The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-11

mission over the satisfactory progress
that was being made. The "satisfac-
tory" in this case, was always asso-
ciated with the testimony OF those who
sustained the department. Even when
Dr. Seaman gave his testimony, sub
3ect TO the bulldozing tactics pursued
by Gen. Beaver, and that, toe, at a
time when the witness was in such a
low condition Of physical health as TO
have warranted the postponement Of
his examination TO a much later date,
the members OF the commission were
inclined to congratulate themselves
and the country as well on the fact
that they had practically squelched the
witness and thereby achieved a sort
OF triumph for the department..
The commission on its junketing
trip to Florida emitted the same ex-
pressious Of satisfaction" over their
inability to find anything substantial
as basis for the complaints previous
ly made. But, when on their way back
by way OF Chickamauga and Lexing-
ton, KY, and Chicago, they seem TO
have encountered, by accident or 9TH
erwtse, some sources Of information
which did not prove so satisfactory to
their alro'dy biased minds. They ran
up against some witnesses who knew
something md who were not afraid
either to tell it or 10 Undergo the bull
doing method that had been so char
acteristic of the whole performance.
For instance, in Chicago. DR.. Schouler,
who had been at CnInp Thomas
throughout a period Of forty days in
June and July, declared that there
were practically no facilities for car
ing for the sick; the hospitals were not
even supplied with sufficient bedding.
and when acquisitions were made for
medicine they were generally disap-
proved ut headquarters; the surgeons
OF his division did not consider the
water fit TO drink, and the nursing
forces were VIGOROUSLY insufficient and
inefficient as well.
DR.. Ward. who was located at Camp
Thomas for period of two months.
bluntly stated that the food was not
mt for dog TO eat He furnished sew
elel Illustrations Of the neglect OF pa
| tients, and. when the commission be-
gan to press him, he quite geniauy and
without any loss OF temper travelled
along the line from effect back to
1
fairly and squarely upon the appoint
ing power. The division surgeon SCI
dom visited t5e hosoital and the corps
surgeon paid no attention to it what
ever. There We're never enough doe
tors, and the nurses were absolutely in
competent
There has been great deal more OF
the same kind of testimony brought
out; and. as one reviews the list cf
witnesses and the testimony that WIS
given by them in favor OF the depart
ment, il Invariably hanpens that they
were themselves the men largely 10
blame and the personal appointees Of
the president and Secretary Alger
/ Possibly, now that the commission
have run into the class of testimony
encountered on the home stretch.
the investigation will abruptly termi-
nate. The only trouble was they struck
the hornets nest rather unexpectedly
and failed 10 shuttle off to Washington
In season to avoid IT, 1t is too bad to
have their equilibrium disturbed by
the introduction Of some knotty truths
when they have for so many weeks
struggled so hard 10 keep them out OF
the record. They didn't put the stop
per in soon enough.