The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-25
Then Proceeded to the War Depart
ment and Elected n Chairman, Sec
retary and Recorder.
INQUIRY TO BE THOROUGH
PRESIDENT DETERMINED TO HAVE
ALL THE LIGHT POSSIBLE.
Surgeon Martin Forced to Retract-
General AIger's Tour-Sevcral
Fighting ColoneIs Promoted.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 24-The commits

WASHINGTON, Sept. M-The commits
sion to investigate the conduct of the War
Department during the recent conflict with
Spain held its initial meeting in the office
OF President Mckinley at the White House
to-day. There we've eight members present.
The ninth member. DIR. Phineas S. Conner.
OF Cincinnati, distinguished physician and
surgeon, who served as an assistant sur
geon in the United States army during the
civil war. accepted the Presidents offer to-
day, and will probably arrive Monday. The
eight who were present were:
Maj. Gen. GRANVILLE M. DODGE, of
Iowa.
Col. j. A. SEXTON, of Illinois
Capt. L. p. HOWELL, of Georgia.
Mai. Gen. ]. M. WILSON. chief of en-
gineers Of the United States army
Hon. CHARLES DENNY. of Indiana, late
minister to China.
Ex-Gov. URBAN A. WOODBURY.. of
Vermont.
Ex-Gov. JAMES A. BEAVER, of Pennsyl-
vania.
Maj Gen. ]. H. Med. COOK. of the army
(retired)
member of the commission was a surprise,
as his selection was not known until he ap-
peared at the White House at the beginning
of the session. The commission spent an hour
and half with the President, and then
proceeded to the room assigned to ii at the
War Department for the purpose of organiz-
ing and beginning work. The proceedings
with the President consisted in the main of
a general exchange of views as to the scope
OF the commissions investigation, i'm which
the President participated quite freely. He
told the members that the organization of
the commission had been undertaken at the
request of Secretary Alger, and read a letter
from the secretary in which he made
the request. The President had put his
own views in writing and read them before
proceeding to a verbal discussion. In this
statement he said that complaints had been
directed especially at the surgeon generals,
the quartermaster generals and the commits
Bary generals departments of the army. and
he suggested that the conduct of these de-
partments should receive especial considera-
ton at the hands of the commission. To this
special request he added that II was his
desire that the entire military organization
should, If 1t appeared necessary, be made
the subject of inquiry, saying that he wished
the commission to so to the bottom of the
subject in all cases and proceed with its
work without fear or favor.
'If" the President said in the informal
discussion that occurred, 1.-The commission
should have difficulty in securing the at
tendance of witnesses or in obtaining access
to papers thought to be essential TO the
prosecution of it's labors. / hope the matter
will be brought to my attention. when /
will do all in my power to overcome the diff
ficulty / want the commission to have a
clear field. and 1 will do all that it is possi-
BILE for me to do to see that 1t has" The
suggestion was also made to the commission
that the first effort should be to secure gen.
eral information in regard to the organiza-
ton of the army and the time in which the
work was performed. The President sug-
gested the name of Major Mills. 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, especially on 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 depart
ment rest under them, and that he desired
an investigation by men eminent in mill
tary and civil life
III EnlHedS u conner, the nlntn memDer
of the commission was selected because of
his eminence as physician and the Pres-
Gent has been anxious from the beginning
to secure the services of a medical man be-
cause the medical department of the army
is much involved in the charges that have
been made. After the close of the confer
ence at the White House the President ex-
pressed his satisfaction with the personnel
of the commission. adding that he believed
their investigation would be thorough and
their report fair and impartial.
The commission organized by electing
Granville NJ. Dodge chairman and Richard
Weightman secretary. Major Mills, of the
inspector generals office. to be military re-
corGer. The commission adjourned about
1:30 o'clock to meet at 10 o'clock on Mon
day. The session was devoted to method
OF procedure. nothing definite being reached.
1t was said that probably the investigation,
so far as examination Of witnesses was con-
cerned. would be open, but that other pro-
ceedings would be in executive session.