The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-09-30
THE INQUIRY BEGUN.
The Commission to Investigate the
War Department Organized.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS TO THEN.
No Emit Placed Upon the Scope OF the Iu-
Vestigation and the President Desires
Them to sift All the Charges of
Mlsmanagement.


Washington, Sept. 9G.-The COM
mission appointed by President Me-
| kinley to investigate the administra-
ton of the war department in rela.
| ton to its conduct Of the Hispano.
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 distiu.
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 ap-
proved by all right-minded and right
thinking American citizens That it
is the presidents desire that the in
quiry should be rigid and searching
was indicated by his statement to the
commission when ii assembled at the
white house for a 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 it every facility 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
president said, among other things:
Gentlemen: Before suggesting the matters
which shall come before you for investigation
l desire to express my 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 "A citizen, and your unselflsh-
ness in undertaking 1t 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 and 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 examina- |
tion OF the administration OF the war depart /
ment in all OF It's branches with the view to |
establishing the truth or falsity OF these accu-
sations
put upon you no limit to the scope of your
investigation, OF all departments connected
with the army l invite the closest scrutiny and |
examination. and shall afford every facility for I
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 be 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-if II 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 10 the call
OF duty have been neglected or misused 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 cnnvictiOn and punishment
The names of the commissioners are:
Maj. Gen. Granville M. 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. II. Med. McCoolk,
of the army (retired), and Dr. Phineas
S. Conner of Cincinnati, who served
as a surgeon in the United States army
during the civil war.