Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-09-29
THE PROBING BOARD.
The War Investigation Commission
Gets Down to Business.
QUESTIONS FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS
1he Searching Inquiries Sent Ont for the
Specific Information Desired BY the
Commission Bearing Upon the
Conduct Of the War.

Washington, Sept. 2S.--The war in
vestigating commission resumed its la
bors at ten o'clock yesterday in the
Lemon building, and at the close OF
the morning session gave out num-
her Of documents, outlining the work
TO be undertaken. These comprise
the letters OF Secretary Alger to the
president, requesting that investiga.
ton be made, brief address to the
public in the shape Of resolution,
. letter from Chairman Dodge to
the secretary Of war, inclosing q
list Of inquiries to the secretary
and to the heads Of the various divi.
sions Of the war department. With
the letter to the secretary Of war were
inclosed questions indicating the char
scter of information desired at the
hands Of the surgeon general, the
quartermaster general, the subsistence
department, the ordnance department
and the adjutant general.
The resolutions adopted by the com.
mission are as follows:
Resolved Flrst-That the secretary Of war,
the adjutant general, the commissary general
and the surgeon general be requested TO trans
NIT 10 this commission oil complaints that have
been received by them since April |, 1868,
touching the conduct OF the war
That tp ioot Inn in
vites and Is ready and will receive and consider
any complaints about the management Of any
Of the various branches Of the war department,
from any person or persons, that we respect
fully request that such complaints be made In
writing stating facts that the party may know
Of his own knowledge plainly and In detail.
giving names OF any officers or enlisted men
who may be charged with misconduct or In
competency addressed to the secretary Of the
commission ut Washington
The letter OF Secretary Alger TO the
president, asking for an investigation
Of the war department, has been made
public, as follows:
War Department Washington, Sept Ito
the President: have the honor to ask that
board, consisting Of from Ave to seven mem
bers Of the most distinguished soldiers and
civilians that can be selected be appointed by
you, with full power to investigate thoroughly
every bureau Of the war department In con-
nection with the mastering clothing supply
ing and arming OF troops transportation, the
letting OF contracts and chartering vessels,
ind oil expenditures Of every kind as well as
Of orders issued by this department. indeed,
chat everything connected with the army DO
thoroughly investigated for your information.
r. A. ALGER, Secretary Of War
At the conclusion OF the morning
session Of the war investigating COM
mission the following letter TO Secre-
tary Alger outlining the scope Of their
work was given out:
Sir; Pursuant TO authority conferred upon
us by the president we have the honor TO re-
quest that you direct the adjutant general, the
qusrtermaster general, the commissary gen.
eral, the surgeon general, the ohlef Of ord
nance and the chief Of engineers to furnish US
"a soon as practicable information as to the
condition OF their several departments at the
time Of the declaration OF war with Spain and
the operations OF those departments from that
time until the present
We desire the information to include the fol-
lowing viz;
First--The times md places OF the mobiliza-
tion OF the regular and volunteer troops
Second-The organization OF these troops
into the various subdivisions Of the army. the
personnel of the brigade. division corns and
army commanders and Of their stats, whether
appointed from the permanent establishment.
from the national guard or from civil life.
: Third The amount and kind OF camp md
garrison eouipape and other supprles that were
on hand at the bepinninp az tho war tho
amount subsequently purchased. when and
where purchased, when and where delivered to
vour denartment ard when and whars oo,uo,,u
issued To the troons
Fourth-similar inflammation In reuard IN
furnishing the troons with arms and accou,er.
ments ''N'0'
Fifth Which NJ the yolun,eers warn ormed
and eouinned in tho various state canvas ard
which in the general camns
slxth,-JJpon whose Recommendation mr. ,ra,-
ment tho various uener,,l rendeyvous ,yora 90.
lection and the reasons for such solection
Seyenth-Fu,, nur,culars ro,a,,va 70 ~.
TRANSPORTATION NJ troons NV con aiv,n, ~, oo'
count Of the proyisions made Tor ,hs accom,no-
dation and care M the sIcl, and whon wonndod
Eiphth.-An account NJ the ou wI "' oms,,,r
and Mind of fond furnished Tho ,roons anJ y,
case that any Of them failed Of being penti.
fully and seasonably supplied state the reasons
M,n,h % -. $4,000.
ad,o,no. ,o w .nu pavpe' wn'ase, DEUS, linen,
Ia s s.,.. ,V'u INV o'no' he.essary equipment
- "'ppv' ~, ..o u'o VI 'nc nosp"ai corps
.s,. wy %Ms' ~ .hele w.s any iaoR OF these
",as.s Nv Sry .'nc' s'a'c tae reasons therefor
,ar, y. a. , nu.ue, .ne neu,ca s.an was en-
0.. :. u, .,es 'vr 'ne proper care OF the SICK
sa ~ "o'"''' ""u II "''s'a'e 'ne reasons there-
w,,s