The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-25
COMMISSION IN CONFERENCE.
PRESIDENT M'ININLEY GIVES THE
MEMBERS HIS VIEWS.

Secretary AIGer's Letter Requesting
Thorough Investigation Read.
Complaints Directed Mainly
Against the Surgeon Generals, the
Quartcrmnster Generals and the
COmmissarS Generals Department,
and the President Requests That
They Be Given Thorough
Scrutiny-Mr. Dodge Made Chair
man, MIR. Weightman Secretary,
Mai. Miles necorder-Dr. Connor OF
Cincinnati the Ninth Member.
Washington, Sept. A.-The commission
to investigate the conduc, or the war de-
partment during the recent conflict with
Spain held its initial sitting in the Office
of President Mckinley at the White House
to-day.
There were eight members presents
Mai. Gen. Granville NJ. Dodge of Iowa,
Col j. A. Sexton of Illinois Capt. f. p.
Howell Of Georgia. Maj Gen ]. NJ VIII
son, chief of engineers OF the United
states Army; Hon. Charles DENLY Of In
diana, late minister to China; ex-Gov.
Urbana Woodbury.. of Vermont, ex-Gov.
James A. Beaver of Pennsylvania, and
Maj. Gen. A. Med. Cook, of the army,
retired.
The commission spent an hour and d
half with the President and then proceeds
ed 10 the room assigned to It at the war
department for the purpose OF organizing
and beginning work.
The proceedings with the President con-
sisted In the main of general exchange OF
views as to the scope of the commissions
Investigations In which the President par
ticlpatod quite freely. lie tod 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 commis-
sary generals department OF the army. and
he suggested that the conduct OF these de-
partments should receive especial consld-
Grafton at the hands of the commission.
To this specific request he added that 10
was his desire that the entire military or
ganiZation should II il appeared necessary.
he wished the commission TO go to the bot
tom Of the subject In all cases and pro-
ceed with ITS work without fear or favor.
"If," he said In the informal discussion
that occurred "the commission should
have difficulty In securing the attendance
of witnesses or In obtaining access to pa
pers thought 70 be essential 10 the prose-
cution Of its labors, / hope the matter VIII
be brought to my attention, when l VIII
do all IN my power 10 overcome the diff
Guilty. / want the commission to have
clear field and will do all that II Is poss-
bic for me to do to see that 1t has"
The suggestion was also made to the
commission that the first effort should be
10 secure general information IN regard TO
the organization of the army, and the
time in which the work was performed.
The President suggested the name of Mai.
Miles Of the army for the position of re-
corder of the commission.
Secretary Alger's 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 70 have the DEPART
ment rest under them and that he desired
an investigation by men eminent in mill
tary and civil life.
DR.. Phineas S. Connor Of Cincinnati
was ann ounced as the ninth member OF
to-days session, but no doubt was ex-
pressed that he would serve. He was se-
lected because Of his emlnence as a ply
sican, and the President had been anx-
ious from the beginning to secure the serv-
ices of a medical man, because the nledi-
cal department of the army Is much in-
volved In the charges that have been
made.
After the close Of the conference at the
White House, the President expressed 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 Rich
ard Weightman OF Washington secretarys
Maj Miles of the inspector generals Of
flee, to be military recorder.
The commission adjourned about 1880
o'clock, TO meet at 10 o'clock on Monday.
The session was devoted to method OF
procedure, nothing definite being reached.
II was said that probably the invests
gation so far as examination of witnesses
would be open, but other proceedings in
executive session.