The herald., 1898-12-03
WAR CONDUCT INQUIRY
SLOWLY BUT SURELY NEARING
ITS END =.
THE PRICES PAID FOR MULES
Said to Have Been Reasonable, as
Were the Sums Expended for
Water Carriage
Associated Press Special Wire


WASHINGTON, Dec. 2--The War In
vestigating Commission resumed its sit
tings in this city today, Colonel Charles Bird
being on the stand. He was ON duty dur
ing the war in the quartermaster-generar
office. having charge Of the transportation
division. He had charge in the beginning
of the war of the purchase of mules, and he
believed the prices paid to have been reason
able, the average price for leaders being 500,
and for wheelers Sl2O.
He said that contracts for railroad trans
portation were made in Chicago, st. Paul
and other centers before the beginning OF
the movement of troops. The prices Sc
cured were lower than originally given to
individuals, but it had been found impos-
sible to get competitive rates from the rail
reads. In some cases the officers in the
field has not secured as low as rates as he
considered possible and he had interfered,
generally with the result of getting better
figures.
In moving troops tourist cars had been
secured where possible and in all cases
seat for each soldier was obtained. In some
regular sleepers were substituted for the
tourist cars As a rule the railroad COM
panies had been prompt in responding to the
terms of contract, but in some instances
in the south there had been some delay in
the matter of equipment.
In response to request from Gen. Wilson,
Col. Bird explained the difficulty in getting
troops from Tampa to Port Tampa, which
was. he said, due to the fact that the Plant
system, which controlled the only line from
Tampa to Port Tampa, wanted to cut out
the Florida Central road from carrying any
of the government troops or supplies, and
in order to accomplish this had put very
high rate on shipments between the two
points. In consequence of this position taken
by the railroad company, orders had been
given that not dollar should be paid for
the transportation over this nine miles OF
road until a proper rate should be made,
and no payments had been made this SER
vice. The congestion at Tampa was due to
the fact that more supplies were sent to
that point than could be handled. When
they learned of the congestion an order was
issued for the marking of the cars, and a
Ouartermaster agent was sent with each
car. In most cases it was impossible to send
bills of lading. Col Bird said that he and
the Secretary of War had co-operated to-
gether in chartering vessels for water trans
portation. In some instances, it had been
necessary to be quite arbitrary in securing
some vessels. Mr. Clyde, of the Merchants
and Miners line, had held out very strenu-
ously on the plea that the vessels were need
ed in his own business. The rental paid for
the chartered vessels were considered very
low, the rate being Is cents per gross ton per
ing the latter part of the war it had been
necessary to increase the rate. Colonel Bird
also said that the transports occupied be-
tween Tampa and Santiago had been fitted
up only to carry the men and supplies to
Havana, and this was the reason they proved
inadequate for a trip of much longer dura.
ton.
Col. VIM. S. Patters, in charge of the
supply and equipage division of the quarter
masters department, was the first witness
this afternoon. He said that no outside in
fluence had any effect upon his office in
the matter of awarding contract for tents,
clothing, ETC., and that only Oh very rare
occasions had contracts been awarded ex-
cept on competitive bids.
Capt. James Mckay, civilian and an old
sea captain in Florida and Cuban waters,
who, under Gen. Humphrey, had charge of
the details of the transportation OF the
troops to Santiago, proved an important wit
ness. He said that complete rations had
been put ON each ship and that the vessels
had not been overloaded This was contrary
TO previous testimony, as was also later
statement that the vessel which each com
mand was to occupy had been designated be-
fore embarking. He emphasized this fact,
saying the designation had been made by
Gen. Shafter, and the colonel of each regi-
ment was evidently informed in each case.
lie said there was no confusion when the
troops went aboard.
Il say emphatically there was no disorder
and no confusion" said he, ''and that in all
cases the regiments found their quarters
without trouble or delay"
How about the Rough Riders, the Roose-
welt regiment asked Governor Beaver.
They We're assigned to the Yucatan, and
there was no difficulty in their embarka
| ton"
1T has been reported to u.s." continued
Governor Beaver, that they seized the yes
sell Was that true?"
NO. sir; it was not true" the witness re-
Piled "The Yucatan was placed in the
canal, and the Rough Riders walked in and
took their places on the vessel, according tc
directions. They did not seize the vessel
because there was no necessity that they
| should do So"
Capt. Mckay also said there had been nc
confusion in unloading nc stores He tes
tilted that they had been loaded in an order
| ly manner. There was list showing what
articles were in each vessel, and there had
been no mixing of the various kinds of stores
It was true, as had been charged. that some
of the stores had never been unloadcd but
this was due, in the main, to the fact that
the stores were not needed The tents wert
not unloadcd for lack of storage room or
shore and because they could not be gotter
to the front Capt. Mckay had not com
pleted his testimony when the commission
adjourned for the day.