The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-15
DR.. SEAMAN IS VERY TAME.
HIS SENSATIONAL CHARGES DO NOT
AATERIALIZE.
Finds No Cause of Complaint TO Pre-
cent to the Investigating Commit
tee. Save That Sick Received No

WASHINGTON. Oct ls-Dr. Louis :.
Seaman was the principal witness before
tue war Investigation commission To-Day
He complained that the con: snisssgy sup
plies furnished he troops in Porto Fs+So
1eFe uusulted TO the demands of TROPICAL
climate, and that they were especially m
fl for hospital usa. iis said ~ had ocf a
IN charge ~ 1ae 30 conva.escents brought
north on the ohdaGl. ard had been unable
10 secure suitable supplies Tor them from
IRE government depots lie confessed.
however that ne had made no formal WITT
ten re4uislt.on, but had acted upon state
:l2snts made u ham Informally 10 the ef.e Z
that no Communication 9: rA;i2ns would u
allowed lie refused 10 reply 10 some
questions. declaring that he had been mis-
represented b. the press. and saying ne
wou.a not reflect upon MS superior OH
GERS while he wore the shoulder straps Of
q United States officer.
I-eu, Hill! ot the navy, was also a wit
ness He WAS IL charge II t!le landing 4.
tie army a. Santiasi and told the story Of
that exploit. Tae commission VIII devote
tomorrow 10 preparation for lis southern
tour and WI hold no session.
Dr. Seaman said he had never seer any
military service before the beginning az
the present war but he had studied a.
Princeton and aEterward IN London. Ber-
lin ard Paris. After Joining the service
and before going TO Porto Rico, he was
stationed with his regimen, at Camp
Townsend There his acquisitions were
promptly filled ana no regiment went %
the front better prepared to cope with dis
ease or casualty. The command sailed
south on the Chester and there was no
serious sickness going out.
He had left Porto Rico OF the ZSin OK
September. The regiment mad enjoy 81
better health IN Porto Rico than had been
anticipated and there were only TWO deaths
IN ths. command during the time they were
there rcginental hospital was eSIa D.
l.shed and there was never at any time
a deficiency in medical supplies FURNISHED
by the quartermaster' department
The commissary department had also flr-
nished sufficient army gauons. pdt ne con-
planned of them as being unsuitable Tor
an army in the tropics, ana Also tnat NE
men at first had been refused the priv
lsge OF committing their rations. He said
the sick were fed only with the army r. :
tons. He failed 20 secure any Change OF
die; for his patients. notW.ths ,1ndHg he
master Of the regiment and upon tn sur
geon Of the corps. He was told IL woIld
be OF no use 20 make formal requ'sition
in writing However. the men IN tie nos
pitfalls 9id not suffer because the Red Cross
Societ.- furnished the desired assistance.
Dr. Seaman said that he had been IN
charge OF 600 convalescents or the ooaam
returning from Ponce The ship was sup
pied with army travel rat!ons which.
While plentiful ard good OF the kind were
not suitable 10 inVal:ds and on dppea! %
ETY. he was supplied by them with what
he desired As consequence, s.! the pa
TENTS except one gained weight and
strength during the voyage. lie made no
formal reouisition 20 the government All
thor.tes for different rati0rs, because he
was told he could get only the regular "a
tons ana because OF the willingness q the
Red Cross TO furnish what he considered
better food.
This statement he reiterated in response
to several questions. why he had not Sc
cured other ratiOns.
Returning ia Their stay IN Porto Rico.
Dr Seaman said there had been universe.
roupiatut a. III hosuital9 Of a d9hritD >
OF suitable supply. He had been told e
peaie3,y that the 60 cents "a LAY ration Tor
~ sick could 10: he furnishca IN Porto
REQ II was not even furnished 10 tho
general military hospital
He SAID In reply 20 a question that ~
al not know that the c"mmissarX ~
Pence hat or hand a quarter = million
- dollars. or any other. sum for suppl
~ delicac'ez - ;ha sick. He only knew
hey were no. supplied.
Waile re was n Porto + GO the hosp
ais were overcrowded the beds being
within aix inches OF each other. When he
z here were between $3.50 and ~ sick
ou: of an army c, 1900. d.. : aa'an ~ "
~ Stion.ng. ana finally III ca 10 answer.
The questions pat 10 ne are Of R char
acteT calculated - pace me IN ne false
pos. ;ioa of accusing the medical DEPART
meat OF the army Of mala i:nin .stra;ion.
Such g not the case. I rsgsid the conduct
If THIS DEP rtuent by Dr.. : eynberg Is
above reproach. and whotev fault there
was was IN another depar n7en'."
After sonse pretty sharp cr5s firing. Or.
Conner declared he wou,d ask no more
4 uest .oi}~ % thf witness
Gov Beaver told IN witness tina; TO
ques lon w.ua he pat - HIN that VAS