Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-15
COMMISSIONERS NAMED.
Some of the Most Eminent Men In the
Country on the Board-The President
Desires the Investigation Started
by the 1 9th Inst.-Tho "Full and
Exact Truth" to BIO Asccr-
taiued- Con-
troversy Excluded.

voice of the American press III FAVOR or
granting Secretary Ayers request for an
immediate outside investigation of the
war department determined President Nc
Iinley to order such an investigation late
yesterday afternoon, and to announce Il
commission of nine eminent men, five haV-
ing been soldiers, to conduct 1t, limiting
Its scope to the conduct of the comm's-
sdry, quartermaster's and medical bu-
reaus during the war, and the extent,
causes and treatment Of sickness in the
field and in the camps
The commissioners are Lieut.. Gen. Sec
field, retired; Gen. and ex-senator John
u. Gordon Of Georgia. Gen and eX-Sena-
tor Henderson of Nebraska, Gen. Gren-
vile NJ Dodge, Col. james A. Sexton of
Chicago the newly elected commander in
chief OF the q. A. r., eX-Secretaries Of
War Robert 4. Lincoln and Daniel s. La
mont President Gilman of Johns Hopkins
university, and DR.. w. w. Keen, sur
geon and physician of Philadelphia. APP
parcntly, Il majority are republicans. al
though the present politics OF one or two
Of the commissioners is in dispute, and 1t
was the Presidents original intention 10
have a majority of democrats. However.
the reputation of the commissioners is
such that no one fears that they Will he
controlled by partisan considerations.
The only criticism heard here upon the
personnel of the commission touches the
selection of DR.. Keen as the only med-
cal man. in view OF his personal friend
ship with Surg. Gen. Sternberg. and the
fact that he is not of n judicial tempera-
ment Surg. Gen. Sternberg paid two
visits to President Mckinney yesterday
in connection with the appointment of
this commission, and Is credited with hav-
ing suggested a list of medical men, In
GLIDING DR.. Keen, from which the Presi-
dent could select, and did select, the per-
sonal friend of the head of the medical
tsYs,t. Ia
the other commissioners will doubtless be
able to form their own conclusions as Ia
whether Surg. Gen. Sternberg is respon-
Bible for the great lack of surgeons, stew
ards. medicines and supplies at Santiago
and elsewhere.
The commissioners are expected to as
semblc here by next Thursday, the 10TH
so that they can get started in then
work before the President goes away on
his vacation.
The commissioners, according to the
telegram which President Mckinley sent
each one, asking him to serve are to as
certain. If possible. the full and exact
truth" about the subject matter of the
inquiry. and will report to the President
who proposes to transmit the report tC
Congress after taking such executive &C
ton az may become necessary, and WITH
a recommendation for such legislativ,
action as seems requisite. AT the time tn,
list of commissioners selected was giver
out they had not all accepted, but 1t wa!
assumed that all would do so, and that
II any failed, the vacancies could be fill
ed, or # that proved difficult. that thu
number of commissioners could be reduced
to five or seven, assuming that there were
two or four vacancies.
The cabinet talk of yesterday about tn,
practicability OF getting eminent men Il
undertake The proposed investigation de
creased to-day under the unanimous eX
preston of the newspapers in favor OF 1t
President Mcin!ey disappointed Gen
Miles by limiting the scope of the inquir!
go as to exclude the Miles-Alger contro
versy over the management OF the San
tiago campaign. Yet incidentally Gen
Miles will have large opportunity to pre-
sent his criticisms under the subjects as
signed by the Presidents outline
Gen Miles had what was evidently
satisfactory interview with the Presiden
this afternoon, securing from him per
mission for a parade in New York cit,
of a portion of the regiments returne
from Porto Rico, with any of the San
tiago army that may he able and Willing
to march. This was in the nature of
triumph over the absent Secretary Alger
who was unwilling to have the Porto Ri
GO army parade up Broadway.
Gen. Miles, having said his say abou
the controversy with Secretary Alger an
Cen. Corhin, found no difficulty in acquies
cing In the Presidents desire that h
should say nothing more about 1t. Tina
Incident may be considered as closed.
Gen. Shafter, who also called on tn
President, has gratified the executive b
maintaining a strict retcence on tho sui
lect. The President congratulated bot
Gen. Miles and Gen. Shafter on the It
suits Of the Santiago campaign. He ais
compimented Gen. Miles ppon adding tn
Island of Porto Rico to the United State: