Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-09-29
THE INQUIRY BEGUN.
The Commission to Investigate the
War Department Organized.
The PRESIDENTS ADDRESS TO then.
No Limit Placed Upon the Scope of the In
vestigation and the President Desires
Them to SIT All The Charges Of
MlsmMnMgs meHt.

Washington, Sept. 96.-The com
mission appointed by President Nc
Kinley to investigate the administers
ton of the war department in rela
ton to its conduct OF the IIispano
American war will begin its labors
formally to-day. The commission
effected an organization Saturday by
electing Gen. Granville NJ Dodge,
president; Mr.. Richard Weightman,
secretary, and Maj. Stephen c. Mills,
OF the regular army, recorder The
president is understood to be thor
oughly pleased with the personnel OF
the commission. 1t was his effort
TO secure as members OF the
commission men OF the highest
character and standing. in whose
opinions and judgment the country
would have all confidence. He desired,
also, to have represented on the board
all phases OF public and political feel
ing, every section Of the country and
all classes OF business, professional
commercial and military. The men
whom he has appointed are possessed
of wide and varied experience, many
Of them having served with distin.
guished honor to themselves either in
the union or confederate armies
The president feels assured that the
verdict OF the commission. whatever
that may be, in the inquiry it is about
TO conduct, will be accepted and an.
proved by all right-minded and right
thinking American citizens That IL
Ia the presidents desire that the in
quiry should be rigid and searching
was indicated by his statement to the
commission when it assembled at the
white house for conference with him
Saturday. No limit is placed by the
president upon the scope OF the inves.
tigation. 1t is to include every depart.
ment Of the army and the president
assures the commission In advance
that he will afford 1t every facility in
his power for the prosecution OF the
most searching inquiry into every part
Of the administration Of the war.
ln addressing the commission, the
president said among other things:
Gentlemen; Before suggesting the matters
which shall come b fore you for investigation,
l desire to express nv appreciation TO each Of
you for your willingness to accept the patriotic
service TO which you have been invited You
are to perform one OF the highest public duties
that can fall to citizen, and your unselhsh.
ness In undertaking II makes me profoundly
grateful There has been In many quarters
severe criticism Of the conduct of the war with
Spain. Charges Of criminal neglect OF the sol
diers In camp and field and hospital ind In
transports have been so persistent that,
whether true or false they have made a deep
impression upon the country. II Is my earnest
desire that you shall thoroughly investigate
these charges and make the fullest examine
tion Of the administration OF the war depart.
pent In oil Of It's branches with the view to
establishing the truth or falsity OF these accu-
stations
put upon you no limit to the scope of your
investigation. or all departments connected
with the army invite the closest scrutiny and
examination and shall afford every facility for
the most searching inquiry The records OF
the war department and the assistance Of its
Officers shall be subjected to your call | can
not impress upon you too strongly my wish
that your investigation shall DO so thorough
and complete that your report when made will
fix the responsibility for any failure or fault
by reason Of neglect, incompetency or malad-
ministratiOn upon the officers and bureaus re-
sponsible therefor-lf 1t be found that the evils
complained OF have existed The people Of the
country are entitled to know whether or not the
citizens who so promptly responded to the call
Of duty have been neglected or msused or NAL
treated by the government to which they so
willingly gave their services. II there have
been wrongs committed the wrongdoers must
not escape cnnvlction and punishment
The names of the commissioners are:
Maj. Gen. Granville NJ. Dodge, Of Iowa;
Col. j. A. Sexton, of Illinois; Capt II.
p. Howell, Of Georgia; Maj Gen, J, II.
Wilson, chief Of engineers Of the United
States army; Hon. Charles DENLY, Of
Indiana, late minister TO China; ex.
Gov. Urban A. Woodbury., Of Vermont;
ex.Gov James A. Beaver, OF Penn.
sylvania; Maj. Gen, H. McD. McCook,
Of the army (retredD, and DR.. Phineas
s. Conner, Of Cincinnati, who served
as surgeon In the United States army