The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-09-30
FRENCH FOREIGN OFFICE,
Where the Peace Commission will hold its sessio MS.
THE WAR COMMISSIONERS
Time Devoted to Examining and
Classifying Complaints.
MOSTLY FROM SOLDIERS RELATIVES
Compininants Must write Out Their
Charges and lie Specific--PRcific
Department to lie Included.

Washington, September 20.-rhe war in
vestigatng commission confined itself ut
this forenuon's session TO an examination
and classification of complaints which
have been made to THE president. A large
number OF such complaints have been re-
ceved at the White House. They come
generally IN the form OF letters and are for
the meet pant from relatives OF enlisted
men. Those examined at this session deal
In tho main with Camp Wikofl and Camp
Thomas. but some OF the Letters also make
charges concerning other camps 1n-i
relate especially to the food served to sol
dlers and to hospital accommodations, and
none OF them were OF a very striking char
acter
one lady, whose son is stationed at
Honolulu. wrote that he was cncamped on
a cent Iptde hill, and said that his food was
insufficient TO meet his demands, She
asked tNo president to see that he had
better care.
Circular letters were 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 or
only from report one of the letters read
today Was from DR. Sims OF Chattanooga
II vas written to q friend In ohio In re-
Spouse to an inquiry for the taats IN re-
gard to Camp Thomas and was forwarded
by the person that had received 1t TO the
president Dr. Sims said in this letter that
there was no Justification for the charge
that the site of the camp WAS aot delir-
able. II was, he said, admirable. The doc
tor said that In the beginning of the
camps career the hospital facilities were
| limited but that these had been Increased
until they were adequate to meet the de-
| mauds upon them.
| The committee 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 In the afternoon
| session. The decision was reached at thus
| session to include In The work OF Inquiry
| into tho conduct@p of the war department II
| the Pacific as well as In the Atlantic, ahd
| TO this end letters were written 10 General
Merriam, in command of the department
Of the Pacific; to General Otis. N command
of tho philippines. and to General Merritt
who occupied this latter position until re
, centlya The letter to General Merritt l;
as follows;
I'VE have the honor to request you 10
furnish us rs early as p,sshle with sucf
Information as you may possess us 10 ms
adequacy or inadequacy OF the quarter
masters ccmmissary and medical supplies
and medical staf Of tho troops under you,
ccmmari whNle In this country. while 81
| route and while you we're In command a
Manila, and whether or not such SarI lei
wore promptly Issued to the troops alsc
as to the proper or improper preparation
Of the TRANSPORTS for the transportation o.
your troops TO Your station. We would ale,
he pleased to be Informed as 10 the ratton
issued 10 The troops"
THO letters to Generals Merriam aud 9th
are copies OF the letter to General Merritt
EXCEPT that Merriam Is asked TO supply
Information concerning the expedition to
Hawaii