The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-27
HAN Of INVESTIGATION
Outlined by the Board in
Secret Session.
BY LETTERS OF INQUIRY
1t Is Hoped to Get Facts From
Department Chiefs.

| Washington, D. c., Sept 26.-The COM
mission selected by the president 10 in
veshgate the conduct Of me war depart
ment held its first formal session today
with all the members present. The meet
| ing was in the room OF the fertilization
and ordnance board OF the army, but Il
| was found to be too smaE for the purpose
| if the board, and il was announced that
| future meetings would be held in apart
ments secured in the Lemon building on
New York avenue. The meeting today was
strictly secret, no newspaper representa-
tives or others not connected with the
board being admitted
Todays' session was confined to q meet
jag Of two hours duration in the fore
noon, after which an adjournment was
taken until 10 o'clock tomorrow. The pro-
Qeedings were limited 70 the outlining of
general policy and the formulation OF
letters Of inquiry. which will be made pub
lie tomorrow.
The letters which have been decided up
on are to be addressed 10 the secretary Of
war, the quartermaster general, the COM
missary general. the surgeon general and
the chief Of the ordnance department IL
the army. They vii lconsist in the main OF
inquiries intended to bring out all The facts
that can be given relative TO the organi-
cation Of the volunteer army These Of
ficials will be asked to give specific infor-
nation SO as to cover each OF the depart
ments in question, concerning the condition
OF the army, both at the beginning and
the close of the war. For this purpose a
date in April has been selected as the one
for the beginning Of the preparation and
another in August for the close.
The questions are so formulated as to call
out answers covering the organization of
camps. the purchase OF supplies and the
making of contracts with transportation
companies, and also TO show the methods
adopted for furnishing supplies to the var
ious commands and for protecting the
health of the soldiers. There will be an
especial effort to develop the motive s that
actuated the department in the choice OF
camp sites, as there have been charges 10
the effect that they were located as mat
ter of favoritism to railroad companies.
The commission also considered several
letters of complaint from persons profess
ing to have information bearing upon the
subject under investigation and decided
address replies to the writer's of each of
them, requesting them to put their charges
in specific shape and informing them Of the
scope of the inquiry 1t Is INTENDED thar
if the replies receied TO these letters show
the writers to be in possession of rea! in
formation, to summon them before the
commission when it is feasible to do 50. or
otherwise. to secure their affidaits. When,
howeer. it becomes eident that their &C
cusations are mere idle complaints, With
no information back of them. the writers
win not recele further attention.
The commisvsion also expects to extend
its inquiry before it closes it's work, to
the extent of summoning before Il the
commanding officers of the various Givi-
sions and brigades and probably extending
1t TO the colonies of regiments from which
complaints have emanated. They VIII be
expected 70 give full information rs 10
the pains they may have taken or failed
to take concerning the location Of their
troops and their general welfare.
The commission decided to hold two Sos
to 80 and the other in the afternoon
from 10 4 . tipch.
DR.. Phineas s. Connor sat with the com
mission today for the first time. He ar
rived from his home IN Cincinnati early n
the day and called upon the president for
a brief interview before joining his fellow
m embers in the war department. The
president expressed his appreciation Of the !
doctors acceptance of the position and |
outlined briefly his wishes in the matter OF /
the investigation. DR.. Conner found il /
impossible 10 remain with the commission |
for the present and secured a leave Of alb 1
sence for two or three days in order 10 4
return 10 Cincinnati 70 put his affairs N 4
shape to be absent so long as the COM /
mission may require
In Or. Common the commission secures /
the services Of man who Is not only emil /
nent IN his profession. but who e also \
familiar with the conduct II the medical !
d department OF the army, In which he serv- /
ed for four years He was born - West !
chester. Pa, on the I'D Of August 1s29. snd I
went 10 Cincinnati IN 1874 He is a grad
uate OF Dartmouth college in 1881. TIE
doctors service In the army EXTENDED ron 4
1862 TO lss5 and he was assistant surgeon
and brevet major. He resigned his posi-
ton on the first OF August. 1885. and since
then has been IN practice IN Cincinnati
He is now ad has bee for may years Pro-
fessor Of surgery in the College Of Ohio
and in Dartmouth Medical cci,egs.