Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-23
TEDDY WENT AHEAD.
Saw the Spanish and the
Rough Riders Charged.
Roosevelt Personally Fed His Men,
Has Not Been Reimbursed.
HAD Plenty Of Ammunition But Fesd Vas
Trins scanb.

New York, Nov. 22.-The war inves-
tigating committee decided. today. that
1t would not visit Montauk Point, the
site of Camp Wikoff in body, but
would send a committee to prepare. a
report.
Mrs. Susan Powell Of this city. was
the first witness. She said she did not
know why she had been called as she
had never been at any Of the camps
and knew only hearsay Of the treat
ment of the soldiers. -
I'VE called you," explained Gen. Will
son. because we heard that when you
offered to go to camp as nurse you
were not accepted because you would
not agree to maintain secrecy should
you find any dereliction of duty. We
wish to know who exacted such a
promise from you"
II wish you would not ask me that
question"
swer might aid US materially in our in
vestigation. To whom did you make
the offer to act as nurse"
ITO an officer of the auxiliary of the
Red Cross Society"
WAS it male or female officer Of
the Red Cross
II do not care to say"
"Well, had the officer any authority
at camp? Was it an officer in the
United States service?"
1T was not an officer of the army.
/ do not know what authority the per-
son had in camp. My offer and its re-
lection was made in a private house."
Since you have stated that" said
Gen. Wilson, would you mind telling
us whether you or the Red Cross made
the matter public?'
~ Go not know who could have told
it. / do not remember of having told
any one but a clergyman. He may
have told r. B. Roosevelt" Ir
Joseph Gurke of Yonkers,, who served
as corporal in Company l. of the 8th
Regiment at Chickamauga, next tes-
tilted. He had kept diary OF the do
ings of his company and it's officers
during the stay at camp and quotedi
from it at length to the commission.
He had no fault to find with the gov
eminent or the government supplies
and nothing but complaint to make OF
the company's officers. He spoke OF
the lack. of disinfectants in the camp
but said that the officers quarters were
well supplied.
Replying to question by Gen. Bea-
yer. as to the quantity and quality OF
the food supply, Gurke said the sup
plies were good and plenty but they
did not reach the men. He had seen
government rations publicly offered
for sale. The profits to the regimental
o,,to l,o n ~ $ntv svv 6ic-
tributed. His company did not receive
a cent. AS he left the room, he said he
had acted as detective inHthe camp
because he had been soldier before
and knew the soldiers would be robbed.
Col. A. s. Kimball, assistant quarter
master general of the United States
army, stationed in this city, was the
next witness. He said that all the
contracts for supplies were let to the
lowest bidder after proper notification
and advertisement.
Were there any exceptions to the
rule to award contracts to the lowest
bidder?" asked Gen. Beaver.
I'm all cases where bids were made,
awards were made to the lowest bid
der when the article bid upon were up
to the standard. In cases of bids made
upon articles where there were no
standards the lowest responsible bid
Ter was always accepted"
Answering Ex-Governor Woodbury..
Col. Kimball said: Contracts was
awarded by the department upon the
findings of the opened bids. Some
lines in cases where the articles were
lot standard the department would ac-
,ept any recommendation which was
made in such cases as to the quality
If the goods rather than the price.
did you ever know of any contract
o be let in your department" asked
zen. Beaver, because any person was
o receive money or commission on
lccount of the influence to be used?''
II never knew of any money or in
1uences being used in the matter Of
Lwarding contracts"
Still replying to Gen. Beaver, Col.
<imball told of the purchase and hire
f transports to this city. He explain
he owners of all the ships that could
,e purchased or chartered and had
the list to Washington.
when a middle man or broker came
o my office ignored him entirely. I
ealt only with principals"
Col. Kimball submitted copy Of his
flee records, showing the list Of ship
ing offered for sale or charter, and
he commission ordered that the rec
rds be Incorporated in the testimony.
Was the price paid for the charter
f these ships fair and reasonable?"
sked Dr. Connor.
Yes, think so. generally" replied
ol. Kimball, "but in the case of the
lyde and Mallory Lines the company
aid they could not spare the ships I'M
IS double the price offered was paid.
CONTINUED on page 2.A