The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-09-16
TWO YET TO HEAR FROM
War Office Investigation COM
mission Almost Complete.
EVAN P. HOWELL'S VIEWS
He VIII Accept ON Condition That
the InquisitorS Are Given Unre-
Hew Straight TO the Line-General
schOfeId at the White House.

The President is still waiting for an
answer from two Of the men he has in
Vited to accept positions on the commits
sion TO investigate the War Department.
He believes that these two men viii ac-
eept, but has not been positively assured,
and until it is known definitely by him
that they viii serve the President will
not make public their names.
With the acceptance Of these two men
the commission viii be complete. Each
member will then be requested TO cali
at the White House to receive instruc-
tions, which, it is believed, will be general
In terms and absolutely complying with
the language Of the Invitation, which
said in substance that the commissary.
medical and quartermaster' departments
were TO be examined into.
Lieut.. Gen. Schoiield had long inter
view with the President after the CABIN
et meeting today. When Gen. ScIgne-d
left the White House he said the ques-
tion of his acceptance Of a place on the
war investigation commission was unset
tied He will see the President again to-
morrow. Gen. Schofield said that the
commission would probably De ready 10
tAkG up lA8S "oih Ol luhtSllSal4gA GlAi4l-A
q few days. 1t is the general impression
In official circles that he viii accept and
will be president of the commission
Capt Evan p. Howell, OF Atlanta, will
reach the White House tomorrow pre-
pared to accept a place on the commits
sion. He said last night at the Fifth Ave
nue. Hotel:
IF the commission is to have unre-
stricted power in the investigation, and
am assured that its scope is to be unlim-
3ted, i viii accept appointment on the
commission, and if / serve it will be with
the understanding that j will 'hew to the
line, let the chips fall where they may
''The country demands that if there has
been any official neglect of duty in any
of the branches of the War Depart
ment. the blame should be fixed so that
those who are responsible be held ac-
countable, and the innocent not suffer
from the maladministration of those
guilty Of any incOmpetency.
'If / serve on the commission 1t will be
solely for the purpose of going 10 the bot
tom OF the whole situation l am salts
fed that nothing is further from the mind
Of the President than the encouragement
OF a 'whitewash' report. j believe he
wants the facts known, and so far as I
am concerned, they viii be ascertained, IL
/ serve. am fully prepared to do justice
to every official.
Concerning the statement that il was
beyond the authority Of the commission
to compel the attendance Of persons OF
to require papers whic. may be refused
Capt Howell said:
That, of course, amounts 70 no. hing.
II a commission of this character should
request the attendance of any human
being connected with the department. or
the presentation Of any paper and ii was
met with refusal, IL would simply be an
adnlission of guilt, which no officer would
Dare to make. There will be no trouble
about the commission reaching both such
persons and papers as il wants, and this
can be done Just as effectuaIly as If ii
were conducting under a compulsory reso-
We're acting under a. compulsory re-solu-
ton Of Congress"
There is a strong impression that thu.
President has invited John r. Mclean 20
serve on the commission, and that he is
one Of the two men that Mr. Mckinley is
waiting TO hear from
There is considerable criticism on the
appointment of Col. Sexton, Gen. Dodge
and DR.. Keen The two former are said
10 be warm personal friends of Secretary
AlgeT, and the latter is a close friend of
Surgeon General Sternberg. Those criti-
cising their appointments say that no one
but thoroughly disinterested person.
should be given a place on the commits
sion, for IL would prevent criticism of the
commission should that body exonerate
fhe War Department, and prevent a belief
that personal friendship influence the
judgment of the commission