The herald., 1898-09-25
CONDUCT OF The WAR
TO BE INVESTIGATED WITHOUT
FEAR OR FAVOR
Major-General q. N. Dodge of Iowa
Chosen to Preside and Details Of
Procedure Discussed
Press speciaI Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2i.-The commits
sion to investigate the conduct Of the War
Department during the recent conflict with
Spain held its initial meeting in the office
of President Mckinley at the White House
today. There were eight members present
and 1t was announced that the services
of a ninth member were counted upon, al
though his name was not made public. The
eight present were:
Major General Granville NJ. Dodge Of
Iowa; Colonel j. A. Sexton Of Illinois; Cap
tain E. p. Howell of Georgia; Major-Gen-
eral ]. Nj. Wilson, Chief of Engineers of the
United States Army; Hon. Charles DENLY
.of Indiana, late Minister to China; ex-
Governor U. A. Woodbury. Of Vermont; ex-
Governor James A. Beaver of Pennsyl-
vania, and Major-General H. McCook OF
this army Tetired)
The appearance of Governor Beaver as
member Of the commission. was q sur
prise, as his selection was not known until
he appeared at the White House.
The commission spent an hour and half
with the President and then adjourned to
the room assigned 1t at the War Depart
ment for the purpose of organizing and be-
ginning work.
The proceedings with the President con-
sisted in the main of O general exchange
of views as to the scope of the commits
sion's investigation, in which the President
participated quite freely. He told the
members that the organization Of the COM
mission had been undertaken at the re-
of at
ter from the Secretary in which he made
the request. The President had put his
own views in writing and read them be-
fore proceeding to q verbal discussion.
In this statement he said that complaints
had been directed especially at the Sur
geon- Generals. the Quartermaster-G ener-
ais and the Commissary-G Generals Depart
ment of the army. and he suggested that
the conduct Of these departments should
receive special consideration at the hands
Of the commission. To this specific request
he added that It was his desire that the
entire military organization should. II It
should be necessary. be made the object Of
inquiry, saying that he wished the COM
mittee to go to the bottom Of the sub
ject in all cases and proceed with it's work
without fear and favor.
"If," he said, in the formal discussion
that occurred, 1.-THE commission should find
difficulty in securing the attendance of
witnesses or obtaining access to papers
thought to be essential to the prosecu-
ton Of Its labors, hope the matter will
be brought to my attention, when will
do all in my power to overcome the diff
Guilty. I want the commission to have a
clear field and I will do all that Is possible
for me to do to see that It has"
The commission organized by electing
Granville M. Dodge chairman and Richard
Weightman secretary; Major Mills Of the
nspector-Generars office to be military re-
corder. The commission adjourned, about
1870 o'clock to meet at 10 o'clock on Monday
The session was devoted to method of pro-
codure, nothing definite being reported. It
was said that probably the investigation
SO far as the examination Of witnesses Is
concerned would be open, but other pro-
ceedings in executive session.
The suggestion was also made to the
commission that the efforts would be to
secure general information in regard to
the organization of the army and the time
In which the work was performed.
The President offered the name Of Major
Mills Of the army for the position of sec
rotary of the commission. Secretary Al
gers request as made in the letter read by
the President was for a complete inquiry
into the conduct Of the war, especially on
the lines Of the charges published in the
newspaper. He said these charges had as
sumed such magnitude that he did not
feel satisfied to have the department rest
under them and that he desired an In
vestigation by men eminent in military and
civil life.
DR.. Phineas 8. Conner Of Cincinnati was
announced as the ninth member Of the COM
mission. He was not present at today's
session. but no doubt was expressed that
he would serve.
After the close of the conference at the
White House the President expressed his
satisfaction with the personnel Of the COM
mission adding that he believed their in
vestigation would be thorough and their
report fair and impartial.