The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-27
ALGER HAD NO INTEREST,
He Had Nothing to Do With Beef or
Other Contracts.

Other Contracts.
Washington, Jan. 26.-Secretary AL
ger, in response to an invitation of the
war investigating commission, appeared
before that body to-day. The secretary
was sworn by General Wilson, after
which Governor Beaver, after asking
permission to use the title general in
stead of Mr.. Secretary, began the ex-
animation of the head of the war de-
partment.
Secretary Alger, in the beginning,
stated that he had been on duty at the
war department constantly during and
after the war with Spain. The chiefs
of bureaus, in the department, he said,
were generally appointed to such places
because of seniority, but the president,
if he thought proper, could break this
rule.
When asked in regard to the expend-
lures by the department of the war
fund, the secretary replied that the
larger part had been devoted to
strengthening coast defenses. In antic-
lpation of such an inquiry, he had
brought with him memoranda prepar-
ed by heads of bureaus, giving details
of the expenditure of this fund. Dur
ing the continuance of the war he mad
been kept constantly advised of all &C
tons taken by the several bureaus.
The chiefs of bureaus often reported
to him several times a day. If he mad
not been advised of any important fact
in regard to departmental work. the
head of one of the bureaus was to
blame. If any report originating out
side of the department came to him,
he investigated it at once. During the
earlier DAVIS with q
body to provide for, some defects We're
apparent. II was not because of a lack of
funds, but because it was impossible
to handle properly so large a body of
men on such short notice. Witness did
not recall having received during the
war complaints in regard ITO the GOOD
furnished the army. There was a short
age of food at Santiago, not because
there were no supplies. but because
they could not be unloaded from the
ships. No old soldier, he believed, would
make harsh criticism of the food fur
nished the army under the circum-
stances. He had never had any cause
during the war for complaint of any
officer.
WAS the head of any bureau guilty
of failure to discharge his duties dur
ing the continuance of the war;" asked
Beaver.
4So, SILL ltpticu AlSel.
Did any report come to you of any
Irregularities or of any fraudulent prac-
tees in the contracting for supplies fur
nished ito any department
mo, SIR
did you directly or indirectly have
any interest in the selection of any of
the camps occupied by the troops?"
mo, sir I do not know that any one
connected with me had any such in
terest."
did you have any interest in any
contract for materials supplied during
the WARP"
mot a cent in any contract" replied
the secretary, emphatically.
Does that apply to transports pur-
chaeed?"
Yes. SIR"
The secretary went on to state that
he had never had any personal inter-
est in the expenditure of government
funds, directly or indirectly. No con-
tracts for equipment We're entered into
prior to the declaration of war.
Have you received any complaint
from the major general of the army
while at Porto Rico as to the quality
of refrigerated and canned roast beef
furnished the army"
The secretary. replying, referred to
his annual report, quoting a dispatch
from General Miles ASKING that no more
beef be sent, because they could get
large supply there. General Miles had
said something about beef that had
spoiled there.
Governor Beaver asked whether ac-
tual preparation for war was not made
before the declaration of war. No re-
ply, however, was expected if the ques-
ton was not deemed by the secretary
proper one. The witness replied tina,
there had been hopes that war would
be averted. The chiefs of the several
bureaus of the department had never
assembled to hold council of war.
They We're all too busy. In regard to
the inspector generals office, the secre-
tary did not consider that the bureau
had been practically abolished by the
transfer of officers to other duty. He
believed that it retained it's efficiency.
Secretary Alger next told of the inspec-
ton of the camps and especially the
tour of inspection by General Miles. He
(Alger) never had received any official
complaint from the armies in the field
in regard to fresh or canned meat fur
nished the troops.
Have you any information that meat
was chemically treated?"
Nothing but what had been brought
out by this commission"
Beef he went on, has been used as an
army ration for many years, and its
use was not an experiment in the Span
ish war No complaints had been re-