The herald., 1898-11-23
WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE AS A
CAMP MUSE
BUT SUSAN IS NOW SECRETIvE
And Declines to Say Who Tried te
Exact Such Promise
From Her
Associated Press Special Wire

Mrs. Susan G. Powell of this city was the
first witness. She said she did not know
why she had been called, as she had never
been at any of the camps and knew only by
hearsay of the treatment received by the
soldiers.
1--WE call you," explained Gen. Wilson,
because we heard that when you offered to
| go to camp as a nurse you were not accepted
| because you would not agree to maintain
secrecy should you find any dereliction of
duty. We wish to know who expected such
promise from YOU"
II wish you would not ask me that ques-
ton"
"But," said Gen. Beaver, "the answer
might aid us materially in our investigation.
To whom did you make the offer to act as
nurse!"
"To an officer of the auxiliary of the Red
Cross society"
"Was it male or female officer of the Red
Cross?"
81 do not care to say"
"Well, had the officer any authority at
camp? Was it an officer in the United
States service?"
at was an officer in the army. do not
know what authority the person had in
camp. My offer and its rejection were made
in private house."
"Since you have stated that" said Gen.
Wilson, "would you mind telling us whether
you or the Red Cross society made the mat
ter public?"
'T do not know who could have told of
it. l do not remember having told anyone
but a clergyman. He may have told Mr.
Roosevelt"
| Col. A. S. Kimball, assistant quartermas-
ter general of the United States army, sta
toned in this city, was the next witness.
He said that all the contracts for supplies
were let to the lowest bidder after proper
notification and advertisement.
''Were there any exceptions to the rule
to award contracts to the lowest bdder!'
asked General Beaver.
'In cases of bids or upon articles upon
which there were no standards, the lowest
responsible bidder was always accepted he
replied.
Answering Ex-Governor Woodbury., Col.
Kimball said
Contract was awarded by the depart
ment upon the findings of the open bids.
Sometimes, in cases where the articles had
no standard, the department would accept
any recommendation which was made in
such cases of the quality of the goods rather
than the price. In the case of tents, for in
stance, it is impossible to get enough can
vas up to the prescribed standard. In that
case / had to be guided by the samples sent
land the capacity of the bidders to furnish
the goods in the required time.
Il never knew of any money or influence
being used in the matter of awarding con-
tracts. My records show that from May
18th to July 18th my office expended 81, ,6O7,-
900 for clothing and camp garrison equip
ments."
Colonel Kimball told of the purchase and
hire of transports in this city, lie explained
that he had obtained list from the owners
of the ships that could be purchased or
chartered aud had submitted the list to
Washington.
"When middleman or broker came to
my office, ignored him entirely. / dealt
only with principals"
"HNas the price paid for the charter of
those ships fair and reasonable?" asked DR..
Conner.
ayes, think so, generally" replied Col.
Kimball, 'but when ships were wanted bad
ly they were hard to get. In the case of the
Clyde and Mallory lines, for instance, when
the government offered the usual price, the
companies said they could not spare the
ships unless double that price Was paid. The
| ships were needed and the government paid
the price asked"
Col. Kimbal told at length of the work
Of the railroads in transporting troops and
supplies. He said there was not movement
Of any magnitude made to or from this city
which was not made as the result of open
competition.
George Wallace, lawyer of Freeport, L.
l., who had son and brother in the war,
testified that while at Camp Wikof, looking
for his son, he saw many soldiers struggling
along the roadway, apparently too weak to
move.
Mr.. Wallace's son returned from Cuba on
The Berkshire. He was put aboard in pre-
carious condition and a stateroom was as
| signed to him, the doctor ordering him
special diet, but he was unable 70 get food
without paying 75 cents for each meal. He
had no money but friend of Mr.. Wallace
who was aboard, advanced it to him.
Now, what want to know" said Mr..
Wallace to the commission, sis why it
should have been necessary for sick men in
Uncle Sans service to pay for the food pre-
scrbed for them by Uncle Sans doctors.
Three of my sons comrades died on the
Berkshire, and l have often wondered il
they died because they did not have money
to pay for food"
| Colonel Roosevelt took the stand and in
reply to a request from General Wilson told
Of the equipment and mastering of the first
volunteer cavalry, known as the Rough
Riders.
when we reached Tampa" Colone,
Roosevelt said, there was condition 80
utter confusion. We were dumped outside
a mile away from our camp. No one knew
where the camp was. There was no one to
tell lis where to go or what to do. Ate,
waiting twenty-four hours 1 took the law
into my own hands and bought food for tbe
men and horses. Later, when we found our
camp, we were all right"
Were you reimbursed for your outlav -,
II never asked for it. 1t was personal
matter entirely"
Col. Roosevelt said condition of oreo,
confsusion existed at Tampa. Nobodv
seemed to know anything and mo arrange.
nients were evident as to what transports :
werV to be used. His own regiment was n 6.
signed to the Yucatan. incidentally he
heard that the Seventy first New York vol.
unteers and Seventh infantry were also a $.
signed to the Yucatan. As soon is he heard
that he hurried on the Rough Riders and
took possession of the ship and held e
against the other regiments. His men had