The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-26
READY TO BEGIN WORK
The War Conduct Investigation
Committee on the Ground.
TO LOOK RIGHT INTO 1T
President Mckinley Invites the Most
Rigid Inquiry Into the Management
OF Affairs Connected With
the War With Spain.


sion appointed by President Mckinley
to investigate the administration of the
war department in relation to its con-
duct of the Hispano-American war will
begin its labors formally tomorrow.
The commission effected an organiza-
tion yesterday by electing General
Grenville NJ. Dodge president Richard
Weightman secretary and Major
stephen c. Mills Of the, regular army
recorder. The president is understood
TO be thoroughly pleased with the per-
sonnet or the commission. 1t was his
effort to secure as members of the COM
mission men Of the highest character
and standing, in whose opinions and
Judgment the country would have all
confidence. He desired, also, To have
/ represented on the board all phases of
public and political feeling. every Sec
tion of the country and all classes of
business, professional, commercial and
I military The men whom he has ap-
pointed are men of wide and varied ex-
| perience, many of them having served
/ with distinguished honor to themselves
| either in the union or confederate
| armies. The president feels assured that
/ the verdict of the commission, whatever
/ that may be in the inquiry ii is about
/ proved by all right minded and right
| thinking American citizens. That IL is
/ the presidents desire that the inquiry
1 should be rigid and searching was in
dicated by his statement to the COM
mission when ii assembled i'm the white
house for conference with him yester-
day. No limit is placed by the presi-
dent on the scope of the commission.
| The president assured the commission in
advance that he will afford il every
facility in his power for the prosecution
of the most searching inquiry into ev-
cry part of the administration of the
war.
In addressing the commission the
president said. among other things:
Gentlemen: Before suggesting the
matters which shall come before you for
investigation. / desire to express my
appreciation to each of you for your
willingness to accept the patriotic serv-
ice to which you have been invited. You
are to perform one Of the highest pub
lie duties that can fall to citizen: and
your unselfishness in undertaking IL |
makes me profoundly grateful.
There has been in many quarters Sc |
we're criticism of the conduct of the war |
with Spain. Charges of criminal neg
lect of the soldiers i'm camp and field and |
hospitals and in transports have been |
so persistent that. whether true or false, |
a
the country. 1t is my earnest desire /
that you shall thoroughly investigate |
these charges and make the fullest eN-
position of the administration Of the war
department in all It's branches with the
view to establishing the truth or falslty
of these accusations. l put upon you
no limit to the scope of your inYesti-
cation. OF all departments connected
with the army l invite the closest scru-
tiny and examination and shall AFFORD
every facility for the most searching
inquiry. The records of the war de-
partment and the assistance of it's as
sistants shall be subject to your call.
Il cannot impress upon you too
my wish that your investiga-
tion shall be so thorough and complete
that your report when made will place
the responsibility for any neglect, in
or maladministration upon
the part of officers and bureaus respon-
sible therefore-if it be found that the
evils complained of have existed. The
people Of the country are entitled to
know whether or not the citizens who so
promptly responded to the call of duty
have been neglected or msused or NAL
treated by the government to which
they so willingly gave their service. If
there have been wrongs committed the
must not escape conviction
and punishment"
sketches of all the members of the COM ,
mission, except of Dr. OConnor of Gin
,innati, who has not arrived in Wash ,
ngton: :
Major General Grenville NJ. Dodge. ,
president of the commission, was born
April u, 1881; graduated from the
Norwich NermonD university as
'ivil engineer. He entered the service
April. 1861 as captain, was made col .
mel Of the Fourth Iowa infantry June !
o. 1861: brigadier general March TO- |
S62; major general May 10, 1868. He
the 10th corps in the At e
anita campaign in 1864. In November, Z
s64. commanded the army and de- a
of Missouri. In 1865 he was =
ssigned to the command of the In u
ian campaign. He left the army in 2
sec, built the Union Pacific railroad J
nd Texas &, Pacific. Was a member n
{ congress from Iowa; since then he o
as been connected with the railway a
ystems Of the United States: president p
( several railroads. Succeeded Cen q
V. T. Sherman as commander Of the =
rmy Of Tennessee. Now commander 81
the military order Of the Loyal .
egion, state % New York. w
Major General Alex Med. McCook. y
:. $. A. retired. is a member Of the ci
ehting McCook family of Ohio. He n,
as born April 22. 1881. and appointed IS
the military academy in IN
-, graduating in 1852. and a
as assigned TO the Bird in O.
.ntry. When the civil war came he Is
as on duty at the military academy Is
e was appointed colonel Of the lst g
hiu volunteers. April u. 1851 promot- h
TO brigadier general OF volunteers. q
-pr. 2. 1851. and major general OF the 10
rited states volunteers July Il 1862 "
z was in command Of a brigade dur ~
g the operations in Kentucky In 1861 cf
a division In the Tennessee and / IN
isstssippi campaign Of February / IA
me 1852 and Of the 1st army CORPS ma
the advance into Kentucky which I m
suited In the battle OF PerrysviIIe =,
% was in command Of The right wing "a
lhr i7th army corps IN the Tennes- ar