The Indianapolis journal., 1898-12-08
DR.. CONNOR IS PROBING
TRYING TO LOCATE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR SHORTAGE OF MEDICINES.
Says He Is Satisfied Something Was
Wrong at Standardization Be-
fore the War Investigators.

WASHINGTON, Dec. THE war investi-
eating commission examined several wit
nesseS to-day, including Paymaster General
Stanton and Colonel Hecker, Quartermaster
in charge of transportation of the troops.
Paymaster General Stanton testified that or
ders and requests were given him from
those in command Of the forces asking that
the pay of the volunteers be deferred until
they should return to the United States,
that being believed to be the wisest and
most judicious course. Pay was withheld
In Cuba on the order of Major General
Miles, he thought, and from the troops in
Porto Rico either on order or requests OF
several commanders
Colonel Hecker, who has just returned
from Cuba, was examined in detail as to the
charters and purchases of vessels by the
War Department. He said between June
70 and July 20 he purchased seventeen YES
sells on the authority of the secretary of
war. He found 80 per cent of the vessels
offered wholly unSuited. Colonel Hecker
said in his negotiations he dealt directly
with the owners OF the vessels wherever
possible. He knew of no instance where
more than the actual cost price was paid
for vessels. He always he said got lower
than the asking price. The Atlantic Trans
port Company had rendered it's entire fleet
For the seven ships which the department
purchased of them the price paid aggre-
gated $4,VOO,OOO a saving of $4,000 from the
ASKING price The prices paid" he in
sisted would have been a fair value un-
der ordinary circumstances" He said
further there was not a single instance
where any influence outside the government
ana the contracting parties could have been
used In the purchases.
Was there any possibility for any third
party to be benefited by these sales?''
=, In the case of the Port Victor and the
Scandia there certainly was" was the re-
p5H. teil.'' 10 what extent however l cannot
Queried as to railway contracts he inter-
Jected that 1T was not he but the railways
that controlled the rates." as they charged
more than they ought to have received He
referred to transportation arrangements be-
and said better rates had been obtained by
leICng these contracts in this city, the
tariff having been reduced from $1S to IS
per man Tor the same service.
:, Colonel Hecker made an emphatic denial
that there was any influence in routing
the troops on the several lines.
Colonel Alden, assistant surgeon general
sad he did not know why it was that only
officers who hustled" were able to get med
1eal supplies for their men. Any Shortage,
Colonel Alden felt sure, arose in the dstri-
button OF supplies between the depotS and
the division and regimental hospitals. for
S me former had plenty. Colonel Alden was
asked why 1t was that a volunteer organ
ization like the Red Cross could get sun
plies on the ground ahead of the medical de-
partHnent, when the medical department had
certainly prior information of the coming
movement. He said that it was because the
medical department was dependent on the
quartermasters department the transporta-
tion department and cOmmissary depart
merit. 1t was not supplied with men enough
TO carry out the plans it knew We're neces-
sary.
DR.. Connor, who was prosecuting the ex-
animation, became emphatic at this point,
and asked whether Colonel Alden meant to
say that the medical department was at the
mercy of two or three other departments,
and this was the reason there was such "a
g.aring lack Of medicines, bandages field
transportation and other supplies with Gen.
Skaters army in the field.
II think it would be better to put that
question in the hypothetical FORM" said Col
DENLY. You are assuming that this short
age was an actual fact"
Il am trying my BEST" said Dr. Connor.
with considerable emphasis, ito find why
this condition existed, for that it did exist
1 am as certain as / am that we had an
army in front of Santiago"
James r. Smith, an ex-private of the cav
airy, testified briefly that his regiment had
sufficient rations while in Cuba