The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-13

what haQ been the result OF my study
and experience and saying that the only
way was to abandon entirely. which I
did during my seven years of service.
NIL pretense OF being the commanding
general and to content myself with act
ing as the chief OF staff OF the army un-
der the secretary OF war and the PresI-
dent. The result was that perfect har-
mony prevailed during my time and I
did exercise a legitimate influence in
command Of the army, this because I
did not claim to exercise anything
which the law did not give me-
THE President must have the same
power OF selection of his general-ln-
chief as he has OF his secretary of war;
without this there can be no guaranty
that he Will give, or that the secretary
OF war will place in the general-in-chiet
that confidence which Is necessary to
perfect harmony. Neither the President
nor the secretary OF war should have In
the command or the army an officer who
Is not working In harmony with him."
The report now takes up the war de-
partment and It's various chiefs OF sub
divisions, beginning with the secretary
or war:
"The records OF the war department,
which have been laid before us. show
that the secretary OF war extended to
all chiefs of bureaus cordial and full
support, and promptly responded to ev-
cry proper demand made upon him by
commanding officers.
mo testimony has been presented,
showing intentional neglect Of duty, nor
any attempt to serve personal interests.
The charges made that the secretary OF
war was pecunlarily interested in con-
tracts. purchases and other transactions
OF the war department have been thor
oughly examined and found baselcss.
What was Lacking.
Tn the judgment OF the commission
there was lacking in the general admin
lstration OF the war department during
the continuance of the war with Spain
that complete grasp Of the situation
which was essential to the highest efl-
cheney and discipline OF the army.
"The commission has refrained from
criticising certain of the heads OF bu-
reaus for not having acted with fore
sight in preparing their Various depart
ments for active war before war was
actually declared. because IL has appear
ed that the national defense fund pro-
vidad by the act Of March 9, 1898. was
not made available for use, except for
the navy and for coast defcnses and the
expenditures incident thereto, until af-
ter the declaration OF war;"
The adjutart general testified that
there had not been deficiency OF one
dollar reported on the part of n volun-
teer staff officer and that he wished 20
make It n matter OF record that in the
distribution of many millions OF dollars
during this war there was yet to be
made the first charge of defalcatlon
against an army officer, regular or VOL
unteer
There have been very few complaints
against this department. The records
and testimony show that 1t has been
prompt In It's work and has added
greatly TO the efficiency of the army.
The commission find that the inspec-
tor generals department was not as et-
hcicnt as 1t ough: to have been. There
seems to have been question as to tie
authority BY which inspections were TO
oe ordered. On at leas: one occasion.
May Il. the secretary of war instructed
the major general commanding the
army 20 inspcc. certain camps, viz:
Those ut Chickamaug2, Atlanta. New
Orleans, Mobile. Tampa. Miami and
Key West. The major general did nbt
nGt upon such Instructions stating It to
he his place to order inspection.
"On March |. 1895, with the possibility
oc war with Spain. the quarter.naster's
department founu Itself charged with
varied numerous and important duties,
its appropriation small and facing the
probability OF large army being soon
organized for field service
"The departmen. up &c March l. 1885.
found Itself confronted with sections
3679. 800 and 3I09 OF the revised statutes
which prohibit any government depart
ment from eXpending mones- in excess
Of appropriations, that purchases shalt
not exceed the necessities of the current
year and that all proposals shall be ad-
Vertised
ut will thus he observed that the de.
clarntion OF war threw upon the quar-.
termusters department; an amount OF
labor and responsibility for which 1t was
neither physically nor financially pre-
pared.
Quartermastcr's Department.
"The department has reported that on
April /. 1898. It was amply provided with
all necessary clothing and eQuippase
supplies for three months for the army
as then organized. il appears that with
IN u few weeks II became necessary to
provide sor clothing and cqu!pping an
army OF more than quarter of a mill
ion men.
"At Santiago the deficiency at tho
front appears 10 have been caused rath-
ec from lack of transportation from the
coast than from lack OF clothing and
tentage. Il supply of which was on the
transports.
Great complaint was made OF lack
of Transportation facilities at the camp
at Montauk, IN. "
Many complaints were made In REFER
cncc to unnecessary delays and lack Of
promptness on the part of the quarter
masters department in moving regi-
ments and in the care OF sick and con-
valescents returning home either with
their regiments Or alone.
Great complaint was made Of the
railroad congestion At Tampa and the
absolute lack of ability 10 bring order
out of chaos at that place during the
early part of the period OF its occupancy
by troops. The major general COM
mand!ng hns stated that supplies for
10000 men for ninety days &ere ordered
there, and the confusion on the railroad
when he reached Tampa was very
great, LOCO cars being side-tracked,
some of them as far back as Columbia,
sc.
ut is stated that In the hurry and
rush attending the commencement OF
this work. the contents OF cars were IN
known nj Tampa: that bills of ladnE
were not forwarded. and that 1t seemed
impossible 70: n time TO determine
where absolutely necessary articles
were located.
"Col. Bird. OF the Iuartermaster's de-
partmcnt. testfics that this was corr
rected later on. when the contents OF
ears were clearly marked upon them
and bills OF ladlng promptly forwarded.
"The condition of the railroad congcs-
tinn Al rho nnrttnn nf