The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-09-16
AN INQUIRY WANTED
The Question of Investigating the
War Department Considered.
SCHOFIELD AND GORDON MAY SERVE.
The President Tenders Them Places on the
Proposed COMMUNICATION lssary
and Medical Departments OF the
Army TO He Examined.


Washington, Sept lO.-The cabinet
meeting yesterday was protracted,
lasting "a hours, although only Sec
rotary Gage and Wilson and Post
master General Emory Smith we're
with the president. The question of
Investigating the administration of
the war department and the appoint
ment of commissioners to conduct the
investigation was gone over. Whether
the president will direct the investiga-
ton depends upon his ability to
find men for the commission in
whom there will be such uni
versal approval that their verdict
will be accepted in advance as a just
determination of the subject. II such
men can be found, then the president
will name them and order the investi-
CATION; II they cannot be found, then
the investigation will not occur. 1t is
felt that to be essent ial as a pre-
requisite to the committee, that mem
bership shall be secured which will
command general approval. Some
names were men toned but a conclusion
was not reached on any of them. The
Miles-Alger controversy, which is dis
tinct from the inquiry into the war
department, was not referred to at
the cabinet meeting.
President Mckinley has rendered
places on the proposed commission to
Maj. Gen. Schofield, former command
ing general of the army, and to ex-
Senator John b. Gordon, of Georgia.
II is said that the proposed commits
sion for the investigation of affairs of
the war department has been under
consideration for some time by the
president Just what it's duties will
be when appointed has not been def
nitely determined, but il can be stated
that one reason for its creation will
be to visit and report upon the condi-
tions in the various army camps and
TO satisfy the anxious relatives of SOL
diers that the care that is being taken
of them is the best that can be afford
ed, and, If not, to ascertain what
should be done and report to the war
department
Officials at the war department say
that inspectors and army officers have
been sent TO make Investigations, and
where any fault has been discovered
it has been corrected. The suggestion
Is to have a commission composed of
eminent men, whom the people all
know, to make a tour of the camps
and see what is lacking and to say
what the real conditions are. Wheth-
er or not the commission is to extend
its Investigations into the conduct of
the war department in relation to
other features of the war remains to
be seen. The war department officials
believe that there have been greatly
exaggerated complaints made Of the
different camps, and that this should
first be investigated so as to convince
the fathers and mothers and other rel
atives of the soldiers that their men
are being we'll taken care of.
GEN. GORDON ASKED TO SERVE.
Atlanta, Ga, Sept. 1O.-A telegram
from President Mckinley was received
yesterday by the family of Gen. John
h. Gordon, asking the general to ac-
cept u position as a member of "a com
mission to examine into the conduct
of the eommissary and medical depart
ments of the army in the recent war
with Spain" President Mckinley ex-
pressed Nhe oPlnloh IhhI Oen' Noruon
would do the country a great service
by accepting a position on the com
mission and earnestly hoped that
he would see fit to become a member.
The specific object of the commission
is stated in the telegram to be an ex-
animation into the commissary, quar-
termaster and medical branches of the
war department and into the extent,
cause and treatment of sickness in the
field and the camp. The telegram did
not state who the other members of the
investigating board would be, and
closed with a request for serious con-
sideration of the offer Gen. Gordon
was at Reynolds, Ca, and President
McKinley's telegram was forwarded
10 him.