Evening star., 1898-12-06
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The War Investigating Committee Sit Be-
hind closed Doors.
The Selection of Camp AIger Not
Made by the Commanding
General.

vestigation commission was spent today
behind closed doors. Little could be learn
ed of the subjects under consideration but
from the echoes of cachinations which now
and then fioated out into the ante room the
conference was undoubtedly pleasant. 1t
was understood that one of the matters
taken up was the setting of the body dur
ing the Christmas holidays, and that it had
been decided to continue the work steadily
with the exception of one or two days.
This was due to the fact that the COM
missioners expect that all testimony will
be in by the commencement Of the new
year. and there is little prospect that the
original intention to visit Cuba and Porto
Rico will be carried out. The officers in
command at both places will be examined,
it is now believed, in this city. The COM
ing week will be notable for the witnesses
to be heard in regard to the conduct of
the war
1t is expected that Secretary Alger Cen
eral Mnes, Adjutant General Corbin and
General Shafter will be among them 1t is
understood that the work preliminary in
character of outlining the report of the
commission has been commenced under
Genera Beavers direction The report will
be divided in sections showing the manner
in which the various bureaus Of the War
Department Were conducted, while separate
reports will be made as to each branch of
tI!c service. lHel there W.. De q general
report devoted to the entire conduct Of the
war. 1t will. of course, take a long time
after the testimony is concluded to proper
ly digest it and prepare the report.
Preparations fer Caring for the Sick.
1t was developed yesterday afternoon
during the examination of Col Martin in
a colloquial way, that exhaustive prepara-
tions We're being made by the quartermas-
ter generals Office for permanent winter
headquarters for the sick of the army.
Large contracts have been made for Ium-
Der to be sent to Cuba for the use of the
medical department, in anticipation of the
necessity for the erection of numerous
paVtlions for the use of the sick. In this
country a 1909 bed hospital was to be erect
ed at Fortress Monroe; a 1,oo0 bed hospital
at Savannah. 800 bed hospital at San
Francisco, while at other places pavilions
to accommodate from 100 TO 800 patients
would be put up.
Over at Fort Mycr the riding hall had
already been converted into a hospital. and
other buildings We're to be constructed there
for similar purposes. Altogether the hos
pital capacity, exclusive of the new colo
MES, would. when completed, be able to
take care of between 5000 and 6OoO sick
soldiers.
Another development in Col Martins tes-
tmony proved very interesting to the CON-
mission. Some time ago Adjt. Gen. Cor
bin submitted to 1t a statement giving
list of the various camps and the officials
who were responsible for their selection.
In this list the selection of Camp Alger
was attributed TO the commanding gen
eral' and the impression was that Gen.
Miles had selected the site.
In Col. Martins evidence yesterday he
stated that he and Mai. Seaburn had ex-
amined the sites; that he had selected
Camp Alger and SO recommended to the
quartermaster general, and that he was
tfereupon authorized to make the neces-
sary contracts for its occupancy. At this
point Gov. Woodbury. remarked: Il saw
Gen Corbin Yesterday, and he told me the
ilse ne mad submitted about the selection Of
camps would need to be revised
during the executive session this morn
ing a messenger was sent over to the War
department to request Col. Hecker to ap-
pear before the commission at once but he
had not arrived UP to / O'clock when re-
cess was taken. Paymaster General Stan
ton was also notified to hold himself in
readiness to take the stand.
In Executive Session.
Inc commission went into executive ses-
sion again at 2 o'clock, and no witnesses
appeared. There was an indication of SEN
timent that certain witnesses who had been
requested to appear for examina ton were
proving recalcitrant, but this could be
traced TO no authoritative ource. So far as
colonel Hecker was concerned there was
no truth In this rumor, that officer is
out of town.
Regarding the Christmas holidays 1t was
decided to adjourn Friday, December 23
and meet again December 26 and to ad-
Journ again December 30 and meet again
January z. All the members of the COM
mission will spend Christmas at their homes
except General McCook and Colonel DENLY.