Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-02-02
Mild Criticism Of Alger and Skater,
Exoneration Of Eagan, Implied
Censure Of Miles.
TO DECLARE BEEF WAS All RIGHT
Charge That Chemicals Were Used
Unfounded, According to the
Commission---synopsis
the Findings.

President Mckinley will have in his
possession on Thursday next the COM
plete report Of the war Investigation
commission. The report will com:
prise about 10000 words. Attached to
it will be an appendix of 500 printed
pages, setting forth all the testimony
taken by the commission during ts
Investigation. The several committees
appointed 10 inquire into the different
departments of the military service
have completed their reports, which
will be considered TODAY.
In fact, the next two DAYS will lie
most important for Secretary Algrr.
The commission is to finally deter.
mine during the sessions to be Held OH
those days just what facts shall be pre-
scented to show ineificiency in the adj
ministration of the war department.
1T has been determined by the COM
mission not to mention any names or
to make any recommendations, 5ut
simply to record Under the head Of
each department and each camp the
lnetliciencies and scandals which have
been developed by the investigation,
but the Identification will be so COM
plete that the president will be able
to fix the sponsibility.
Summary of the Report.
Following is a reliable summary IF
The report:
Secretary OF Wharf.-The SECRETARY
ordered the major general command
ing to make an inspection tour of the
camps. The major general command
ng returned the order to him and in
formed him that he was in the habit
Of making out his own orders.
The major general commanding
was permitted to go to Santiago de
cuba, and at the same time the secre-
tary of war informed General Shat
Ter that General Miles was not to SUI
persede him in command.
A large number of civilians were APP
pointed to staff positions who were
without experience, but they rapidly
learned their duties.
The charges preferred against the
secretary of war that he and members
OF his family were interested in sites
selected for camps and in contracts
are without foundation.
The secretary of war did not learn
of the condition of the troops in San
tiago de Cuba until the round robin
was circulated, when steps were taken
to bring the troops north.
Inspector Generals Departmental
sufficient number of inspections were
not made by this department. Had
such been the case, the camp condi.
tions would not have been as serious as
they proved to be; sanitary precau-
tions would have been adopted; and
in the case of Camp Thomas, the condi
tons which finally brought about the
removal of the camp would have beer
discovered long before.
Many of the officers of this depart
ment, including the inspector general
were transferred to the volunteer ser
vice and placed in command of the
troops. Their places in the inspection
corps were taken by others less ex
perenced in inspection work. The re
suit was epidemics of typhoid and ir
Irregularities which, had proper and FIRE
quent inspections been instituted
would not have occurred.
| The commission will show that this
| department should be radically reor
ganized.
Quartermaster Generals Department
No Irregularities have been found il
| this department, Notwithstanding The
many charges preferred against it.
A long chapter will be devoted t.
| transportation. The commission ha:
| found no evidence of scandal in the
matter OF purchases of transports, not
withstanding charges made that Sec
rotary Alger and Colonel Hecller were
scandalously involved.
| There was undue crowding on boart
| the transports, the fault of the quar-
| termaster in charge and the quarter
master officers on board, though it will
be admitted that General Shaftel
should have taken action to proven
such overcrowding.
Will Exonerate Eagan.
Commissary Generals Department
The administration of this department
will be commended and attention will
be called to disbursements amounting
70 about S25,0O0,OO0 and the statemen
| made that the government obtained
full value.
Regarding the beef controversy tn
commission will find:
That the charges that chemical
were used to preserve the beef ar
without foundations; that the refrig
Grated beef furnished the army was eN
cellent in quality and sufficient il
quantity.
| Attention will be called to the fac
that the beef upon which chemical
were used was placed on board trans
port at Tampa by Mr. Powell and dit
not belong to the government.
| With respect to canned beef, TIN
commission will find that the meat wa
good and underwent no chemical treat
ment; that in the hot climate of Cub;
the tat melted and gave an unappetiz
| ing appearance to the contents of tn
cans; but that they were entirely pal
atable and healthy
Surgeon Genera s Departmental
insufficient NUM- inspections wer
made by this de-. ient; proper san
!tary regulations VI not strictly en-
lfprGed; delay in some instances il
ur1ishing medical supplies.
Fay ent-Administered sat
isfactori1y. General Miles statemen
that had the troops in Puerto Ric
been supplied with money they woul'
have been able to have purchased sup
plies is not borne out by the paymas
ter general, who shows that there wa
100000 with the Puerto Rican army.
Pensions Granted.
| Washington Ian 2O-Pensfons hav