The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-01
THE WAR COMMISSIONERS.
Generals Lee and Wheeler VIII BON
Give Testimony.
MILES AMI sHAFltR NOT NEEDED
The Inspector Generals Department
one of the Worst Managed, -
Being Overlooked.
Especial Dispatch to The Poat)

Washington, September 30.--The commas
sion of inquiry is still receiving a big pud-
! get Of mail containing complaints. 1t VIII
begin to grind in earnest next week anu
perhaps develop something. Generai Lee
is here to testify before the COMMISSION
and General Wheeler is also expected mere.
For some reason which has not as yet been
satisfactorily explained, the investigating
committee in calling upon the various
branches OF the war department for IN
formation concerning the war, completely
ignored the insp- ctor generals department
Whether this was done because under the
existing order OF Things We have an inspec-
tors department which does not inspect,
or cause Alger does not wish to expose
the fact that there were many men appoint
ed to the inspectors department who were
VIGOROUSLY unfit for the duty assigned to
them. / am unable to say, but both theories
will continue matters OF speculation until
some more satisfactory reason Is vouch-
safed. | was told by an official OF the de-
paItment today that practically all the reg
ular officers in the inspector general de-
partment have been assigned 10 duties out
eide OF those required by the regulations
for their department and that with the eX-
ceptlon Of political appolntees to the corps
there has been no one to make the regular
inspections so necessary to th. welfare and
efficiency Of the military service. In fact,
the inspector generals department has been
almost lost sght of dunng the war.
Washington, September S0.--The war In
vestlgation commission today decided to
ask General Lee to follow General Wheeler
in giving testimony concerning the charges
against the war department and suggested
Wednesday of next week when they could
be heard. General Wheeler Will be be-
fore the commission Tuesday and will be
questioned 10th about Camp Wikon and the
Santiago campaign.
r. commissioners state their purpose to
be to make a complete investigate of the
features OF the Santiago campaign. But
vice Chairman DENLY stated tolay that the
poIcy OF calling General Miles or General
shafutr had net yet been under considera-
ton The decision to call General Lee so
e1rly was reached today because of the
knowledge OF the fact that he is in the
city and is liable TO soon b. ordered to
Cubu.
The commission today continued its eX-
animation Of letters bearing upon charges
CT misnla nagement-s of them calling
attention 10 such charges and othlsrs at
tempting to refute tn IN. Many of the let
ters referred to newspaper reports OF abuses
and In most of such cases these letters were
sn' to the edieia in question asking them
iot specific information. Among other new
paper publications. considered WIS an edi-
tCrIdl article from the BROOKLYN Eagle
making various charges concerning the
nhuse OF sick soldiers by subordinate off,
cws and referring especially to the death
of Lieutenant Laferty, under the head Of
Medical Murder Their Victims and Their
Cause"
In this Instance tho secretary was in
structed to send an especially prepared
letter to Hon. st. Clair McKelway, the
editor OF the Eagle. the letter reading as
follows:
II am directed by the presiding officer
to esk you WA ther you have fac.s within |
your personal knowledge upon which YOU
nave based the charges set forth In that
article ana wh1ther, If So you will obligc
tno commission by furnishing them with
tho facts in compact and explicit form. |
The commission would be glad 10 have /
testimony OF kind that can he used in his |
investigation not only relating to the cir |
cumstances attending the death of Lieuten- !
ant baiierty at Camp Wikoff, as alleged in
me article under consideration but also |
relating to The other Incidents to which !
yen make reference Such testimony Ia !
exactly what the commission wants WIZ |
you ob!igs this body with what yol. have |
AT your disposal, or can obtain for the |
purpose?"
Today's !et'ar' deal especially with the
condition at Camp Wikoff. They relate TO
lack of preparation for camp before the
soldiers were received. In one instance
minister wrote that he had pointed out
the inaccessibiity and exposed condition
OF the location and the poor condition of
tho water before the place was selected |
ihc members OF the commission express
their determination to make a conc. o7ej
inspection of affairs at that point aad II Is
probable that tho commission will visit the
place as a body before combating iis work