The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-11-24

he should appoint one democrat at least upon the peace commission his first and only thought was of Senator Gray.
 As Mckinley deemed 1t advisable to make choice of one member of the com mission who was not in public life he accepted the suggestion of friends by naming Whitelaw Reid as the fifth mem Der of the commission.
 He also made choice of John Bassett Moore as secretary of the commission. Mckinley knew Dr. Moore well, because when he was serving in an important post in the state department when Thom- as F. Bayard was Secretary of State, Me Kinley was thrown at times into some what close personal and even political relations, not partisan, with Dr. Moore.
 As Constituted the commission really consisted of six members-fiye repub- lcans and two democrats: for while nominally Dr. Moore was not member of the commission, yet it was expected
 that the greater part of the detailed
 work and much of the authoritative in'
 formation necessary for the commission
 would be carried on by Dr. Moore.
 QUESTION OF COMPENSATION
 There arose a question involving tho
 propriety or even legality of paying the members of this commission any salary
 or remuneration. Of course the expenses, aCludl duu IOl per SOHoti VI iitSfNcienAt AA
 cured by the commission would be paid
 iE one way or another by the govern
 ment and the presumption was that Mc-
 Kinley would draw upon his private con-
 tingent fund in order to meet these charges.
 As was expected, much the greater part
 of the actual work performed by the
 commissioners after the members met
 at Paris was done by Dr. Moore, and oIr haliof that the
 Sctual duty of preparing the treaty was placed in his hands.
 The commission undoubtedly received instructions from President Mckinley which caused that body to spring sur prise and welcome one upon the span ish commissioners. The commission was instructed to offer $20,000, GOO in gold, nom inally to provide for the purchase of friars' lands in the Philippines, but really to place in the hands of Spal1 sum of money sufficient to enable Spain. to regain, in part at least, some of her commercial and industrial strength, for these had been greatly impaired by req son of her war with the United States When Dr. Moore returned to the United States he spoke of the surprise ana Ioy which the Spanish commissioners mani fested when the American commissioners
 stated that 1t was intended to set forth in the treaty the purpose of the United States to turn over to Spain ,OOo Tn gold. When he treaty was written and after 1t was ratified by a narrow ma jority by the Senate, the question arose whether or not the commissioners should receive recognition, either pecuniary or otherwise, for their services In the Sen ate some expression of opinion was heard that it would not be lawful to make any pecuniary payment, to the three Senators, since they were already saiarled officers of the United States. Mckinley ignored that feeling He caused to be paid. pre-
 sumably out of the contingent fund, $10,OOo to Senator Davis, $l00O0 to Sen ator Frye, and s10.0o0 to Secretary Moore. He had other rewards in view for the remaining members of the commission, For he almost immediately nominated the Secretary of State. Judge Day, as circuit judge In the United States courts with the understanding that at the first vacancy upon the supreme court bench Judge Day would be nominated for that post That understanding was after wards fully carried out. Senator Gray was nominated by Mckinley for the post
 of circuit judge in one of the eastern districts, position which Judge Gray held with distinguished ability until his retirement not long ago.
 1 There remained Whitelaw Reid. He l was ambitious to be named ambassador I to the court of St. James. But Mckin- {, ley's hands were tied so that he coulc not gratify this ambition He did, how ever, name Mir. Reid as his personal rep. lresentative at the celebration of the six tieth year of the reign of Queen Vic toria. Of the American members of thu
 Paris peace commission Judge Gray
 Judge Day and pr. John Bassett Moort