The times., 1898-11-05
THE oRAToRIo OF ALGER.
Program of the Concert at Harris-
burg, Pa, Yesterday.

Program OF the Concert at HARRIS
burg, Pa, Yesterday.
Harrisburg, Pa. Nov. 4.-The Alger Re-
lief Commission this. afternoon closed It's
examination of the officers of Camp
Meade and expressed qualification at the
location of the camp. Gen. Wilson hoped
that In the event of the troops being
required beyond this Winter they would
be brought back to Camp Meade.
Col. Guy Howard. chief quartermaster
Of the Second Army Corps. the first wit
Alger last July were equal to any army in
the world.
Col. Allison. chief commissary of the
corps, was a good witness. He made It
very clear that In his Judgment the cause
Of the trouble in furnishing and distribut-
ing food to the troops was the failure
Of the higher officials to listen to the
suggestion of those who had practical
experience In their departments. He men,
toned one case In point.
While he was commissary In charge of
the preparation for the Alaska expedition
he pressed into service young lieuten-
ant, who was SO thoroughly qualified for
the duties Of a brigade or division Or corps
commissary, that recommendation for
his promotion was forwarded to WASH
ington, and that nothing had ever been
heard from It. The lieutenant is still
with his company in the West. He mem
toned other cases of the same character
and the inference was that. instead of
taking the experienced regular army COM
missaries. political Influences had been
used to have appointed men from civil
life who were incompetent. This sort Of
testimony ran all through today's hearing
and seemed to impress the board.
Gen. George w. Davis, commander of
the Second Division, suggested that 1t
was impossible to place inexperienced
men in charge of commissary and quar-
termasters' departments and expect good
results, and that. while they might be
first-class business men, special training
is required for this kind of service.
Gen. Davis was sent to Chattanooga
and Atlanta to report on those camp
sites, and he said today that chicka-
mauga was the finest site for 4 military
camp In the country. He added. how
ever, that he would not have recommend
ed the camp il he had known that the
water was to be hauled In wagons. He
thought 1t should have been | ip.'i frcm
the spring. In his Judgment, too Eiuny
troope were sent to Camps Aiger and
Thomas, and they were kept there too
long. There was also too much crowd
ing.
Capt Howell asked Gen. Davis wheth-
er the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth
Michigan Regiments, sent to Cuba, were
not in fit condition, as reported, and II
1t was not fact that other regiments
had to go without equipments while be-
ing prepared for the trip. He said that
was the report Pressed still further on
this point, the general stated that two
regiments of his division Were in much
better shape than the Michigan trocIs.
The First Rhode Island mad come from
the home station without even 4 button
missing, and was ready for immediate
service, even TO ammunition
Gen. Davis voiced the testimony of all
the other officers heard today with re-
gard TO the cause of sickness In the
camps. He said the commssary DEPART
ment had not failed to supply the troops,
but that there were some complaints on
account of inefficient regimental officers.
He thought the prime Cause Of the sick
ness which developed was the irdiscre-
tion Of the men.
The general stated that the rations
were more than abundant, IL properly
waste at Camp Meade every day enough
good food to supply one or two regiments.
He suggested that the rations should be
issued to the troops at shorter intervals,
owing to the lack of experience of volun-
teer officers.
Chief Surgeon Girard testified along the
same line and also stated that some of
the doctors had entered the army with
the idea that they were going TO a pic
mic instead of having upon them the re-
sponsibility of l.0c0 men.
Camp Alger, he said. was located in a
typhoid district. Washington families
that had spent the Summer there had fire.
quently brought the, disease back with
them.
Lieut.. Col. Watts. of the Eighth Penn
sylvania, thought the assistant surgeons
had no heart in their work and complain
ed because they did not respond promptly
to the calls of the sick soldiers
Gen. Young's testimony will be heard
in Washington before the full board.
Gen. Beaver left for hts home at Belle
fonte to vote, and Gen. Wilson and Capt.
Howell went back to Washington tonight.