quite correct.
What excuse is there for it?" the
President asked
General Corbin explained that every
commissioned officer of the army has a
code number. 1t has been possible to
report the death OF an officer by the
use OF a single code word, and at cost
of about s1.30. But the sending of the
name of private or non commissioned
officer involved the use OF his full name,
his regiment. and company. and his rank.
A Costly Proceeding.
The cost of sending all these particu-
lars, General Corbin said. would make
the reporting of the deaths of others
than officers something like $50 each.
So when the volunteefs were all home
the War Department stopped cabling
home lists OF dead soldiers, and sent
them by mail instead.
Il think they better be cabled," said
the President
General Corbin suggested that It would
disturb the routine OF things a good
deal and n n
send a dispatch every time a soldier
dies. The President at once said that
he thought the sending of a cable dis
patch once in two weeks containing the
names OF those who had died during
that time would avoid the worst feature
of the present system. lie told Gen
eral Corbin that he hoped the matter
could be arranged without delay.
Il will have 1t attended to at Wash
ington," said General Corbin.
Why not attend to it here?" asked
the President.
1T can be done in day or two down
there, said the general.
President Urges Haste.
1T can be Gone Immediately here, -
urged the President.
Before boarding his train for New
York. General Corbin sent tine neces-
sary dispatches to Washington to put
the new order in force.
Ex-Governor Francis said the Presi-
dent had promised him to come to the
dedication of the St. Louis Worlds Fair
buildings, on April 20, next year. Rep
resentatiye Mercer, OF Nebraska, who
was also at the luncheon, Is a member
Of the executive committee of the Re-
publican Congressional campaign com
mittee. He told the President his COM
ing visit 10 Omaha was to be an alto
gether non-partisan festivity. Many of
the prominent Democrats OF Omaha had
asked to oe allowed to assist in ex-
tending the hosnitality of the city to
the President, and the committee Of
arrangements had decided to let every
tody in and let the affair be a genuine
non-Tartisan love feast.
Mr.. Shaw's Flying Visit.
Secretary Shaw slipped into town at
$50 o'clock tonight, and hurried up to
Sycamore Hill, where he had been ex-