The times., 1898-09-26
The Presidents Arraignment
of Alleged Wrong-Doers.
CLOSE SCRUTINY INVITED
Mr.. Mckinley Charges His War In
yestfgatfon Commissions In Exact
ing Terms-The Work VIII Begin
This Misunderstanding AIger
and General Sternbcrg May Hurry
Their Return.

examine into the war administration OF
Mr.. Ayers department called at the
White House Saturday morning they
were ushered into the Cabinet room and
greeted by the President, who, in ad-
dressing them, said
Gentlemen: Before ST ggesting the matters
which shall come before you for Investigation,
| desire to express my appreciation to each of
you for your willingness 10 see pit the patriotic
service 10 which you have Eeen invited. You
are to perform one OF the hgEe public duties
that fall 10 citizen, and your unseifishaess
in undertaking it makes profoundly grateful.
There has been in many quarters seyese criti-
csm of the conduct of the war with SPAIN
Charges of criminal neglect of the soldiers in
camp and field, and hospital and in tran ports,
have been so persistent that, whether true or
false they have made a deep impression upoa
the country. 1t is my earnest desire that you
shall thoroughly investigate these charges ana
make the fullest examination Cf the admnstra-
tion of the War Department in all its branches,
with the view TO establishing the truth or falsity
OF these accusations.
| put upon you no limit to the scope of your
inv, stigation. OF all departments connected with
the army l invite the closest scrutiny and ex-
animation and shall affoid every aeilty Tor
the most searching inquiry. The r-cords OF the
War Department and the assistance oI Us ofieers
shall be subject TO your call.
| cannot impress upon ycu too strongly my
wish that your inves tigation stall he 20 thoT-
ough and complete that your report when made
will fix the responsibility for any failure or
fault by reason of neglect, Incompetence, OF
maadministration upon the officers and bureaus
responsible thereforif il be found that the eFlis
complained OF lave existed
The people OF the country are entitled TO
know whether or not the citizens VINO so
promptly responded TO the call OF duty nave
been neglected or misused or maltreated by the
Government TO which they 50 willingly gave
their services II there have been WRONGS com
mitted, the wrongdoers must not escape con-
viction and punishment.
Gen. G. NJ Dodge, chairman OF the
commission, was seen at the Arlington
last night and asked to make statement
as to how and where the commissioners
would begin their inquiry this morning
..I cannot say he replied. We have
no charges as yet, and the mode OF pro-
cedure has not been determined upon.
Have any witnesses been summoned!
Not any as yet.
An army officer who has consulted with
members of the commission. gave IL as
his opinion that, acting under the fresi-
dents instructions, and without regard 10
formal charges, the commissioners VIII
endeavor first TO determine the causes Ior
tbe undue amount of sickness in the sew
eral camps. and whether the blame Is 10
he attached to inefficient medical officers
e,eon generals Office or whether insun-
Gent supplies and appliances were sent
to the various field and division hospitals.
Another matter the commission VIII
take up is who is responsible Tor the To-
cation of camps at points known 10 De
unhealthy in the Summer season. anu
whether this was not due TO combinations
in favor of certain railroad companies as
has been charged
The absence from Washington at inns
time of Secretary Alger and surgeon
General Sternber3, 1t IS said may emu
rass the commission. and 1t is Deleyed
that the fact that the investigation be-
Gins this morning may hasten the return
to this city of those officials.
IT was learned last night that particular
inouiry will be made into the conduct OF
the surgeon generals department anu
those of the commissary and quartermas-
fer generals. against which most of the
complaints have been directed
Should any difficulty arise concerning
the summoning of witnesses, their pay or
transportation, the President VIII De ap-
pealed to.
DIR. Phineas S. Connor, the ninth ap-
nointee on the commission, is expected 10
be present at the first formal sitting this
morning
Mai. Gen Grenville NJ. Dodge was
born April u, 1881. He graduated from
the Norwich (VermonO University, as
civil engineer, and entered the service in
April, 1861 as captain; was made colonel
of the Fourth Iowa Infantry June, 1861;
brigadier general March 1S 1862; major
general May IS, 1868. He commanded the
in 1864 In November, 1864, he command
ed the army and department of Missouri.
In 1886 he was assigned, to the COM
mand of the Indian campaign. He left
the army in 1866 and built the Union
Pacific and the Texas Pacific railroads.
He was a member of Congress from
Iowa Since then he has been connected
with the railway systems of the United
States. having been president of several
roads. He succeeded Gen. w. T. Sher-
man as commander of the Society of the
Army of Tennessee and is now COM
mander of the Military Order of the
Loyal Legion, State of New York.
The Hon Charles DENLY was born in
1890, at Mount Ivy, Botetourt County,
Virginia; was a sstudent at Georgetown
University, and is an LIZ d. of that in
stitution. He graduated from the Vir
ginia Military Institute, and taught school
in Alabama two years, and then took
up his residence at Evansville, Ind. in
1853, and has ever since resided there.
He was lieutenant colonel in the For
ty-second Regiment, Indiana Volunteers,
and afterward colonel of the Eightieth
Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. He was
appointed by President Cleveland minister
to China May %, 1885, and remained in
that capacity at Pekin until July IL, 1898.
Maj. Gen. Alexander McCook, United
States army (retired), is a member of
the fighting McCook family of Ohio. He
was born April %, 1881, and appointed to
the Military Academy in 1S47. graduating
in 1852, and was assigned to the Third In
fantry. When the Civil War came he
was appointed colonel of the First Ohio
Volunteers, April Is, 1861; promoted brig
adler general of volunteers, September 3,
1861 and major general United States
volunteers, July II, 1862. He was engaged
in the defense of the Capital at the time
of Earlys raid, and in 1865, was sent with
the joint commission of Congress to in
vestigate Indian affairs in the West At
the close of the war he was appointed
lieutenant colonel, Twenty-sixth Infan-
try, and served for many years on the
staff of Gen. w. T. Sherman. He became
colonel of the Sixth Infantry in 1880; was
appointed brigadier general United States
army, in 1890; promoted major general in
1894, and retired on April D. 1895. He was
selected by President Cleveland as the
official representative of the United
States at the coronation of the Czar in
1896.
Brig. Gen. John NJ Wilson, chief of en-
gineers, United States Army, was born
in the District of Columbia; was ap-
pointed from Washington Territory to
the Military Academy, graduating in 1860.