The times., 1898-11-02
THH ALGER HIPPODROhB
Dodgers to Resume Their Home
Operations Today.
CAMP THOMAS A PEST HOLE
The Commission Believes There Was
BAD Management T.serc From the
beginning - The Workers Arc
Shocked st Major Martins Story
The Division Hospital.

majority of the members OF .the Algcr
Relief Commission Will resume the ex-
animation of witnesses in Washington
this morning. Chairman Dodge, Col. Sea-
ton and DR.. CCnnor are on a Western
investigating trip, and ex-Gov. Wood
bury has gone TO Montpelier, VT, 10 lake
testimony about certain complaints that
have reached the commission from there.
The members of the commission here
are Gen. McCook, acting chairman; Col.
Denby GEN John n. Wilson, Gen.
Beaver, and Capt. Evan p. Howell They
expect to leave the latter part of this
week for Camp Meade, where they VIII
make an inspection and return here next
week 1t is expected that Chairman
Dodge will arrive a few days later and
that the entire commission will be in ses-
sion within ten days
The trip through the South has been
attended with excellent results. The COM
mission is well satisfied with the man
agement of Camp Cuba Libre, but is not
impressed with the heaithfulness OF
Florida as permanent camping ground.
Admission and Huntsville are believed TO
be excellent locations, buI the troops al
the latter place are poorly sheltered.
They are nearly all regular soldiers
Here it was the quartermasters depart
ment that was criticised.
Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park was.
in the opinion of the commission, pest
hole Chickamausa Park was an excel
lent camping ground, but the commission
believes there was bad management from
the beginning. II commenced with the
laying out OF the camp, the brigadlng OF
regiments and the assignment OF camp
sites. Lack of Judgment in this regard
was very evident, much of the petter
ground not being utilized at all
The next fault was discovered in the
lax discipline prevailing at Camp Thomas.
Men were not taken care of by their
regimentaI commanders and the higher
officers failed TO enforce orders regarding
camp sanitation.
Medical authorities disagreed as TO the
character. of the disease Affecting the SOL
diers ana the cause of the Illness, and
the commission was astounded MONDAY
when Dr. Martin swore that he reported
the terrible condition of the camp aud
was threatened with court-martial unless
he retracted mis- statements
1t was remarked among the commission
after his testimony that the only mis-
take he made was in not adher.ns 40 ms
charges and facing the music Inc les
ttmony the commission believes, has
shown that volunteer officers were large
ly responsible for Illness in their COM
mands At the same time there are iFeri-
bers of the board who disapprove "t Ger
tain army plans. They are opposed to the
division hospital system and favor a reg
mental instead of a brigade com nissary.
Sick men should be under the direct
charge of the colonel of their regiment,
and II is better TO have reSimental
commissary to draw rations than to have
each company draw its own provisions
from the depot.
There has been little evidence against
the administration OF the commissary de-
partment. but the quartermaster's de-
criticism.
The medical department the commits
sion believes. was properly administered,
but there was individual cases OF Lad
management, which may indicate that
some new regulation regarding the hos
pital corps may be adopted.
A recent magazine article describing
Miss Clara Barton's work In Cuba has
been read by the commission, aud its
author and Miss Barton will he called
upon 10 testify. Gen. Ludlow will also
be asked to explain why he appealed to
Miss Barton for supplies for the sick, in
ment.
Lieut.. Col. Vallery Havard, chief sur
geon of the Fifth Army Corps, during the
greater part of the Santiago campaign,
who is now on sick leave of absence.
visited the War Department yesterday.
He has not yet been summoned to appear
before the Alger Relief Commission, but
it is expected he will be asked to testify.
Many officers believe that Col. Havards
testimony IS indispensable. from the fact
that he was the chief medical officer In
Santiago province during most OF the time
when the scandals connected with the
administration of the medical department
were most freely circulated.
The Commission will undoubtedly ques
ton him in regard to the scandalous con-
dition of affairs on several Of the army
transports, notably the Seneca and Con-
cha, which sailed from Santiago for the
United States in July and August.
DATTTANrE AT EvTNrroN