The evening times., 1898-09-10
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1898.
The AIEer investigation.

The statement yesterday that Secre-
tary Alger had asked for an investiga-
tion of the conduct of the war by his
department is fully confirmed, and
there remains only the question as to
who shall conduct it. This is a most
momentous matter. Recent experience
has shown that even with an honest
desire TO discover the truth, persons
without an intimate knowledge of the
subject may reach extremely erroneous
conclusions, which condemn thousands
OF men TO the dangers Of disease.
For instance, it was said that Cen
eral Boynton was a man whose report
as to the sanitary conditions Of Camp
Thomas would be wholly trustworthy.
Nothing could exceed the Importance
OF an accurate verdict, because the
camp would be abandoned or continued
according to his findings. General
BoyntOn, after what the public ac-
cepted as a thorough and competent
inquiry, condemned the soldiers them
selves and their regimental command
ers for the sickness that had led the
people to regard the camp as a pest
hole; he made a grieYous error about
the mortality Of the place, and asserted
that the camp was healthful. As a re-
suit, the soldiers We're kept there. The
sick list continued to grow at an alarm
sng rate. and the necessity Of a more
satisfactory inquiry was apparent.
This time three brigadier generals of
the regular army were selected-men
who had been trained in the formation
and care of camps for the prevention
of epidemic disease, and who had the
experience Of years in the work. The
conclusions of this competent body
were exactly the reverse Of General
Boynton's. The army officers found
the soldiers and regimental officers
guiltless; they found that the camp had
been made without the least regard for
The health Of the troops, and to the
neglect Of all the ordinary precautions
against pestilence; the hospital which
General Boynton had praised they
found defective, and they urged the
immediate abandonment of the camp as
unwholesome.
This lesson should not be wasted. If
1t is still maintained that General
Boynton's inquiries We're honestly
made. without prejudice. it can only be
inferred that his lack OF military
knowledge, which can be gained only
with the education of a regular army
officer, was fatal to his usefulness as
an inspector. It is not unfair to charge
much of the subsequent sickness TO his
failure to see things as they are. for it
was on the strength of his erroneous
findings that the camp was continued.
This makes the suggestions of the
Boston Journal, leading Republican
newspaper, reasonable and proper
Every man to his trade" it AYERS,
should be the motto of the President in
providing for the investigation of the
War Department. This means that
experienced officers of the regular
army, in whose verdict the people
would have every confidence should be
selected to do the work. II says, after
condemning the suggestion of Con-
gressional committee: ITO command
public confidence the investigation
should be undertaken by a military
court of inquiry, composed of the most
eminent officers who are available.
There are enough of them who are not
implicated in any way whatsoever in
the Santiago starvation and the home
fever camps to constitute a strong and
able commission" 1t mentions Cen
eral Schofield, General Howard, Gen
eral Merritt and others.
OF course. nobody doubts the pur-
pose of the President TO reach an abb
BoIutely just verdict and to make the
Inquiry comprehensive and minute 1t
Involves not only the Secretary of War,
but the head OF every branch of the
War Department and his subordinates.
NO trial on a charge of murder could
be more serious. 1t is essential there
fore, that the first consideration should
be the character and the competency
pf the members of the board. Poll
ticians are barred. for no matter how
honorable and conscientious a partisan
may be, there is always the suspicion
chat he may consider the welfare of
his party as of more consequence than
the discovery and punishment of in
competent and careless officials. In
spite Of himself. the opinions of a poll
fician are often Influenced by his party