The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-02-14
THE WAR
INVESTIGATORS
Points Of Their Report on the
Conduct OF the War.
GRAVE CHARGES DlSPROVED.
Beef Furnished the Soldiers Was
in Fine Condition.

Beef Furnished the Soldiers Was
in Fine Condition.
NO CHEMICALS IN PREPARING 1T.
No Evidence That Anybody in or Connected
With the War Department Has Profted
q Dollar Through War Contracts-Ths
Commissioners Recommend That the
President Be Given Power to Select the
General of the Army and to Recall Re.
call Retired Army Officers to Duty.
Washington, Feb. 13.-The report
submitted to the president last We'd
nesday bv the commission appointed
by him to Investigate the conduct OF
the war department in the war with
Spain was made public last night. The
report Is an unanimous one, all the
members of the commission having
signed it except Colonel Sexton, Whose
death occurred Feb. 4. The report is
volumnous document, containing about
5000 words, and an official abstract,
prepared by the secretary of the COM
mission, 10 in part as follows:
During our sessions we examined 49o
witnesses. All of these were sworn, OF
affirmed, except one. who declined to
take the oath. The chief examination
was conducted by the member desig-
mated for that purpose. but each wit
ness was interrogated by every MEM
ber of the commission who desired TO
do so.
ANY charge of corruption or intima-
ton of fraud or bribery in connection
with the letting of any contract, even
a hint of wrongdoing, has been care
fully investigated.
'There has been no evidence before
us that any one in or connected with
the war department has dishonesty
received a dollar. We have made per-
sistent efforts to secure the attendance
of persons to whose names rumor had
attached an allegation that they knew
of corruption Of officials in the war de-
partment, but these men have either
denied the statements attributed to
them or have maintained silence when
invited to tell what they knew
Before proceeding to Il specific de-
ecrption of the conduct and manage
ment Of the war the report gives COM
ments and suggestions touching GER
tain matters which came under con-
sideration as a logical consequence OF
the inquiry pursued by the commits
.;a 1p,Farripfr n tha nIIpSiiDu of
tired officers the report says:
President should Call Retired Officers
"Under existing laws the officers of
the army are retired when they reach
the age of 81. We have had before us
many suggestions made by officers on
the retired list, who are men OF eN-
perlence ard distinction, that this law
should be so amended as to give TO the
president the right to call into active
service any retired officer during the
time Of war. This right exists rs to the
/, retired officers Of the navy, and 1t
seems to us there is no reason why It
should not be extended to embrace re-
tired army officers.
1T does not appear reasonable that
an arbitrary Law should prevent, dur
Ing the existence of war, the use OF eX-
perencod men merely on account Of
their age. During the recent war many
positions were filed by the appoint
= ment of civilians to which retired Of
ficers could have brought professional
training, valuable knowledge and long
experience"
In the matter of regimental officers
the commission found that all volun-
teer commands ohicered by men or
military experience and training Jared
much better than those officered by
amateurs. The soldiers were more ef-
fectivcly cared for enjoyed better
health and were better fed and clothed.
The report then proceeds to take up
the subjects in their regular order, be-
ginning with the army. 1t says:
"The strength of the army on April
l. 1898, was 2l43 officers and 26,Oi0 en-
listed men, total of 2S,1S3. On May
21 f25 900 volunteers had been muster
ed into the service. After 30 years or
peace, during great part or whlch
the army did not exceed 2G,000 men, 1t
suddenly became necessary to arm,
cIct he, feed and equip more than a
quarter Of a million. The situation
found the country unpreparcd WIN
any large stock of arms, alnmunltlon'
clothing, supplies and equipments. That
they were daily provided and that the
numerous demands on the industries
OF our people were met so promptly
will remain one of the marvels of his
tory.
zone of the lessons taught by the
war is that the country should mere
after be in q better state of prepara-
ton for war. Suggestions have been
made that large supplies of all the ma
terial not liable to deterioration should
lie kept on hand, to be continuously Is
rund and renewed, so that i'll any
emergency they might be available"
Perhaps the most significant utter.
Rnee in the whole document. SO FAR rs
concerns the discipline and efficiency
of the army, comes next.
President Should Select Generel.
For many years the divided au.
thority and responsibility in the wal
department has produced friction, fol
which, in the interest of the service
a remedy, If possible, should be ap
plied, Tie constitution makes thu
president the comniahder-lh-ch'et o
the army, and he cannot transfer tina
authority to any other person. Tf'
president selects his secretary of war
who has his chiefs, and who Is hi
confidential adviser. The commandins
general is assigned to duty as sucl
by the president. The command exer
cised by the commanding general o
the army, not having been the subjec
of statutory regulation, is determine
BY the order Of assignment.
THE president must have the sam
power OF selection Of his general II
chief as he has Of his secretary OF wal
Without this there can be no guarant
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