Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-24
THE FIRST MEETING
Assembly of the War Inquiry Com
missioners.
NINE GENTLEMEN READY TO SERVE
General G. M. Dodge Was Elected
President.
THE WORK TO BE DONE

Eight members of the military investi
eating commission reported at the White
Hcuse this morning at 10 o'clock. They
were Maj. Gen Granville NJ Dodge of
Iowa. Col J. A. Sexton of Illinois, Capt E.
z. Howell of Georgia. Maj. Gen. ]. NJ. Will
son. chief of engineers of the United States
army: Charles DENLY of Indiana, late min
lister To China; Ex-Governor Urban a.
Woodbury. of Vermont. Ex-Governor James
A. Beaver of Pennsylvania and Maj. Gen.
A. Med McCook of the army (retired).
Mr.. Thos. l.. Livermore of Boston de-
clined to serve. The President will select
DR.. Phineas 5. Conner, a Cincinnati physi-
clan. to fill the vacancy. When DIR. Keen
declined the Presidents offer he suggested
Dr. Conner as good man to represent the
medical profession on the commission.
Conference With the President.
When the commissioners assembled in the
cabinet room they were Joined by Major
Mills OF the inspector generals department
Of the army, who will act as recorder TO
the commission. The commissioners re-
5lained in conference with the President DOR
learly two hours, during which time the
president outlined the scope of the in
lulry he desired them to make.
1t is understood that the investigation
will be Of more general character than
an inquiry into the details of the adminfs-
tration of the bureaus of the War Depart
ment.
The commission went to the War De-
partment after leaving the White House
and assembled in room %f3, the quarters of
the ordnance and fOrtification board which
the commission Will occupy temporarily.
At the Wnr Department.
The commission remained in session at
the War Department until /: 30 o'clock per
fecting an Organizati ton,
Gen. Granville VI. Dodge Of Iowa was
elected president of the commission; Major
8 e. Mills. /. 5, a. recorder. and Mir.
Richard Weightman of Washington. sec
retary. Three army officers will be chosen
as ergeantS-at-aTms-
The scope Of the work and the method of
procedure were not decided upon. The COM
mission will meet at IL o'clock Monday
HoruiT 2 to lay out its plan Of work.
Gen GrenviIle NJ. Dodge said to a Star
reporter at the close Of the session that
there was nothing further to give out be-
yond the organization of the commission.
VIII the sessions be secret?' he was
asked.
'.They will be for the present. he re-
.'WiH the investigation of the witnesses
be conducted in open session."
We have not decided that yet" ne said.
We will not lay out our course until the
next meeting"
At the meeting today 1t was resolved that
ell information concerning the commission
must be male public by its president.
II is understood that the commission will
be divided into three subcommittee. so
that the Investigations may be conducted
upon different lines simultaneously. 1t is
realized that hard task is ahead of the
investigation. There are no formal charges
upon which to act. and at the outset the
operations of the commission will be of a
drag-net character. The investigators will
have to develop the charges and then in
quire into them
The Initial Inquiries.
1t is thought that the commission will
make its first inquiries in the Secretary's
office. the adturant generals office and the
office Of the major general commanding
the army. taking cognizance of the orders
which were issued for the conduct Of the
war and the instructions given 10 the
army. In the same manner the offices Of
the surgeon general quartermast aster general
and COTmissary general will be examined
TO ascertain the character Of the orders is
sued. and whether they were carried out
II is not known whether the commission
viii visit the camps. but ii is thought prob
able that such journeys will he made. as it
viii be more expeditions and economical
than bringing witnesses to Washington.
Before that it done, however. there is a
vast amount of work at hand in the de-
partment here. II is probable that most
sion in secret, and that the public will be
taken into confidence only when witnesses
are examined.
The Presidents Desire.
1t has been understood that the Presi-
dent desires publicity to be given to the in
vestigation as IL proceeds. DIR. w w
Keen. who declined a place on the COM
mission after interview with the Presi-
dent. said after his return to Philadelphia:
Il am revealing no condolences when re-
peat one or two OF the Presidents utter
ances. President Mckinley said:
81 1 feel that the American people have
committed these boys to my hands. and If
anybody has wronged them l want to find
il out.
'' L don't believe that any army has ever
been watched over more anxiOusly and
continuously than | have watched over this
army, Tor | have spent seventeen hours u
day in this office in looking after them
Dr. Conner Accepts.
CINCINNATI, ohio, September 24.-Dr
Phiness ;. Conner Of this city, a distin-
gllshed physician and surgeon. VINO served
as assistant surgeon in the United
States army during the civil war has ac-
cePIed the invitation of the President to
become member of the commission to in
TeStiGate the conduct Of the War Depart
ment.