Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-09-25

SCQMMlSSIONEftS.
Washington, September 4-The
commission to investigate the conduct
of the War Department during the re-
meeting in the Office Of President Nc
Kinley at the White House to-day.
There were eight members present and
it was announced that the services of a
ninth man were counted upon, though
his name was not made public. The
eight who We're present We're:
Major General Grenville NJ. Dodge,
of Iowa; Col. j. A. sexton, of Illinois;
Capt. E. P. Howell, of Georgia; Major
Gen. ]. M. WILSON,, chief of engineers,
OF the United States, Army; Hon.
Charles DENLY, of Indiana, late minis
ter to China; Ex-Governor Urban a.
Woodbury., of Vermont; Ex-Governor
James A. Beaver, of Pennsylvania, and
Major General A. Med. McCook, of the
army (retired).
The appearance of Governor Beaver
as member Of the commission was
surprise, as his selection was not known
until he appeared at the White House
at the beginning of the session.
The commission spent an hour and
half with the President and then pro-
ceeded to the room assigned it at the
War Department for the purpose of
organizing and beginning work.
The proceedings with the President
consisted in the main of a general ex-
change of views as to the scope OF the
commissions investigation, in which
the President participated quite freely.
He told the members that the organ
ization of the commission had been IN
/, dertaken at the request of Secretary
)Alger and read a letter from the Secre-
! tary, in which he made the request.
The President had put his own views
in writing and read them before pro-
ceeding to a verbal discussion. In this
statement he said that complaints had
been directed especially at the surgeon
generals, the quartermaster generals
and the commissary generals depart
ments of the army, and he suggested
Nat the conduct of these departments
lhould receive especial consideration at
me hands of the commission. To this
Specific request he added that 1T was
bis desire ~that~tne entire military Or
eanization should, if it appeared neces-
sary, be made the subject of inquiry,
ysaying that he wished the committee
| to go to the bottom of the subject in
all cases and proceed with its work
without fear or favor.
IF" he said in the informal discus
sion that occurred, "the commission
should have difficulty in securing the
attendance of witnesses or. in obtaining
access to papers thought to be essential
Al lob
the matter will be brought to my at
tention, when l will do all in my power
to overcome the difficulty l want the
commission to have clear field, and
will do all that it is possible for me to
dc 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
performed.
The President offered the name of
Maj. Mills, Of the army, for position of
Acorder of the commission.
I Secretary Ayers request, as made
h the letter read by the President,
LAS for complete inquiry into the
Qbnduct of the war, especially on the
Ines of the charges published in the
ewspapers. He said these charges had
ssumed such magnitude that he did
BIT. feel satisfied to have the depart
ent rest under them. and that he de
red an. investigation by men eminent
military and civil life.
DIR. Phineas S. Conner, of Cincinnati.
rs announced as the ninth member
the commission. He was not pres
at to-day's session, but no doubt
expressed that he would serve.
was selected because of his emin-
ce as a physician, and the President
s been anxious from the beginning
secure the services of a medical man
cause the medical department of the
INV is much involved in the charges
hat have been made.
After the close Of the conference at
1.-THE White House the President ex-
messed his satisfaction with the per-
sonnet of the commission, adding that
\he believed their investigation would
lie thorough and their report fair and
Impartial.
The commission organized by elect
ing Granville M. Dodge chairman and
Richard Weightman secretary; Major
Mills. of the inspector generals Office,
q he military recorder The commits
ION adjourned about 1880 to meet at
o'clock on Monday. The session
ss devoted to method of procedure,
thing definite being reached. 1t was