The herald., 1898-10-04
WAR CONDUCT. INQUIRY
WILL GET DOWN TO BUSINESS
THIS MORNING !.
REPORTERS TO Be PRESENT
General Wheeler Will Be the First
Witness Called on for Evidence.
More Complaints /,
Associated Press Special wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, Oct. s.-AI Of the mem.
bers Of the war investigating commission
were present at today's session except Gov.
Beaver and the announcement was made
that he would be In attendance tomorrow
when Gen. Wheeler would be present an
the first witness before the commission.
Today's session was devoted largely to
the consideration of the method of exam
ininx witnesses, and In this connection tha
uues ton Of administering oaths was dis
cussed at considerable length. The menu
bers generally took the position that under
a strict construction, the commission has
no authority to compel a witness to be
sworn by a member of the commission, but
there was a general opinion that the wit
nesses would not raise technical questions
and that they In all probability would SUBJ
init to be sworn without opposition. 1t was
decided, however to inform witnesses
frankly OF the status Of the board and to
afford them an opportunity to decline In
case they so desired. 1t was suggested
that the whole difficulty might be avoided
by getting the president to appoint one OF
the members of the board to the office OF
notary public, and 1t Is probable that this
request will be granted, with the end In
view Of having an officer available Tor ao>
ministering oaths In case Of emergency.
To Governor Beach was assigned the
task Of leading in the examination or Wit
resses, but there Is an understanding that
the other members Of the board shall ask
such questions rs they may desire.
The commission also read communica-
tions which received attention. Among
them was a letter from Surgeon General
Sternberg. inviting the commission to visit
his Office. No action was taken upon thia
invitation.
At the afternoon session of the commits
sion several complaints were read In re-
gard to the method of transporting men
from Santiago, the names OF the vessels
on which 1t was alleged that abuses had
occurred being the Concho. the Seneca,
the Breakwater. the Olivette and the City
of Washington. 1t was decided to make
thorough investigation Of this branch OF
| the service and Chairman Dodge was di-
rected to secure the names of the cons
manding officers. medical officers and rep-
resentatives Of the Quartermasters' de-
partments on these vessels.
The commission also decided to permit
| the presence during the hearings OF three
| stenographers as representatives Of tho
press, in addition to the representatives
| Of the press associations.
The commission called at the war de-
partment late today and saw Secretary
Alger, Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn and
Adjutant General Corbin for a few min-
utes The call was purely social.
| Mai. Gen. Joseph Wheeler, who reached
here last night, was at the White House
today and had a brief interview with the
| president. Gen. Wheeler said his only
mission here was to testify before the war
Investigating commission which had sum-
moned him as a witness, and that after
being examined he would leave immedi-
ately for his new camp at Huntsville, Ala
: II feel" he said, that President Nc
Kinley has given me the highest compli-
ment that any one could give me, and
will act as he directs. will stay In the
service as long as he says he wants me ia
do so, and when he indicates that there 4
no longer actual need Of my services will
| leave"