New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-16
THE ARMY INVESTIGATION.
DEMOCRATS AND POPULIsTs LOOKING
FOR PARTISAN ADVANTAGE.
MOTIVES OF THEIR ouTcRY AGAINST THE PRO-
POSED INQUIRY.

Washington. Sept 15-"I am not greatly sur
prised TO find a certain sort OF Democratic anu
Popuist politicians and sensational newspapers
irving to decry the proposed Army ihNe'''s"
| ton" said a Congressman to-day VINO seiNcu
IN the Army in the Civil War Il can reau"S
understand" he continued. why the conductors
~ ra,venaners who have been publishing sensa-
tional and wildly exaggerated tales respecting
ARMY announcement and the abuse, neglect
suffering and starvation Of the troops shoui'
fear to have the truth made known pe'ieN'
that some of the officers Of the quarterhasteI D.
commssary and medical departments res'
mental As we'll as general staff, have been gulily
~ negligence. and that suffering has resulted
which might have been prevented; nut hno"
from personal investigation that some of the
most narrowing stories published were either
destitute Of any foundation or so greatly eN-
/ decorated as to be virtually untrue. Neltner
10 7 think II difficult to understand the motives
Of some Of the politicians who are lending their
tongues and lungs TO swell the hue and cry
against the War Department and the ofhcers
OF the Army. | fully expected them 70 40 So
They are simply carrying out the poiicy I'M
tiated and urged by Bailey. Simpson ana o'nei
Democratic and Populist leaders in the House
of Representatives last spring ana summer
They hope, as Mr.. Bailey and his kind IN 'oi-
gress hope. to reap some partisan pehehI vi a'
vantage from the war by assalng the men who
have been In any way responsible Tor the CUT
duct NJ il. and it does not take long line to
fathom the depth Of their patriotism or their
solicitude for the welfare of the soldier
That there was much truth In these comments
intelligent and unprejudced men, Irrespective
OF party. who have observed the conduct anu
paid attention to the utterances or leadihs
Democrats and Popust politicians IN "ashi''s-
ton since the early spring VIII generaIy agree
SIGNIFICANT INCIDENT IN THE HOUSE
II IS pertinent to recall an incident that oc-
Cured in the House OF Representatives on July
6 within two hours Of the end OF the last session
OF Congress Some urfavOrabie reports were III
circulation i'm regard to sites chosen for se'era'
of the camps for the instruction or the Voluh-
teers and other matters relating to the health
and comfort Of the troops. and Chairman Hun
Of the Committee on Military Affairs. to whose
attention the stories had been brought, oNered
and asked consent for the immediate consldera-
ton Of a resolution authorizing that committee
to sit in the vacation Of Congress land make
such Investigation as to the organization and
equipment OF all branches Of the Army as IL
NAV deem advisa BILE, and report at the next ses-
sion Of Congress"
Messrs Bailey, Richardson and other Demo-
cratic leaders at once became inquisitive CUES
tons In regard 10 the expense OF the proposed
Investigation were raised. although Chairman
HuWs resolution did not even provide that the
actual expenses Of the committee should he PAID
/ out Of the National Treasury. and an amend
nent offered by Mr. Moody Of Massachusetts,
who was not a member OF the committee, pro-
viding for the payment Of necessary expenses
not ~ exceed total of $500. withdrawn
bv him In order not 70 endanger the resolution
In the course Of the informal discussion Chair
man Hull explained that il was proposed 70 IN
yestigate the equipment Of the Army. ana also
the administration and management OF 'he
ouartermaster's cornmissary. ordnance and
medical departments lie remarked thar COM
nlaints had come 10 his committee which were
az such a nature that It seemed wise to take
the action proposed Some OF the complaints
had been brought 10 his attention ny MI Moody.
/ ~ Massac husetts and Mr. Lacey. az his own
state who had just returned from Chickamausa
where being without authority to Investigate
they could only look on" He ADDED
tn, good women II washington have been to
Camp AlCer and urged that someihlg De uoir.
| do nor know whether the charses are tue 49,, -,
false. and II We we're TO investigate tAeh uuII"S
the session il would take the whole session
ielieve wc ought 70 investigate the camps "AeGe
the charges come from and find the truth CT
states can know j.:
Mr. Moody. among other things. said;
+ wan, 10 say 10 the gentleman from Texas
and the gentleman from Kansas lhal ! NlsI'ti
brigade at Chict1Msu=a. consisting o' a IesI-
mem of NeW-Iorl; troops a regimen vl MnesH
chusetts troops and a Kansas regiment ana
found the volunteer SURGE rs % TINS otIsaae
F withdrawn from. their withdrawn from The
care ~ these men Who had 'us. come from civil
life ana found that officers Of az least one
regiment were payine for the medicine mat me
men needed
KILLED BY SIMPSONS OBJECTION.
Mr.. Bailey did not dare of choose to object TO
tn, resolution himself. but Only TWO seats away
sat his faithful follower and ally. jerry S'mp-
SON OF Kansas. who said.
Mr.. Speaker. want to say to The senteman
from Iowa that we have within the last month
pas 3ed bin after tiil providing fer a. 'horough
organization - ttA Army. inspector generals
without number and We have ali these officers
70 look after the matters N connection with me
Army do noi see any coed ~ come olt OF a
committee Of civilians to investigate II. and |
want tho party in rover that appointed the men
t. assume the responsibility, and therefore |
object to the consideration 90 this bill
Mr. Simpsons objection was fatal. He was
willing even that Kansas soldiers should suffer
+ I'm the hope that perchan,e he and Democrats or
the Bailey stripe might thereby rear a partisan
advantage. His lofty sheer n "A committee az
civilians" seven of whose members had served
in the Army in the Civil War with conspicuous
efficiency fidelity and gallantry-siX on the
Union and one on the Confederate sde-was
Characteristic Of the man
n the consideration OF the resolution had not
been prevented by an objection II would have
passed the House almost unanimously for few
Democrats or Popul!sts would have had the
hardihood TO vote against it, II IL had been
adopted the investigation would have been thor
ough and continuous. FOR the Military Commit
tee deeply In earnest. and II is composed or
men who 90 not shirk duty or responsibility.
Ire country would not only have been promptly