Connecticut western news., 1898-09-29


 Washington Monday. The commission effected an organization Saturday by electing General Grenville M. Dodge president. MT. Richard wightman sec- retary and Major stephen c. Mills of the regular army recorder.
 The president is understood to be thoroughly pleased with the personnel of the commission. It was his effort to secure as members of the commission men of the highest character and stand ing, in whose opinions and judgments the country would have all confidence. He desired also to have represented on the board all phases of public and pos litical feeling. every section of the coun- try and all classes of business-profes- sional. commercial and military. The men whom he has appointed are pos sessed of wide and varied experience. many of them having served with dis tinguished honor to themselves either in the Union or Confederate armies. The president feels assured that the verdict of the commission, whatever that may be, in the inquiry it is about to make will be accepted and approved by all right minded and right thinking American citizens
 That 1t is the presidents desire that the inquiry should be rigid and search ing was indicated by his statement to the commission when 1t assembled at the White House for a conference with him Saturday. No limit is placed by the president upon the scope of the in- vestigation. It Is to include every de- partment of the army. and the president assures the commission in advance that he will afford 1t every facility in his power for the prosecution of the most searching inquiry into every part of the administration of the war.
 In addressing the commission the president said. among others things:
 Before suggesting the matters which shall come before you for investigation I desire to express my appreciation to each of you for your willingness to ac- cept the patriotic service to which you have been invited. You are to perform one of the highest public duties that can fall to a citizen. and your unselfsh- ness in undertaking 1t makes me pro- foundly grateful.
 There has been in many quarters se- were criticism of the conduct of the war with Spain. Charges of criminal neglect of the soldiers in camp and field and hospital and in transports have been so persistent that. whether true or false. they have made a deep impression upon the country. It is my earnest desire that you shall thoroughly investigate these charges and make the fullest ex- animation of the administration of the war department in all of its branches. with the view to establishing the truth or falsity of these accusations. I put upon you no limit to the scope of your investigation. Of all departments con- nected with the army I Invite the closest scrutiny and examination and shall afford every facility for the most searching inquiry. The records of the war department and the assistance of It's officers shall be subject to your call.
 '.I cannot impress upon you too strongly my wish that your investiga- tion shall be so thorough and complete that your report when made will fix the responsibility or fault by reason of neglect, incompetence or maladminis- tration upon the officers and bureaus responsible therefor-if 1t be found that the evils complained of have existed.
 The people of the country are en- titled to know whether or not the citi- zens who so promptly responded to the call of duty have been neglected or mis- used or maltreated by the government to which they so willingly gave their services If there have been wrongs committed, the wrongdoers must not escape conviction and punishment"