The times., 1898-09-27
THE WAR INVESTIGATION
A TwO-HOur Session Behind
Closed Doors Yesterday.
THE PLANS ARE OUTLINED
Letters VIII Be Addressed TO the
Chiefs of Bureaus Affected, Calling
for Certain Facts-The Examina-
tfOn of Witnesses May Not Take
Place for Some Time.

The war investigating committee held
session lasting two hours yesterday be-
hind closed doors. Every member of the
commission was present. including DR..
Connor, of Cincinnati, the ninth member
chosen. who arrived in Washington yes
terday morning. The meeting began at
10 o'clock, Dr. Connor having visited the
White House for brief preliminary con-
ference with the President.
No information was given to the press
In regard to the meeting. except the an
nouncement, after the commission ad-
journed for the day. that the time was
occupied with an outlining of plans for
the work in hand, and the supplementary
statement that a letter would be ad-
dressed soon to the heads of the several
bureaus to be investigated. calling on
them for certain facts in their possession
1t is expected that these letters viii be
so framed as TO be in effect a call for
practically all of the documentary evil
dence in the possession of the quarter
master generals, surgeon generals and
subsistence departments. All of the dis
patches file in those bureaus viii be
subjected to the scrutiny of the commits
sion. so far as they have any bearing on
the alleged abuses in administration.
The members Of the commission assert
that the Investigation is not a secret one,
but that the proceedings viii not be pub
lie at least at present. The chairman
said that an official statement would be
given 10 the press today in regard TO the
plan OF work. and probably furnishing
copies of the letters addressed 10 the
heads Of bureaus calling for information
Beginning today, the sessions of the in
vestigation committee will be held in the
Lemon Building which is situated on
New York Avenue, a short distance
southwest of the State, War. and Navy
Building. A large room has been re-
served there and smaller adjoining rooms
have been provided for the clerical force
and for the files. Plans have also been
made for temporarily establishing the
military information bureau of the War
Department in the Lemon Building, so
that the commission may be promptly
and conveniently assisted in its work
1t Is probable that the examination of
witnesses will not begin for some time.
The documentary evidence will be thor
oughly examined. after which the com
mission will summon such officers of the
army and such officials of the War De-
partment as may be able TO give informa-
ton pertinent to the investigation.
Whether the commission viii visit army
camps and military posts has not been
absolutely decided, but Il is probable that
such viii be the case.
The commission viii consider the testi-
mony Of certain letters which have lately
been received from persons in various ca
pacities who claim to have Information in
their possession regarding the subject
matter Of the pending investigation
Great discretion Will be exercised in
considering these letters, however, and
care viii be observed to summon from
among the writers only such witnesses as
appear to have definite and trustworthy
facts in their possession. The commits
sion will hold two sessions daily the first
from 10 10 1870 o'clock and the second
from TO p. m.