The evening times., 1898-09-09
SECRETARY ALGER READY
Requests the President to Or.
der an Investigation.
PUBLIC TO KNOW THE FACTS
Head of the War Department In
MismanaGcment of His Oftice-Mr.
Mchini-y Expected to Comply
Gen. Miles at the White House.

Secretary Alger has requested the
! President to institute an investigation Of
the War Department. This elimination
of the controversy between him AMI Gen.
Miles was the result of the reiteratioa by
the general of his criticisms respecting
the administration of the War Depart
ment during the war with Spain.
If the President decides to grant the re-
quest for an investigation the respOnsf-
bility for the many errors, to use a mild
term, will be fixed. and the public Will
know for certainty the reasons for the
scarcity of food for the soldiers and why
fever-breeding camps were selected and
maintained. and why the hospital serv-
ice has been a reproach to the nation.
Secretary AIger reached his decision
relative TO an investigation yesterday
afternoon, and last night he formally re-
quested the President 10 allow il. 1t is
expected that the President will formally
notify Secretary Alger of his determina-
tion in the matter, before next Monday.
and the belief is that the investigation
will take place.
The prospective inquiry will probably be
at least five members, and it will be as
nearly non-partisan as it is possible 10
make it, Major General SchofeId viii
probably preside over the body. Major
! General Gordon, who served with distinc-
/ ton in the Confederate army, has been
/ suggested as another member of the com
| mission
II
| House said today to Times reporter that
he did not believe the President would
/ refuse 10 permit thorough investigation
4 Of the War Department. He added that
! whatever derelictions might be discovered
| there, they could not be attributed 10
| any negligence on the part of the Presi-
| dent.
| If" said ne, 1t should be found that
all the abuses the newspapers and Gen
| Miles have alleged against the War De-
/ partment did take place, no one but the
! Secretary of War can be held responsible
| for them by the people. No one could ex-
/ pect the President 10 be familiar with
( departmental details. His only RESPONSE
/ biHry was in outlining a policy and II
I directing the Secretary 10 put it into ef-
feet. II the Secretary failed 10 do this,
through incompetence or other reasons, ne
must be held responsible for such dere-
/ Lotions l confess that 1 am inclined 70
believe that Secretary Alger has done the
best ne could, and that if his best was
not up TO the requirements it was not his
fault, but his misfortune"
/ Gen. Miles was met at the White House
! later in the morning by a Times report
/ er. when the general went there 10 pay
I his respects 10 the President. The gen.
eral was asked if he had anything %
I say in respect TO the request of Secre-
! tary AIger for an investigation. He re-
/ piled in the negative. and added thar he
I did not know that the Secretary had
made such request. The reporter quot
ed 10 him the remarks of Secretary Al
ger, which were as follows:
Il have requested the President to or
der an inquiry into the management Gf
! the War Department. I wish 10 have
/ the public know the exact facts, and they
will get them
| Il have nothing whatever TO say re-
| specting this matter said the general.
but I will take pleasure in talking 20
| The Times about anything else.
Gen Miles remained with the Presi-
dent only five minutes. His visit was
| purely formal He will soon make an
other and much more extended call at
the White House, when the AIgeT cOntrO-
versy may be discussed.