The age-herald., 1898-09-14
AMATEURlSH INDEPENDENCE
Among Troops Must be EradiCated and
 Strict Discipline Enforced.
GREAT TROUBLE EXPERIENCED
In the Formation of an Investigation Committee, and it May Re- suit in Complete
 Failure.

Washington, September 1S.-Tremendous pressure is still being brought to bear on the war department to have more troops mustered out of service. @
 Efforts in this direction are of no avail. It is announced today with increased em- phasis that there will be no more troops mustered out. The situation does not ad- h nf any further reduction in the army, and endeavuTs are being made to put those volunteers who are retained in the service as near as possible to the footing of the regulars in drill and discipline. An effort is being made to eradicate the amateurish idea of independence among the troops, and to bring them down to the strictest discip- line. The purpose at the outset when the muster out began was to muster out 100, GOO volunteers. little over 96,000 have been already mustered out, and 1t is announced positively that there will be no more mus tered out, no matter what influence Is brought to bear.
 Trouble to Get Commission
 The difficulty which is being experienced in the construction of the proper commis- sion for the investigation of the conduct of
 
 war with Spain has excited some discussion in military circles as to the possibility of practical failure of an investigation by a commission. It develops that there is de- cided disapproval among army officers of the proposition to have the conduct of the war investigated by a civil commission which cannot be clothed with any judicial authority. The objection is not on account of any prejudice against civil authorities interfering in military matters, but IS due to the fact that testimony before com mission not comprising judicial authority would be in a manner voluntary, and would it is said, put officers in the attitude of sgratuitously giving testimony which might be damaging to individuals in the administration of the war department.
 Will Decline 10 Testify
 Army officers say it would be no trouble to get all the informat tion there is concern- ing the campaign at Santiago, the manage ment of the war through the department and the operations of the medical, quarter masters and commissary departments, If a tribunal or board were organized with au- thority to compel testimony, but that oIn- cers will not jeopardize their own inter- ests nor put themselves in the attitude Of being voluntary informers when the com position of the commission making the in -quiries is not such to make it compul- sorry upon them to tell what they may know. They say it will be impossible for a commission not having the power to com pei testimony to get the facts Most offi- cers, they say, will make it a point of honor as well as a matter of self-interest, to de- cline to give testimony of any importance, unless compelled to. If the commission could compel testimony, an officer giving testimony which might be damaging would have the excuse that he had no choice but to tell what he knew.
 In the absence of authority to compel testimony, the witnesses would have a right to conceal or to decline to disclose any facts in their possession.