The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-09-27
FlRSl FORMAL SESSION.
War Investigation Commission Holds
Secret Meeting.
PROGRAMME or WORK MAPPED OUT
Heads Of Departments nnd officers
OF Hunk WIZ he Gated on
10 Make Reports.

Washington, September 2G.-The com
mission selected by the president to in
vestigatc the conduct OF the war dep1rt-
ment held is first formal session today
with all the members present. The meet
Ing was In tho room of che fertilization
and ordnance board of The army. but 1t was
found TO be too small for fhe purpose Of
the board and II WIS announced that flu
ture meetings. would be held In the apart.
ments secured in the Lemon building on
New York avenue.
Todays meeting was strictly secret, no
newspaper reporters or others not con-
necied With the board being admitted
Iodays session was confined to a meet
ing OF TWO hours duration In the loe-
noon, alter winch an adjournment was
taken until 10 O'Clock. The proceedings
were limited to the outlining OF general
policy aud tho formation OF letters Of In
qulry watch win be made public lOmor-
row. The letters WHICH have been decided
upon are to be- address scd TO the secretary
OF war. the qulrtermaster general the con-
missa.y general and tho chef OF ordnance
Of the department Of the army. They Will
consst in the main OF inqsS,ies intended
to brlng out all the facts that can be given
relative TO the volunteer army. The Of
c.as viii lie asked TO give specific in
formation SO as to cover each OF the de-
partments in question. concerning the Goa
ditloE OF the army both at the beginning
ala Tho close OF the war.
For this purpoe9 date Ia April has been
selected rs the one for the beginning or
the preparat On and another in August for
the close.
The questions are go formulated as 10
call ont answers covering the organization
of O. l.. nj
making OF contracts Win the Transports
ton companies. There viii be special al
tentlCn paid to the motives which prompted
tho department TO choose camping. grouads.
The commission also considered several
lottels VI tomtiaint from persons profess
Ing TO have Information bearing upon the
subject OF investigation and decided 10
e. G eea replies TO the writer OF each Of
them, requesting them to put their charges
In specific shape and informing them OF
the scope OF the inquiry. 1t Is inpsn1el
that If the replies received 10 these let
tiers show the writer's to b. In possession
of real information to summon them be-
fore the commission when IL is feasible to
do SO or otherwise to secure their afr
GaVfs. when, however II becomes evide
that their accusations are mere idle 'om-
plailts. with no INDIGNATION back of them,
the writer viii not receive further dtte0-
tion.
Tie commission also expects 10 extend
MS inquiry b-tdrc II closes VS. work TO the
cytrnt of ,nlmmorjnr lefor. If tho com
handing ofnoers Of lie various DIVISIONS
lnu brg,dcs and nrobnhly extending IT 10
the colonels Of regiments from which com
plain,N lgxe nmnnatfd Thev viii be ex-
rected to rive full Information as 10 tha
pains they may have taken or failed to
take concerning the Location OF their
tropns and theia general welfare.
The commission deoided to hold two
sessions daily. one in the foronoon from
40 Ia 1890 O'Clock and tho other In tina