Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-09-24
THIN COMMISSION MEETS
A COMPLETE INQUIRY IS ADVISED.



sion 90 Investigate she conduct % che
war department during the recent con-
ilci with Spain held 10 Initial meeting
in che office OF President Mckinley al
ihc White House to-day. Ihcre we're
oight members present and 10 was an.
huunced that she services o. a ninth
man were counted upon. although his
namc was not made public. Tho eight
prestr; werei Major General Gran
VILE N. Dodge. OF Iowa. Col. ]. \.
seNiou % Illinois; Capt s. T.. Howell
or Georgia; Mai Gen. J. NJ. Wilson,
chief of engineers Of the 4. &. army;
Hon. Charles DENLY OF Indiana. late
minister 20 China. ox.Gav. Urban A.
woodbury. " Vermont: ox.Gov. Jane,
a. Beaver 81 Pennsylvania. ana MAI.
Gen II. Mocook Of the army trc,lred).
The appearance % GOV. beaver a. a
member OF the commission was a sur
prise, aH hs selection was not kuown
untll h. appeared az the whlie House
~ the beginning ~ the session.
me commission Hpefi. an hour and a
half with he President and men m,
coded 20 the room asriEnsd X "A IN,
war department for the purpose OF or
EiinzlnE aud beginning work.
Inc proceedings with the PRECEDENT
'nnHnied w tho main 81 geuvrtl eN-
phhhFr pt Views a. 90 the aoupr OF the
'.fnnilfHion's investigation In which
sn' it...Itnt participated quite freely.
~ t'la ne members that the ORGANIZE
ltYi ~ ne commission had been under.
taken 90 the request 81 scorriary Al.
81 ana read a letter from the secretary
IN whoh h. made tho rcquoHt Ths
l'ftaidrnt had put his own Views In
writing ami read them before pracoed-
ing 10 a verbal discussion. In tfis staNe-
mcr he aid thar complaints had been
dirccicd especially az the surgeon gem
erals, The quartcrmanisr generals and
IN" cvmmlaniry generals departments
% u" army. and h. suggested that tho
conduct ~ these departments Fhouid
resolve especial consideration az tho
hauda " the commission. 10 this
specific request h. added that n waa
his desire that the entire military or
EtnlHailon should. II q appeared ncccs.
ttry. b. made tho subject OF inquiry.
riylng that he WISHED the commission
/ % ~ 60 the bottom % the subject In all
cases and proceed with ~ work With
uui fear or favor ~ found" he said
| in the Informal discussion that oc-
| CURED. 'Nhs commission should have
/ difnculty In securing she attendance %
WITNESSES or Obtaining access 90 pa
pcra thought Ia be csacfstiai to the pro-
sccIt;un " 80 laborH. ! hvpc the mat
ttw WI ~ brought 10 my attention.
v-hen I VIII DO AT In my power 90 over
come the difficulty | want the COM
mission 20 have a clear Held and I win
do all thae Il pouaible for me 90 do TO
pee that X has"
The ruTTcsilon was also made 10 the
eomnission that the fras EFFORTS should
be- 20 secure general information IN re-
| gard % the Organization q the admin
isiration ana the timo IN which the
work was performed.
Tue prcaldcut onrrrd the name ~
/ Major Mills, o. the army fpr the POSI-
/ tion Of secretary u the commission.
Secretary AlErr'a request. AZ made In
| the letter rr,td by the President, was
| for complete inquiry Into the conduct
l q the war. especially un the lines %
| the charges pc-lished IN the ncwapa-
pors. lie said these charges had ass
aumcd such magnitude that no did not
feel satisfied So have the department
/ rest under them and he desired an In
ycatigition ~ men eminent Ia military
and CiyIi ne
Dr. Phlncas =, connor. Of Cincln-
natl. was announce. ~ the ninth meme
Der Of the commission, he was not
/ present it todays Hsnalon, but no
| douls was expressed that he would
serve tie was selected because of hts
,inincncc as physician. and the Pres
ident has been anxious from the begin
| ming h. secure the services 0f a medi-
! cal man because the medical derart-
ment u the army IA much involved In
the charges that have been made.
After the close % the conference tho
PRECEDENT expressed his satisfaction at
the peralunel OF the commission, add
ms that he believed ricir investigation
vould be thorough and their report faar
anl impartial
The commission Organized by eleeuhg
Granville 81. Dodge chairman ana
/ Rlchard Weightman secrvthry. Major
Mills. % the Inspector generals oiiice'
10 be military recorder.