Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-10
A vOLUMINOUS DOCUMENT
Investigating Commission Finds tnat
the Conduct OF the war wns All
Right-S.rictnrcs OH Course OF
General NIiIeS-A Member Declares
that Report Does Not whitcwnsh
Nothing Evadcd or GIosSeu over.
(By Telegraph to virglnIanPllot3

War investigator Commission is in the
hands of the President. and the COM
mission is dissolved. All of the MEM
bers of the commission, including the
secretary. Mr.. Wrghtman. and the re-
corder Col. Davis. met by appointment
ri the White House at 4:50 o'clock this
afternoon and were at once shown into
the Cabinet room, where they were re-
ccivcd by the President. General Dodge.
the chairman of the commission, pre-
scented the reoort. and in receiving ii
the President conSra tulatcd the COM
mssloncrs on the completion OF their
tssk.
THE PRESIDENT INSTRUCTED
Seated around the Cabinet table. the
members went over their work in Il gen
eral way, and at the request of the
President read portions OF their report,
which covered certain points in which
he had expressed an interest. The con-
ference lasted about an hour ana "A
hali. ana as the commissioners were
about 10 leave the President stated thai
he was satisfied that each member had
done his whole duty. lie himself. had
rendered them every assistance posi-
bic, aud said that they would bear wit
ness hat he had not sought 10 influence
them in any manner or in the slightest
dccrec.
THE REPORT.
The report may be in the hands of the
President several days before being
given official FORMULATION. to enable
iuil consideration of the document. 1t
cogsits of between sixty and ;;ixtv-0ve
thousand words. The general scope of
lin" report was sent out last night ana
renewed attention was called to-day to
the fact then pointed out that there
We're only two witnesses who made
charges against the government in the
beef issue.
FAILED TO SUPPORT CHARGES
The report points out that there were
numerous allegations made and many
attacks in the :ublic prints. but that
when those making the attacks and
charges We're called on to appear before
the commission with their statements
under oath or otherwise substantiate
them they failed either to appear or
furnish proof Of what they had said. 1t
Is Insisted that al the mon who hed
made any charges We're offered the full
eS' opportunity 40 be heard. and their
statements given full consideration and
that every effort had been made To
nrobc the truth In whatever matters
hai come before their body
THE EAG.NN INCIDENT.
The Eagan Incident; is passed over
without material mention. if at ali in
View nj General F.agnn's revision OF the
statement that ne originally made to
them. The report avoids all questions
of the strategy of the war. that beine
matter regarded rs outside the func-
lions of the commission.
STRUCTURES ON MILES.
The references To General Miles, COM
handing the army. are devoted mainly
To structures on his course with refer
encc to the beef Issue as covered in
his testimony.
In this connection main point made.
1t Is understood. is as to General Miles,
failure to take prompt action in re-
porting on the beef and instead wait
ing long period before communicate
Ing the facts To the Department. and
meantime. with the information he
gave in his possession and hl, juds-
mcnt on the beef supplies made up,
permitting beef he so vigorously con-
dcmncd TO be issued to the army The
fact that he was the only witness fail
ing to testify upon oath is referred to.
DOES NOT WHITEWASH.
In speaking Of the report to-day to a
Star reporter. prominent member OF
the commission said:
The report does not whitewash. It
crticises. but no persons or things nor
warranted by the evidence before US.
We started ont with the ASSUMPTION
that the conduct of the war was all
right. and then we went ahead to hear
and call Witnesses. who said it waa
not The report represents the honest
opinion of every member of the COM
mission. We were unanimous in adopt
ing it. I say this and 1 am of the
opposite political faith and don't expcc;
and don't want anything from the Ad-
minis.ration.
PERFECT CANDOR.
There was no suppression or con-
cenlment and no point brought out in
the evidence was evadcd or CLOSED
over We never met before hearing Il
witness, and agreed not To examine him
or touch upon certain matters that
might turn out unfaVorably. Every
thing that Il man knew or thought lie
knew was the subject OF inquiry, and
! am satisfied when the country gets
our report in full that there Will be no
complaint either as to our methods Oh,
results"
The President never saw line of
our report before he received it Off
cially not n single word. Nor. indeed,
has he ever talked with any of the COM
mission about 1t. lie has never in any
way by word of action or message
evnced wish to have us develop any
thing but the truth or even touched
upon the matter of our work.
WITNESSES ABUNDANT.
I'VE have questioned more than 500
nc 1Arf s.ct 49,, 4. I