The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-15
WAR INVESTIGATION.
Surgeon Seaman Refused to Answer
Pertinent Questions.
ne DEFENDED MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.
No Deficiency IN n dicai Supplies a
ANY Tim..
-------------
SANEn RY RED CROSS SOCIETY
nc OFFENDED MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
SAVED By RED CROSS SOCIETY
The Comn,issary Department Fur
nished Army Nations for the sick
Soldicrs--Appcaied TO Red Cross.
lspeclal nlsnateh @ ana post. !,

ESPECIAL DlSrattN 10 nc lOst.b
Washington, October ii The Alger re- |
lief commission gave another exhibition |
this morning OF how not to find out any |
thing in the preliminary examination OF
Major l.. l.. Seaman. a surgeon OF the
First United States volunteer engineers.
who has recently returned from Santiago
and Porto Rico
Major Seaman was summoned to eppear
before the commission in consequence Of
an interview with MIN which was published
in the newspapers making direct charges
Of maladmnistration and ncompctency
against the war department. Incidentally
Major Seaman charged up 80 per cent of
the deaths at Santiago to this cause. Tao
commission, however, during It's morning
session did not seem to think IL necessary
Or important TO question Major Seaman rs
to whether he had been correctly reported
10 the interview, the publication Of which
was the sole reason for summonlng him
before the commission. There was evident
ly strong desire ON the part of some OF
the commissioners at least to discredit
Major Seamans violence in advance
Nothing OF any sensational character was
developed al the morning session but at
tao afternoon session there was sharp
passage at arms between Major Seaman
and Dr. Conner of the commission. Moth
ing very sensational. however, occurred,
In this connection, an interesting Incl
dent is said 10 have taken place In the OK
ecutve session Of the commission late yes
terday afternoon. II was reported TO ulo
OF the commissioners that Secretary Alger
hat given orders to nave Major Seaman
placed under military arrest the moment lie
arrived in Washington. An animated dis
cussiOn followed. which finally ended in
notice being sent in diplomatic language 10
the eecretary OF war that be must not In
teriero with ne commission by trying to
inimidate rs witnesses either before or
atter The giving OF his testimony This wss
big pont scored by the minority on the
commission ana from inside sources IT, ia
understood that tho aforesaid minority in
tends to follow up its advantage and assert
itself.
Washington October IA. DR.. Louis L.
Seaman. major aud surgeon OF the First
volunteer engineers. was the forenoon VIII
ne!s before tho war Investigation committee
today. He saw service in Porto Rico and
had been quoted as making serious charses
against the manner OF conducting the War.
He eskei that he be permitted 10 have pIra-
EN- in the room as friend, Mr.. A. h.
Aryeaut an attorney Of New York. The
request was granted.
DR.. Seaman said that before going to
Porto Rico be was stationed With his regl-
ment at Camp Townsend. There, his requiat-
tons were promptly filled and no regl-
ment vent 10 the front better prepared 10
cope with disease or casualty. Tho COM
mand sailed south on the Chester au- there
WAS no serious sickness going cut.
The regiment had enjoyed better heath
In Porto Rico than had been anticipated
and there were only two deaths IN tho con-
mand during the stay there up to the tim.
Of his departure. September %. ragi-
mental hospital was established aud ther,
was never nj any time a deficiency IN med
zeal supplies, The same waa also true %
the tentase and the ambulance furnished
by the quartermassers department. n,
coinmissary department. had also Furnished
sufficient army rstions, but he compliance
OF them as boing unsuitable for an army
IN the tropics and also that the men y
first had been refused tn. privilege OF com
muting their ratons. He said the s,cl
We're fed only With tho army ratiuns IL
failed TO secure any change OF diet for hi
patients, notwithstanding he made frequan
demands upon the quarterInAster of N,
regiment and upon tho surgeon OF thu
corps. He was told that il would be uf n.
use 10 make a formal request in Writing