Evening star., 1898-09-30

he did not wish to have the government
pay his expense in coming to Washington
to testify before the commission. He was
perfectly willing to pay his own expenses
if he would be given a chance to tell what
he knew. The commission will give him
an opportunity to offer his testimony.
AS heretofore stated in the Star Gen.
Wheeler will probably be the first witness
to come before the commission. Up to this
afternoon no word had been received from
him in reply to the commissions invitation
for him to testify. When this testimony
will be heard will depend upon Gen. Wheel
er. The commission will be prepared to
hear him early next week
Gen. Lee has also been invited to testify
before the commission, but no intimation
has yet been received from him regarding
the time when he will be ready to appear.
Merely Invited Them.
Letters sent to both Gen. Wheeler and
Gen. Lee have been in the form Of invita-
tions TO appear before the commission If
officers of the army decline to testify the
President will be notified of that fact and
he has already promised the commission
that he will bring to bear all the power in
his command to force testimony. Such
means for procuring testimony from Gen.
Wheeler or Gen. Lee is not thought Of. No
one expresses a doubt that they viii both
respond to the commissions invitation.
These are the Only officers of the army
WHO nave Deen invited 10 appear Dt!t't iite
commission, The question of the invita- tion
Of Gen. Miles and Gen. Shafter has not. it
is declared by members of the commission,
been even considered by them. The sensa-
tiCnal part of the commissions s proceeI-
ings. if there is to be sensational fea-
ture. is likely to be called out when these
two generals get on the stand, and that
fact seems to he generally recognized. For
this reason it is likely that those generals
Will not be invited to appear before the
commission until other matters have been
attended to. and until the commission has
had more time to consider their plans of
procedure.
The War in the Pacific Region.
The examination of complaints TO the
President was continued at the afternoon
Sc ssion of the war investigation committee
yesterday.
y decision was reached at this session to
include in the work inquiry into the
conduct of he War Department in the Pa
cifiC as we'll as in the Atlantic region. and
tC this end letters were written 10 Gen.
Merriam. in command of the department OF
the Pacific; to Gen. Otis in command III
the Philippines, and to Gen. Merritt, who
occupied this latter pest until recently.
The letter II Gen. Merritt is as follows:
I'VE have the honor to request you to
furnish us, Ss early as possible. with sCCh
as you may possess as 20 the
adequacy or iEadeJuacy Of the quar- ,ermaS-
ter. commIssary and medical supplies and
medical staff of the troops under your com
mand while il. this country. while en- route
and while you were in &C mmand at Manila.
and whether or not such supplies were
and sufficiently issued to the
troops. Also, to the proper or improper
pre- parGtiOn OF the transports for the trans
port&tiOu of your troops to your station.
We would alsC be pleased to be informed
as to the ratiCn issued to the troops
The letters to Gems. Merriam and Otis
are copies of the letter to Gen. Merritt. eX-
Cept that Merriam is asked to supply IN
formation concerning the expedition to
Hawaii.