The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-11
with a Request that They Probe the
Departments to the Bottom
for Evidence.
MILES ALGER CONTROVERSY
WILL BE A SUBJECT FOR CONGRESS
SIGNAL INVESTIGATION.
Personal Disputes Between High OH
Gals Not Included in the
Present Inquiry.

WASHINGTON, Sept 10-The President
has sent invitations to the following nine
gentlemen to serve on the commission to in
vestigate the commissary, quartermaster
and surgeon generals department.:
Lieut.. Gen. John M. Schofield.
Gen. John B. Gordon.
Gen. Grenville M. Dodge.
President D. C. Gilman.
Gen. Charles F. Henderson.
Hon. Robert T. Lincoln.
Hon. Daniel S. Lamont.
DR.. w. w. keene.
Col. James A. Sexton.
The message which President Mckinley
addressed to each of these follows: "Will
you render the country great service by
accepting my appointment as member of
the committee to examine into the conduct
of the commissary, quartermaster and med
ical bureaus of the War Department during
the war and into the extent, causes and
treatment of sickness in the field and in the
camps?
TT is my desire that the full and exact
truth shall be ascertained and made known
1 cannot too strongly impress upon you
my earnest wish that this committee shall
be of such high character will COM
mand the complete confidence of the coun-
try, and trust you will consent to serve.
''WILLIAM M'KINLEY."
OF these nine three are Republicans, three
Democrats and three men of emnence in
professions whose position in life has been
made entirely independent of politics. The
high standing of the commission will make
its findings conclusive. What the Presi-
dent wants is the truth and the whole truth.
He has no one to shield and no enemies to
punish. If there has been neglect, or in
competency or crime he vents the fact es-
tablshed and the responsibility fixed on the
individuals or the causes. 1t is expected
the report of the commission will put
quietus on yellow sensationalism and will
present the facts in such a way as
to satisfy the public.
The Investigation which the President is
organizing relates solely to questions touch
ing the care and the health of soldiers out
side as we'll as within the boundaries of the
United States. 1t will not in the slightest
degree forestall an investigation by Con-
gress into the conduct of the war, into the
efficiency of the army or any of the broader
issues along those lines. The commission
will not touch upon the controversy between
General Miles and the War Department ex-
cept so far as the complication growing out
of that trouble may have affected the wei
fare of the soldiers directly. The President
is of the opinion that these differences be-
tween General Miles and the war office were
occasioned, not much by intrigue or i'll
will, as by confusion which exists as to
what are really the duties and functions of
the secretary of war and the general COM
handing the army. Such being the case
he thinks it is for Congress to unravel the
skein. He sees where Secretary Alger and
General Miles might lock horns, and still
feel that they were only defending their
own rights. Only complete reorganization
of the entire military establishment can in
sure harmonious action in that quarter
where two or more officials have practically
the same duties to perform, and these duties
of the very highest responsibility.
About a week ago Representative Over
street suggested to the President that the
people of Indianapolis would be very glad
to have him stop Oft there on his way to or
from Omaha. The President said he would
be happy to do so and asked him to bring
the matter to his attention later on. In an
interview this afternoon the President said
to Mr.. Overstreet that he hoped to be able
to make stop in indianapolis on his way
from Omaha to Washington, but he would
not yet say for certain that he could do
So He would see Mr.. Overstreet again. He
remarked incidentally that he had received
kilograms from Indianapolis and from Sena-
tor Fairbanks the day before bearing on the
subject from which he inferred that Mr..
Overstreet had been stirring things up at
indianapolis President Mckinley is sched-
uled to stop at Chicago Oct 16, on his way
back from Omaha. If he should conclude
to make a stop at Indianapolis it will prob
ably be on the 18th or 18TH
Representative McCleary, of Minnesota,
will speak at Fort Wayne Oct. 3, and at
indianapolis Oct. 4. Mr.. McCleary is chair
man of the subcommittee of the House COM
mittee on banking and currency. to which
was referred the duty of drawing UP an ac-
ceptable bill to reform the currency and
banking laws.
On Sept. Is the Postoffice Department will
advertise for proposals for Ga star routes
in Indiana. The contracts will run for four
years Bids will be opened up to Nov. 30.
Gen. Gordon Declines.
ATLANTA, Ca, Sept. 10.-Gen. John +.
Gordon has declined to serve on the COM
mission requested by Secretary Alger to in
vestigate the conduct of the Spanish-Amer-
lean war, giving a reason his unstable
health.