The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-09-16

From our regular correspondent.
NGToH, September L., 1N9S.-Mr. Nc
Kinicy has been convinced by official evidence
and the advice of some OF his long-headed
friends, that he could not afford TO ignore the
charges of mismanagemcnt made against the
War Department, thus virtually himself AS
summing responsibility Tor what Secretary Alger
has done, and more especially what he has lett
uud0uc in looking after tine health of the sol
diers, and has allowed the announcement t" he
made that he would appoint Il commission oil
eminent men, whose report will enjoy the con-
tidencc u the country, TO invcstiEatcthe entire
conduct of the war Secretary Alger, who has
repeatedly said that no investigation was need
ed, was compelled, before he left Washington,
on an inspection tour of the camps and hospi-
tails, which, by the way, he was also compelled
to make, to write Il letter to Mr.. Mckinley ask
ing that an investigation be made. II Senators
ana Representatives, who have been in Wash
ington during the last few days correctly lep-
resent the views of Congress. there will also be
Congressional investigation, regardless of
what the commission. to be appointed by Mr..
Mckinley, may do. The desire to get the truth.
regardless of who it may hurt-to place the re-
sponsiblity for the death and Seml-starvation
OF so many volunteers, and to punish the guilty
is growing every day, and will continue to
grow until the truth and the whole truth shall
| he known The official report of a IDi'itary
commission which investigated the charges
against those in charge of Camp Thomas, NJ
| ChickamagIIa, found the charges true, and
placed the responsibility upon Mai. Gen.
Brooks his surgeons and lot hospital con-
| tractors This report says: I'VE can find 10
| responsible excuse for the lack OF supplies,
which could have been easily obtained and
were not, by those responsible, and they should
| be held strictly responsible" There is more of
the same sort, and this report was not signed
\ by the correspondents of sensational news
papers~ but by Milo Il. Ward, Major and
; Brigade Surgeon; James J. johnson, Major ID
| Arkansas Volunteers. and Emil 5. Hellburn,
Major I'd Kentucky Volunteers, and is now in
| the hands of Maj. Gen. Breckenridge. 1t Is no
wonder that sporting men are Offering odds
| that Alger will have to go.
| There are not many Shrewder politicians in
the country than Mr.. Mckinley, and he hasn't
displayed slicker bit of ms shrewdness lately
| than in taking three out OF the five Peace Com
missioners from the Senate Committee on For
| eign Relations, which must approve the treaty
| that will be made by the commission if il is to
| have any change to be ratified by the Senate.
| Senators Davis and Frye are depended upon TO
get all the Republican Senators to support the
| treaty., and Senator Gray is expected to get
| enough Democratic Senators 10 make up the
| requisite two-thirds. Secretary Day is on the
| commission, solely to be Mr.. Mckinley mCuth-
piece, as he has been at the head of the Depart
| nent of State; Whiteaw Reid was selected
| ell, nobody knows what in the deuce he was
selected for, unless it was TO show Boss Platt
| that his protests did not always count. The
| Commissioners are to meet Mr.. Mckinley tins
| week previous to sailing for Europe next Sat
| urday According to current gossip, the adj
ministration will only ask for one island
| Luzon-in the Philippine group.
| The news received at the headquarters of TIE
| Democratic Congressional Campaign Commit
! tee gets more encouraging every day. In
| many districts that were sometime ago put in
| the Republican column by small margin, or
| were considered doubtful, the Democrats are
| now confident of winning. There is feeling
among Democrats that the House can be cap
| tured, and determination TO it. In num-
| Der OF States the Republicans are div. ded into
factions. which will add to the chances of elect
| ing Democrats in Congressional districts now
represented by Republicans. The Republicans
are dropping their majority III the House, as
they were doing a little while back, they are
| talking of trying to hold their own and sending
out appeals to the factions in number of
States, to get together.
General ehafter, who came to Washington
under orders from Mr.. Mckinley, called on
General Miles, at his office in the War Depart
ment. but it was duty call upon his command
ing officer and not social call. Gen. Shafter
| absolutely declines to talk for publication, but
it is an open secret that he has got it in for
Miles, because of his taking the recently pub
| lished interview with Miles TO mean an attempt
to deprive him of the credit of conducting the
Santiago campaign. Miles is tickled to death
over the investigation. and, if allowed, will
render valuable aid in getting at the truth.