The herald., 1898-09-28
Have Evidently Gone to Work
in Real Earnest
A LIST OF QUESTIONS IS PREPARED
Which Truthfuy Answered Will Definitely Locate Respon
sbilty for the Misconduct Of the War in the Field,
Camp and Hospital
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27.-The War IN
vestgating Commission resumed It's labors
at 10 o'clock in the Lemon building and at
the close of the morning session gave
out a number Of documents bearing upon
the work to be undertaken. These COM
prise the letter of Secretary Alger to the
President requesting that the investiga-
ton be made; a brief address to the pub
Nc, in the shape Of resolution; a letter
from Chairman Dodge to the Secretary of
War. enclosing a list of inquiries to the
Secretary and to the heads of the various
divisions Of the War Department, calling
for specific information bearing upon the
conduct Of the war.
Resolutions Adopted
The resolutions adopted by the commits
sion were as follows:
"Resolved-First, that the Secretary of
| War, the Adjutant-General, the Quarter
master-General, the Commssary-Gene
and the Surgeon-General be requested to
transmit to this commission all complaints
| that have been received by them since
April l, 1898, touching the conduct Of the
| war.
"Resolved-Second, that this comm!ss! on
invites and Is ready and will receive and
consider any complaints about the manage
ment of any Of the various branches Of the
War Department, from any person or per-
sons; that we respectfully request that
such complaints be made in writing, stat
ing only such facts as the complainant may
know OF his own personal knowledge, ad-
dressed to the secretary Of the commission
at Washington, D. c."
With the letter to the Secretary Of War
were enclosed questions, indicating the
| character Of information desired at the
hands Of the Surgeon-General, the Quar-
termaster- General the Substance De-
partment, the Ordnance Department and
the Adjutant-General.
Letter From Alger
The letter Of the Secretary Of War to the
President, asking for an investigation. Ii
as follows
"War Department. Washington, d. C..
Sept s, 1893.
'"To the President: have tho honor tt
ask that a commission consisting Of from
five to seven members of the most dis
tinguished soldiers and civilians that car
be selected, be appointed by you, with full
power to investigate thoroughly every
bureau Of the War Department, IN connec
ton with the musterng-in, clothing, sup
plying and arming Of troops, transporta
ton, the letting of contracts and charter.
Ing of vessels, and all expenditures of every
kind, as we'll Of orders issued by this de-
partment-!ndeed, that everything con
nected with the army be thoroughly In.
vestigated for your information.
"(Signed.) r. A. ALGER,
Secretary of War"
Scope Of the Work
The following is the letter to Secretary
Alger, outlining the scope of the work:
"Office of Commission Appointed by the
President to Investigate the Couduc
of the War with Spain. Lemon Build
ing, Washington, Sept, 27, 1898.
ITO the Secretary of War:
Sir-Pursuant to authority conferred
upon us by the President, we have the
honor to request that you direct the Ad
jutant-General, the Quartermaster-Ge Gen
eral, the Cemmissary- General, the Sur
lgeon-General, the Chief of Ordnance ant
the Chief of Engineers, to furnish us a.
|soon as practicable information as to tn,
lcondition of their several departments a
the time of the declara ton of the war will
Spain and the operation of those depart
ments from that time until the present.