The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-09-27
WAR INVESTIGATION
The Initial Meeting of the
Commission.
FIGHT EMBERS PRESENT
DISCUSSION OF THE NATTER
WITH THE PRESIDENT.
THE ENTIRE MILITARY ORGANIZATION
Should be Made the Subject of lrquiry, if Nee
cessary," said the President. Declares
he Desires the Affair Sifted
Thoroughly.

Washington, d. c., September "a
The commission to investigate the con
duct of the WA Department during the
recent conflict with Spain held its initial
meeting in the office of President Nc
KinIey at the White House to-day.
There were eight members present. and
ii was announced that the services of
Il ninth man were counted upon, though
his name had not been made public. The
eight present were:
Major General Granville NJ. Dodge, of
Iowa: Colonel j. A. Sexton, Of Illinois:
Captain L. Z. Howell, of Georgia; Major
General II NJ. Wilson, Chief Of Engineers
Of the United States Army; Hon. Chas.
f.. DENLY. of Indiana. late Minister to
China; Ex-Governor Urban Woodbury.,
Vermont, Ex-Governor James A. Beaver.
of Pennsylvania. and Major General A..
MD. McCook, of the army, retired.
The commission spent an hour and a
half with the President and then proceed
ed to the room assigned it at the Nar
Department for the purpose cf organizing
and beginning work.
The proceedings with the president
consisted in the main of a genc-al eN->
change of views as to the scope of the
commissions investigation. in which the
President participated quite f1ce;y. He
told the members that the orgar:<ation
of the commission had been undertaken
ut the request of Secretary Anger ana
read a letter from the Secretary III which
he made the request. The President lad
-, ]
them before proceeding to a verbal dis
cUsSion. In this statement he said that
complaints had been directed especially
mt the Surgeon Generals. the Quarter
master Generals and the COmmissary
Generals Department of the army, and he
suggested that the conduct Of these de-
partments should receive especial CON
sideration at the hands of the commits
sion. To this specific request. he added
that it was his desire that the entire mill
tary organization should, if it appeared
necessary, be made the subject of in
quiTy. saying that he wished the com
mission to 90 to the bottom of the sub
ject in all cases and proceed with its
work without fear or favor.
If" he said, the commission should
have difficulty in securing the attendance
of witnesses or in obtaining access to pa
IFEN H'|l-lt ~ III - III f''N
cution of its labors, l hope the matter
will be brought to my attention, when
I will do all in my power to overcome
the difficulty. | want the commission
to have a clear field and will do all that
IS possible to see that it has
The suggestion was also made TO the
commission that the first effort should
be to secure general information in re-
gard to the organization of the army. and
the time in which the work was perform
ed. The President suggested the name
of Major Miles. of the army, for the
position of recorder of the commission.
Secretary Ayers request as made in
the letter read by the President was for
n complete inquiry INTO the conduct of
The war and especially on the lines OF
the charges published in the newspapers.
He said these charges had assumed such
magnitude that he did not feel satisfied
to have the Department rest under them
and that he desired an investigation by
men eminent in party and civil life.
DIR. Phineas s. Conner. of Cincinnati,
was announced as the ninth member of
the commission. No doubt was expressed
that he would serve He was selected
because of his eminence as Il physician,
and the President had been anxious from
the beginning to secure the services Of Il
medical man because the Medical Dc
partment of the army is much involved
in the charges that have been made.
After the close of the conference at the
White House the President expressed his
satisfaction with the personnel of the
commission. adding that he believed their
Investigation would be thorough and their
report fair and impartial.
The commission organized by electing
Richard Weightman, of Washington,
Secretary: Major Miles, of the Inspector
Generals office, to be military recorder.
The commission adjourned about l:3o
to meet at 10 o'clock on Monday.
The session was devoted to the method
of procedure, nothing definite being
reached.
1t was said that probably the investlga-
ton 50 far as examination of witnesses
would be open. but other proceedings III