The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-25
EIGHT MEMBER PRESENT
DISCUSSION OF THE MATTER
WITH THE PRESIDENT.
HrHE ENTIRE MILITARY ORGANIZATION
Should be Made the Subject of Inquiry, if Nee
cessary," said The President. Declares
he Desires the Affair Sifted
thoroughly.

Washington, D. c., September "a
The commission to investigate the con-
duct of the War Department during the
recent conflict with Spain held its initial
meeting in the office of President Nc
Kinley at the White House to-day.
There were eight members present, and
it was announced that the services of
ninth man were counted upon, though
his name had not been made public. The
eight present were:
Major General Granville NJ. Dodge, of
Iowa: Colonel J. A. Sexton, of Illinois;
Captain L. p. Howell, of Georgia; Major
General J NJ. Wilson, Chief of Engineers
of the United States Army; Hon. Chas.
B. DENLY, of Indiana. late Minister TO
China: Ex-Governor Urban Woodbury.,
Vermont Ex-Governor James a. Beaver,
Of Pennsylvania and Major General 4.
MD McCook, of the army, retired.
The commission spent an hour and a
half with the President and then 0,eed-
ed to the room assigned it at the War
Department for the purpose cl organizing
and beginning work.
The proceedings with the President
consisted in the main of a gene.al ex-
change of views as to the scope of the
commissions investigation. in which the
President participated quite freely. He
told the members that the orgap:zation
of the commission had been undertaken
at the request Of Secretary Aiger anG
read letter from the Secretary in which
he made the request. The President lad
put his own views i'll writing and real
them before proceeding TO a verbal dis
cussion. In this statement he said that
complaints had been directed especially
at the Surgeon Generals, the Quarter
master Generals and the Commissary
Generals Department of the army,and he
suggested that the conduct of these de-
partments should receive especial CON
sidcration at the hands of the commits
sion. To this specific request, he added
that it was his desire that the entire mill
tary organization should, if it appeared
necessary. be made the subject of i'm
quiry. saying that he wished the com
mission to go to the bottom of the sub
iect in all cases and proceed with It's
work without fear or favor.
"If," he said ''the commission should
have difficulty in securing the attendance
of witnesses or in obtaining access to pa
pers thought to be essential to the prose.
cution of its labors, | hope the matter
will be brought to my attention, when
| will do all in my power TO overcome
the difficulty. / want the commission
to have a clear field and will do all that
is possible to see that it has"
The suggestion was also made to the
commission that the first effort should
be to secure general information in re-
gard to the organization of the army, and
the time in which the work was perform
ed The President suggested the name
of Major Miles, of the army, for the
position of recorder of the commission.
Secretary Ayers request as made in
the letter read by the President was for
a complete inquiry into the conduct of
the war and especially Or the lines OF
the charges published in the newspapers.
He said these charges had assumed such
magnitude that he did not feel satisfied
to have the Department rest under them
and that he desired an investigation by
men eminent in party and civil life.
DIR. Phineas s. Connor. of Cincinnati,
was announced as the ninth member OF
the commission. No doubt was expressed
that he would serve. He was selected
because of his eminence as physician
and the President had been anxious from
tbe beginning to secure the services Of {
medical man because the Medical DE