Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-09-26
SEARCHING INQUIRY
Will Be Made By Army In
yestigation Board.
President Expresses His Wishes to
Members Of Commission.
III Wrong Has Been Done Wronsdoers Must
Be Punished"

SION appointed 10y freSldenG MCKINLEY
to investigate the administration of
| the war department in Relations to its
conduct of the Hispano- American war
will formally begin its laibors, tomor-
| row. The commission effected an or
s,anization, yesterday, by electing Gen.
Grenville M. Dodge, president, Mr..
Richard Wightman, secretary, Major
Stephen c. Miles of the regular army,
recorder.
The President is understood to be
| thoroughly pleased with the personnel
| of the commission. 1t was his effort
to secure as members of the commits
SIGN men of the highest character and
staIdiEg, in whose opinion and 1udg
| ments the country would have conf
dence. He desired also to have repre-
sented on the board adj phases of pub
lie and political feeling, every section
| Of the country and all classes of bust
ness. professional, commercial ard
| military.
| The men whom he has appointed are
possessed of wide and varied experi-
| ence many of them having served with
distinguished honor to themselves
either in the Union or Confederate
| armies. The President feels assured
that tn verdict Of the commission,
whatever they may he in the inquiry
it is about to conduct, Will ije accepted
and approved by all right minded and
right thinking American citizens
That is the Presidents desire that
the inquiry should be rigid and search
ing was indicated by his statement tc
the. commission when it assembled a,
L.
him. yesterday. No limit is placed by
the President upon the scope of the in
vestgation. 1t is to include every de-
partment of the army and the Presi-
dent assures the commission in ad-
vance that he will afford it every facil-
ity i'm his power for the prosecution OF
the most searching inquiry into every
part of the administration of war.
In addressing the commission, the
President said among other things:
Gentlemen: Before suggesting the
matters which shall come before you
for investigation l desire to express
my appreciation to each of you for
your Willingness to accept the patriotic
| service to which you have been in
vited. You are to perform one of the
highest public duties that can fall to a
| ca.Zen and your unselfishmess in
undertaking it makes me profoundly Y
grateful.
"There has been in many quarters
severe criticism of the conduct of the
| war with Spain. Charges of criminal
neglect of the soldiers in camp and
field and hospital and in transports
have been so persistent that, whether
true or false, they have made deep
impression upon the country. 1t is my
earnest desire that you shall thorough
ly investigate these charges and make
the fullest examination of the admins
tration of the war department in all of
its branches with the view of estap-
lisbing the truth or falsity of these ac-
cusations. 1 put upon you no limit to
the scope of your investigation.
OF all departments connected with
the administration / invite the close
scrutiny and examination and shall af-
ford every facility for the most search
ing inquiry. The records of the war
department and the assistance of its
officers shall be subject to your CALL
Il cannot impress upon you too
strongly my wish that your investiga-
ton shall be SO thorough and complete
that your report. when made, will fix
the responsibility for any failure or
fault by reason of neglect, incompe-
tency or maladministration upon the
officers and bureaus responsible there
for-if lit be found that the evils COM
planned of have existed.
The people of the country are en-
titled to knew whether or not the citl-
ZpnS who nrnr,1r,t11y lJol 10,
call for duty have been neglected or
misused or maltreated by the govern
ment to which they SO willingly gave
their services. If there have been
wrongs committed the wrong doers
must not escape conviction and pun
ishment.'