Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-13
THE INVESTIGATION

In view of the grave charges made by
responsible persons against the manage
men; OF army affairs, the President has
created a board Of commissioners TO in
quirc into them.
He states that IT is his desire that the
full and exact truth shall be ascertained
and made known He wishes the com
mission % Examine into the conduct of
the commissary. quartermaster. and med
teal bureaus OF the War Department dur
ing the war, and into the extent causes.
and treatment Of sickness in the field and
in the camps"
The commissioners chosen by him are
all men of high standing but out of the
nine places only one was given to a
southerner General John b. Gordon,
gentleman acceptable to every old Con-
federate, was asked to serve, but has de-
clined on account of i'll health We
should not care to raise any question as
10 these appointments but for the fact
that the South was altogether ignored in
the composition of the Peace Commission.
We cannot call Mr.. Gray, of Delaware,
southerner; nor was he a supporter of
Bryan in 1896. no matter what he may
be now
But, though the SIcKinley investigating
committee, or commission, may be COM
posed OF the finest men in the country,
1t is exceedingly doubtful if they can per-
form the duties expected of them in a
satisfactory way. Through orders from
the President, it is possible that persons
in the military and naval service of the
country may be induced to testify and
produce papers in their possession, but
can the commission administer an oath
that will be binding obligation under
the law? Again. can the commission
compel the attendance of civilians? Can
they make civilians testify whether or
no? We judge not. Certainly courts
of inquiry and courts-martial cannot do
so. So the inquiry may fan far short of
public expectations.
In the matter Of jobbery about locating
camps. transporting troops, purchasing
vessels and supplies for the army and
navy. it is OF the highest Importance that
certain civilians should be made to come
forward and tell what they know. If
this be not done the investigation can
not be what il ought to be. Yet we cam
not say that il Will be without fruit. No;
II may exploit the ground 10 some degree,
and make the inevitable congressional in
vestigation that much easier. But Il will
entail double cost upon the government
No one believes Congress is going to
keep its hands off. Such an idea would
be nothing less than preposterous.
Congress. or the Senate. at least, will
want to know all about the rights and
wrongs OF the quarrel between Alger and
Miles. and all the Presidents reasons for
nominating Sampson TO rank over the
man who fought and won the naval bat
tie OF Santiago. IL will not content IT.
self with keeping within the narrow
bounds prescribed by the President for
he commission TO work in.
While We declare our belief that the
Mckinley commission cannot get at the
bottom OF the frauds and acknowledgement
Of which the people complain, We have
40 other great objection to IT, The
same witnesses examined by IL will have
10 be examined by the congressional
committees. Many OF these VIII have to
be brought from Cuba, Porto Rico and
Manila. Many others. who are now I'm
the service, will then be az their homes
and Will have 10 be paid their expenses
20 bring them before the commission 10
testify. In that way the bin of costs. I
6rst and last is going to be very heavy. |
There Is newspaper rumor that Mir.
Alger was opposed to the governments
entering upon this investigation. but that
Mr.. Hanna thought II should be made. !
or the truth OF that statement the Dis |
patch knows nothing. However II does
nct snoear exactly right for the