The record-union., 1898-09-30
Yesterdays Session of the CommIs.
sion of Inquiry
Devoted TO Examination of Complaints Made
to the President.
The Taking of Testimony by the
Commission Expected to Begin
Next Week-General wheeler
Likely to Be One of the First
Witnesses Called.

WASHINGTON. Sept. 29.-The War
Investigating Commission confined it
self largely to-day to the examination
and classification of complaints which
have been made to the President. A
large number of such complaints have
been received at the White House.
They come generally in the form of
letters, and are for the most part from
relatives of the enlisted men.
Those examined so far at this session
deal in the main with Camp Wikoff
and Camp Thomas, but some of the
letters also make charges concerning
other camps. They relate especially to
the food served to soldiers and to hos
pital accommodations. and none of
them were of very striking charac-
ter. One lady, whose son is stationed
at Honolulu, wrote that he was en-
camped on a centipede hill and said
his food was insufficient to meet his
demands. She asked the President to
see that he had better care.
Circular letters We're sent to the
writer's of all the complaints asking
them to make their charges specific,
and to state whether they spoke from
personal knowledge.
from Dr. Sims of Chattanooga. It
was written to friend in Ohio in re-
spouse to an inquiry for the facts in
regard to Camp Thomas, and was for
warded by the person that had received
il to the President. DR.. Sims said in
this letter that there was no justifica-
tion for the charge that the site of the
camp was not desira BILE. 1t was, he
co{d oH irah hIa Tho doctor. aid th1f
in the beginning of the camps career
the hospital facilities were limited, but
that these had been increased until
they We're able to meet the demands
upon them.
The commission expects to begin to
take, testimony next week. General
Wheeler is expected to be among the
first witnesses called.
The examination of complaints to the
President was continued at the after
noon session.
A decision was reached at this ses
sion to include in the work an inquiry
into the conduct of the War Depart
ment in the Pacific as well as the At
lantic. and to this end letters were
written to General Merriam. in COM
mand of the Department of the Pa
cific: to General Otis, in command of
the Philippines, and to General Merritt
who occupied this latter post until re-
Gently. The letter to General Merritt
is as follows:
I'VE have the honor to request you
to furnish US. as early as possible. with
such information as you have as to the
adequacy or inadequacy of the quar-
termaster and commissary and medical
supplies and medical staff for troops
under your command while in this
country. while en- route and while you
were in command at Manila, and
whether or not such supplies We're
promptly and sufficiently issued to all
troops.
Also as to the proper or improper
preparation of the transports for the
transportation of your troops to that
station. We will also be pleased to be
Informed as to the rations issued to
the troops"
The letters to Generals Merriam and
Otis are copies of the letter to General
Merritt, except that Merriam is asked
to supply information concerning the
expedition to Hawaii