Evening star., 1898-09-17
SCHOFIELD DECLINES
Will Not Serve on the War Inquiry
Commission.
CAPTAIN EVAN P. HOWELL ACCEPTS
Views of a Philadelphia Committee
on Care of the Soldiers.
NEWS AT THE WHITE HOUSE

After half hours conference with the
President today Gen Schotield announced
that he would not serve as a member of
the committee to Investigate the conduct
of the war.
At the conference between the President
and Gen. SchofieId yesterday the latter had
said he would take until today to consider
the arguments presented by the President.
Today's call was fer the purpose Of COM
munfcatins his dCois,nn.
Gen Schofeld is not opposed to the in
vestigation. it is said. but as an army Off
Ger he dld not tninEz it proper that he
should be connected with II.
Acting Secretary MeikIejchr of the War
Department was with the President when
Gen. Schofed left the White House. and
remained short time later.
The positive declination uqsets a good
many calculations 1t was thought yester-
day that Gen. Schofield would serve. owing
to the residents strong desire to have him
at the head of the commission.
Major George a. Armes yesterday after
noon filed protest at the White House
against the appointment of General SCho-
field. IL had trouble with General SchOfieli
Years ago.
Capt. Howell Will Serve.
Capt Evan P Howell of Atlanta arrived
in the city today and mad a conference
with the President a short time after the
departure of Gen. Schofield. After the Presi-
dent had told Capt Howell the purposes
and scope of the investigation, the Georgia
nan announced his acceptance of the in
yitation- The President said that n would
telegraph for him as soon as he had COM
ptcCcd the commission, which he hopes to
do in a few days.
The Presidents idea is that the commits
sion Will not have to leave this city. Quar-
t=rs and q competent corps Will he provid-
ed for tha commission.
The rece II talk that army officers and
other officials may decline TO testify before
the commission has been noticed by the
President. He told Capt. Howell today that
whenever n his power he would that
the commission OLtah ed ell the evidence
desired. He further said that every paper
and document in the War Department
would he placed at the disposal of the COM
mission. The President said that he would
do everything in mis- power TO further the
work of the commission. ard would not
lCck with favor Upon any effort to prevent
a full and free Investigation.
The acceptance Of Captain Howell makes
five men who have accepted. The other
four are President Gilman Of Johns Hop
kins University, Colonel James Sexton,
General Dodge and Charles DENLY, eX-
minister to China 1t is almost certain that
Or W. W Keen will serve.
The President still desires nine men, but
if he finds too much trouble in obtaining
the number Will go ahead with seven. He
is still anxious for good men. and today
asked Captain Howell about General Ste
phen u. Lee. who is now president of the
Agricultural College OF Mississippi and
General Jackson of Tennessee.
II is reported that John r. Mclean has
been asked TO serve. but this is not known.
Capt. HoweIIs Views.
Capt Howell said this afternoon: II think
it is the duty Of any man to serve when
asked to do So 1t is as much a duty as if
called on for service as soldier. 1t is due
the President and Secretary AIger who re-
quested the investigation. If it should go
TO Congress politics will become injected
The President wants the investigation
made by men who are not identified with
politics"
The investigation is TO include the COM
miSsary. quartermaster and surgeon gen
erals departments
Soldiers Condition in Porto Rico.
William Potter, eX-minister to Italy;
Joshua l. Bailey, George c. Thomas, John
Field and ex-Gov. Pattison. a committee
flOm the national relief commission. which
has headquarters in PHILADELPHIA. had 4
long conference with President Mckinley
To-Day regarding the condition of United
States soldiers in Porto Rico. The commits
sion was organized near the beginning of
the war, and has collected over 500 900 for
use in relief work in the army especially
il hospital work.
tee, who called On the President today has
recently r--Irned from Porto Rico where
he was engaged in relief work. He sub
nltted reJOrt On the condition of affairs
ana that report was presented TO the Pres
lcent today. -alCng with recommendation
by the commission. Numerous suggestions
are made by the commission as to the best
way OF caring for the health of The sol
dlers In Porto Rico. The principal recon-.
h.ehiaNon : thai barracks be built instead
OF the soldiers eing allow ed to remain in
the open
Surgeon General Sternbcrg was present
during the conference, and he and th. Pres-
Lent ils Jenei attentively to the suggestions
and Views Of tn" committee, which IS com
posed Of wealthy and patriotic men deenlv
Interested in the work of caring for the
soldiers Of the country.
In Behalf of Capt. Reach.
a delegation of District men. headed nv,
Mr. Z A Randle, saw the President this
afternoon and strongly urged the reten-
ton of Captain Beach as Engineer Com
missioner of the District A numerouslv
signed petition making the same request
mas been left at the White House