The Indianapolis journal., 1898-09-26
IL wrongs Have Been Committed. the
President Says, the Wrong-DOers
VIII BE Punished.
INVESTIGATION BEGINS TO-DAY
AND WILL INCLUDE EVERY BRANCH
OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The President Confident the Finding
of the Commission VIII Be APP
proved by tb Country.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25.-The commits
sion appointed by President Mckinley to in
vestigate the administration of the War De-
partment in relation to it's conduct of the
Hispano-American war will begin its labors
formally tomorrow. The commission eff
fected an organization yesterday by elect
ing Gen. Granville NJ. Dodge president, Mr..
Richard Weightman secretary and Maj. Ste
phen G. Mills, of the regular army, re-
corder. The President is understood to be
thoroughly 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 pub
lie and political feeling, every section of the
country and all classes of business-profes-
sional. commercial and military. The men
whom he has appointed are possessed of
wide and varied experience, many of them
having served with distinguished honor to
themselves either in the Union or Confed-
crate armies. The President feels assured
that the verdict of the commission, what
ever that may be. in the inquiry it is about
to conduct. will be accepted and approved
by all right-minded and right-thinking
American citizens.
That it is the Presidents desire that the
inquiry should be rigid and searching was
Indicated by his statement ne commits
sion when it assembled at thes-v~1ite House
for conference with him yesterday. No
limit is placed by the President on the scope
OF the Investigation. 1t is to include every
department 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 in
quiry into every part of the administration
OF the war IN addressing the commission
the President said. among other things:
Gentlemen-Before suggesting the mat
ters which shall come before you for inves-
tigation / desire to express my apprecia-
tion 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 than can fall to
citizen, and your unselfishness in under
taking 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
soldiers 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. 1t is my
earnest deslre that you shall thoroughly in
vestigate these charges and make the full
est examination of the administration of the
War Department in all of its branches.
with a view to establishing the truth or
faisity of these accusations. put upon you
no limit to the scope of your investigation.
o. all departments connected with the army
invite the closest scrutiny and examina-
tion. and shall afford every facility for the
most searching inquiry. The records of the
War Department and the assistance of its
officers shall be subject to your call.
Il cannot 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 maladministration upon
the officers and bureaus responsible there
for-if it 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 to the call of duty
have been neglected or misused or NAL
treated by the government to which they
so willingly gave their services. If there
have been wrongs committed, the wrong
doers must not escape conviction and pun
ishment."