The times., 1898-11-24
ROOSEVELT'S TESTIMONY
Regarded With Favor by
Army officials.
SAY HE TOLD THE TRUTH
Gen. breckenridge and Col. Lee Tn
welcome Witnesses to the Relief
Workers - AIger and Corbin,s
BIacklist-Miles Would Not Have
n Fair Hearins-Commi-sfo I'm
lawful

The testimony of Col. Roosevelt before
the Alger Relief Commission caused con-
siderable comment in army circles yes
terday, and all of it was favorable to the
late commander of the Rough Riders. A
veteran soldier. still on the active list.
said: Col. Roosevelt was conservative
enough and yet he told some truths
which show the disgraceful conditions ex-
isting in the army under Skaters com
mand. 1t Is disgraceful to - our entire
country that the colonel of that cavalry
regiment should have been Obliged 10 buy
food for his soldiers, so that they could
be continued in health and fighting abiI-
ity.
Gen. Breckinridge and Col Lee have
been witnesses of the truth telling char
acter. and they have been unwelcome
witnesses before this shameful commits
sion. Like Col. Roosevelt, they went
ahead and told their stories. ~and the
Commission could not head them of. The
witnesses. as a general rule, have been
asked questions which, must elicit re-
sponses favorable 10 the War Depart
ment and its mismanagement of affairs.
one witness gave such nice and lovely
Algerian evidence that the Commissioners
arose and extended their hands to him.
Yes, this impartial commission showed its
partiality in that manner Imagine, il
you can. members of jury trying a mur-
derer arising in their places and shaking
hands with tine witness who swears to an
aIibi"
Continuing vehementiy. the soldier said.
Why don't the newspapers exploit tn
fact that this Relief Commission + uE-
lawful? Worse than that. it Is unconsti-
tutionaL The Constitution provides thai
the Congress shall IegisLte for the iu-
dietary. shall make laws. and provide
courts for the execution Of the laws.
There Is no Congressional authority Tor
this commission. II cannot take tc-tI-
mony a. a court would do. Moreover. H
is unnecessary. because The Congress b -
provided an inspection department sr
the army. and has al-o made provision
for ceurts-martial and courts % Inquiry
Nov that th- elections are over and the
eamuiis-ion can DO nothing more O. blinI
the -srs % thr voters The sooner IL is
,iissauded the hrtirr o. l. q drsadfuly
expensive pi1y for the deiuslan of th-
people
Then arsin. ard uf the greatest i'm
nortsucs~ D. continued. the newspapers
ought 20 note the fact that az Witness
are mad. TO testify under dure-s. VIII,
ever heard uf such thing in the honest
administration Of jusuc-f The people
don't know. but We in the army know
that there Is a War Department aud "a
White Hogse black list. Many officers
are TO b. mustered out Of the service
Those whs do not testify favorably and
To the satisfaction Of Alser. Corbin & Co.
will be the frst to get their discharges
Al OF the army officers know this fact.
ard they are chsry about telling the
truth. This commission is not seeking
truth. Il is seeking to establish false
hood. 10 make wrong appear right. to
make black crime look white as snow
VIII Gen. Miles appear before TIE
Commission was asked.
Nobody has a right 10 speak for the
general. but he told me. and he has tod
several other officers. that he does not
want to appear before that commission
His reason for not desiring to appear he
has never stated. but am clearly of the
opinion that it would do no good for nm
to appear. In the first place there IS not
a man on the Commission who is his
friend. so far as can be ascertained.
The general started the investigation.
That is to say his declaration concerning
the War Department caused the general
public to investigate; caused popular de
nunciation of the administration of mi /
tary affairs; and this commission ives
appointed primarily to show that Gen.
Miles was wrong. and that AIger is a
pure and upright man; and knows how
to conduct his department; to prove also.
in the face of facts. that he has been pa
triotic in all things. Now. before sucl
commission Gen Mites could not rave
fair hearing. Therefore. he should not be
summoned. Moreover. there is no law
and no constitutional authority to compel
him to appear before an unlawful board.
RAN SHORT OF WITNESSES.