The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-27

w dSiLiIS LOli, OVplCIlibtA hC 1OiAi-
mission to investigate the conduct of
the war department during the recent
conflict with Spain held it's initiatory
session in the office Of President Nc
Kinley at the White house. There
were eight members present and it
was announced that services of ninth
man were counted upon, though his
name had not been made public. The
eight who were present We're: Major
General Granville NJ. Dodge, of Iowa;
Colonel j. A. Sexton of Illinois; Cap
tain T.. p. Howell, of Georgia; Major
General j. NJ. Wilson, chief of engi
naers Of the United States army; Hon.
Charles DENLY, of Indiana, late minis
ter to China; Ex-Governor Urban a.
Woodbury., of Vermont; Ex-Governor
James A. Beaver, of Pennsylvania, and
Major General A. Med. McCook, of
the army, retired. The commission
spent an hour and half with the pres
ident and then proceeded to the room
assigned it at the war department for
the purpose of organizing and begin
ming work.
The proceedings with the president
consisted in the main of a general 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
organzia ton of the commission had
been undertaken at the request or
Secretary Alger and read a letter from
the secretary in which he made the re-
quest. The president had put his own
views in writing and read them before
proceeding to d verbal discussion. In
this statement he said that complaints
had been directed especially at the
surgeon generals. the Quartermaster
generals and the cOmmissary generals
department of the army and he sug-
SeSted that the conduct of these de-
partmentS should receive especial con-
sideratiOn at the hands of the commits
sion. To this specific request he add
ed that it was his desire that the en-
tire military organization should, if it
appeared necessary, be made the sub
ject of inquiry, saying that he wished
the commission to go to the bottom
of the subject in all cases and proceed
with it's work without fear or favor.
''If." he said, in the informal discussion
that occurred, 'Nthe commission should
have difficulty in securing the attend
ance of witnesses or in obtaining ac-
cess to papers thought to be essential
to the prosecution of it's labors, I hope
the matter will be brought to my at
tention, when l will do all in my power
to overcome the difficulty. 1 want the
commission to have a clear field and
] will do all that it is possible for me
to do to see that it has. The sug-
geStiOn was also made to the commits
sion that the first effort should be to
secure general information in regard
to the organization of the army, and
the time in which the work was per-
formed. The president suggested the
name Of Major Miles, of the army, for
the position of recorder of the COM
mission.
Secretary Alger's request as made in
the letter read by the president was
for complete inquiry into the conduct
of the war and especially on the lines
of the charges published in the news
papers. He said these charges had as
sumed 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
military and civil life.
DR.. Phineas s. Connor, of Cincin-
att, was announced as the ninth men,
Der of the commission. He was not
present at today's session, but no
doubt was expressed that he would
serve. He was selected because of his
eminence as a physician and the presi-
dent had been anxious from the begin
ming to secure the services of medi-
cal man because the medical depart
ment of the army is much involved in
the charges that have been made.
After the close of the conference at
the Whrte house the president express
ed his satisfaction with the personnel
of the commission, adding that he be-
lived their investigation would be
thorough and their report fair and i'm
partial.
The commission organized by elect
ing Granville NJ. Dodge chairman and
Richard Weightman, of Washington,
secretary; Major Miles, of the inspec-
tor generals office, to be military re-
corder.
The commission adjourned about /: 80
O'Clock 10 meet at 10 o'clock on Mon
day. The session was devoted to
methods of procedure, nothing def
mite being reached.
1t was said That probably the inves-
tigation so far as the examination of
witnesses would be open, but otner
proceedings in executive session.
MILITARY PROMOTIONS.
The president has appointed the foi-
lowing named officers:
To be brigadier generals of volun-
teers, for services in Santiago cam
paign:
Lieutenant Colonel Charles D. viel.
First United States cavalry.
Colonel William NJ. wheery, Six
Teenth United States infantry
Colonel H. Page, Third United States
infantry
Lieutenant Colonel G. s. Carpenter,
Seventh United States infantry.