The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-26
"LET NO GUILTY
MAN ESCAPE !"
Mckinley Instructs the
War Investigators.
URGES A THOROUGH INQUIRY
EvIL-DoERs MUST NOT EvADE
PUNISHMENT.
President Refers to the Sensational
Charges Of the Press, and Says
the Country Must Learn
the Truth.
EVIL-DOERS MUST NOT EVADE
PUNISHMENT.
Special Dispatch to The Cali.


WASHINGTON, Sept. 25.-The COM
mission appointed by President Nc
Kinley to investigate the administra-
ton of the War Department in rela-
ton to its conduct of the Hispano-
American Wa will begin its labors
formally tomorrow. The commission
effected an organization yesterday by
the election Of General Greenville M.
Dodge as president, Richard Weight
man secretary and Major Stephen c.
Mills Of the regular army recorder.
The president is understood to be
thoroughly pleased with the personnel
of the commission. 1t was his effort
to secure as members of the commits
sion men Of the highest character and
standing, in whose opinions and judg-
ment the country would have all con-
fidence. He desired, also, to have
represented on the board all phases OF
public and political feeling, every sec
ton of the country and all classes or
business, professional, commercial and
military. The men whom he has APP
pointed are possessed of wide and
varied experience, many Of them hav-
ing served with distinguished honor
to themselves either in the Union or
Confederate army.
The Presiden. feels assured that the
verdict of the commission, whatever
that may be, in the inquiry it is about
to conduct, will be accepted and ap-
proved by all right-minded and right
thinkinr American citizens. That 1t Is
the Presidents desire that the inquiry
should be rigid and searching was in
Dictated by his statement to the COM
mission when 1t assembled at the
White House for a conference with
him yesterday. No limit is placed by
the President upon such investigation.
1t is to include every department of the
army, and the President assures the
commission in advance that he will af-
ford it every facility in his power fol-
the prosecution of the most searching
inquiry into every part Of the admin
istration of war.
In addressing the commission the
President said among other things:
Gentlemen: Before suggesting the mat
ters which shall come before you for in
Vestigation l desire to express my appre-
citation to each of you for your willing
ness to accept the patriotic service to
to perform one of the highest public du-
ties that can fall to a citizen, and your
unselfishness in undertaking 1t makes me
profoundly grateful. '
criticism of the conduct of the war with
Spain. Charges of criminal neglect of the
soldiers in camp and field and hospital
and in transports have been so persistent
that, whether true or false, they have
made a deep impression upon the coun-
try: 1t Is my earnest desire that you
charges and make the fullest exposition
of the administration of the War Depart
ment In all of It's branches, with the view
to establishing the truth or falsity of
these accusations. / put upon you no
limit to the scope of your Investigations
of all departments connected with the
army. invite the closest scrutiny and
examination and shall afford every facil-
ity for the most searching inquiry. The
records of the War Department and the
assistance of United States officers shall
be subject to your call.
l cannot impress upon you too strongly
my wish that your Investigation shall be
SO thorough and complete that your re-
port when made will fix the responsibility
for any failure or fault by reason of neg
lect, 1ncompetency or maladministration
upon officers and bureaus responsible
therefor-if 1t be found that the evils
complained Of have existed.
The people of the country are entitled
to know whether or not the citizens who
so promptly responded to the call of duty
have been neglected or misused or mall
treated by the Government to which they
so willingly gave their services. If there
have been wrongs committed, the wrong
doors must not escape conviction and
punishment