Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-09-26

eeeting General Granville N. Dodge, pres
ident; Mr.. Richard Weightman, secretary,
and Major 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
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 this board all phases
of public and political feeling, every sec
ton of the country and all classes of bus
iness, professional, commercial and mill
tary- 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 ver-
dict of the commission. whatever that may
be, in the inquiry it is about 10 conduct
will be accepted and approved by all right
minded and right-thinking American cfti-
zens.
That it is the presidents desire that the
inquiry should be rigid and searching was
indicated by his statement to the commits
sion when it assembled at the White House
for conference with him yesterday.
NO limit Is placed by the president upon
the scope OF the investigation. 1t IS to
include every department of the army and
the president assures the commission in
advance that he will afford 1t every facil-
ity in his power for the prosecution of the
most searching inquiry into every part of
- the administration of the war.
In addressing the commission, the presi-
dent said, among other things:
Gentlemen:-Before suggesting The mat
" ha1
yestigation, L desire to express my appre-
citation TO each of you for your willingness
TO accept the patriotic service to which
yoi have been invited. You are to per-
form one of the highest public duties that
can fan to a citizen; and your unseIfish-
ness in undertaking it makes me profound
ly grateful.
There has been in many quarters severa
criticism of the conduct of the war with
Spain. Charges of criminal neglect of tho
soldiers in camp and field and hospital and
IN transports have been so persistent that
whether true or false, they have made a
deep impression upon the country. 1t is
my earnest desire that you shall thorough
ly investigate these charges and make the
fullest examination of the administration
of the war department in all of its
branches. with the view to establishing the
truth or falsty OF these accusations.
Il put upon you no limit TO the scope of
your investigation. OF all departments con-
nected with the army / invite the closest
scrutiny and examination, and shall afford
every facility for the most searching in.
quiry. The records of the war department
and the assistance of its officers shall he
subjected to your call.
Il cannot impress upon You too strongly
my wish that your investigation shall he
SO thorough and complete that your re-
port when made will fix the responsibiIitv
for any failure or fault by reason of neg
lect, incompetenCy or maladministrafion
upon the officers and bureaus reSponsibIe
therefor-if 1t be found that the evils com
planned OF have existed
THE people of the country are entitled
10 know whether not the citizens who
so promptly responded to the call of duty
have been neglected -Ir misused or NAL
treated by the government to which they
so willingly gave their services If there
have been wrongs committed the wrong
doers must not escape conviction and nun
ishment."
Charles DENLY was born in 1880 al Mount
Ivy. Bottetout county, Va, was a student
at Georgetown university. and Is an Ii, n
of that institution. Graduated at the Vir-
ginia Military institute; taught school in
Alabama two years; took up his residence
at Evansville, Ind. in 1859. and has ever
since residing there: is by profession a law
yer; was lieutenant and colonel IN the
Forty-second Indiana volunteers, and after.
ward colonel OF the Eightieth regiment In.
diana volunteers; was appointed by Presi.
dent Cleveland minister TO China Nav 90
1855. and remained in that capacity AT Pc.
king until July II, 1888.
General james Adams Beaver was borr
in Perry county. Pa. October q, 1881, grad.
uated at Jefferson college in Western Penn.
sylyania IN 1856: studied law and was ad.
mitted to the bar in 1859 and practiced law