Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-02-02
WAR INVESTIGATORS
They Will Probably Make Report
by Next Thursday.
The MAIN POINTS IN The VERDICT.
No Names Will He Mentioned Where Aay
Fault IL Found, hut the President
Will Be Enabled to Fix
the Blame.

the blame.
Washington, Jan. 80 President Nc
Kinley will have in his possession gu
Thursday next the complete report Of
the war investigating commission.
The report will comprise about O,Oos
words. Attached to it will be an sp'
pendix OF 500 printed pages, settisg
forth all OF the testimony taken by
the commission during its investiga-
ton From information obtained a
reliable forecast OF the report can be
given.
1t has been determined by the COM
mission not to mention any names or
TO make any recommendations but
simply TO record under the head OF
each department and each camp the
inetliciences and scandals which have
developed by the investigation, but
the identification will be so complete
that the president will be enabled to
fix the responsibility. Here are the
main po,no, IN the verulcL:
A larg- number of civilians, who
were without experience, were ap-
pointed to staff positions, but they
rapidly learned their duties.
The charge 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
If the condition of the troops at San
lago de Cuba until the round robin"
was circulated, when steps were taken
10 bring the troops north.
A sufficient number OF inspections
was not made by the inspector gener-
ais department. Had such been the
case the camp conditions would not
have been as serious as they proved to
be- Many Of the officers OF this de-
partlnent, including the inspector gem
eral, were transferred TO the volun-
teer service and placed in command OF
troops their places in the inspection
corps being taken by Others Of less ex-
perience in inspection work, the result
being epidemics oftyphoid and irregu.
larities which, had proper and fire.
quent inspections being instituted,
would not have occurred,
No Irregularities have been found in
the quartermaster generals depart
ment, notwithstanding the many
charges brought against it.
There was an undue overcrowding
on board the transports, the fault Of
the quartermasters in charge OF the
quartermaster officers on board.
The administration of the commits.
sary generals department will be com.
mended and attention will be called to
disbursements amounting TO about
$25, 0O0 900 and the statements made
that the government obtained full
value.
Regarding the beef controversy, the
commission will find that the charges
that chemicals were used to preserve
the beef are without foundation, and
that the refrigerated beef furnished
the army was excellent in quality and
sufficient In quantity. Attention will
be called to the fact that the beef
upon which chemicals were used was
placed on board transport at Tampa
by Mr. Powell and did not belong to
the government With respect to
canned beef, the commission will find
that the meat was good and under
went no chemical treatment; that in
the hot climate of Cuba the fat melted
and gave an unappetizlng stencil to
the contents of the cans, but that
they were entirely palatable and
healthy.
An insufficient number of inspections
were made by the surgeon generals |
Proper sanitary regula-
tions were not strictly enforced.
There was delay in some instances in
furnishing medical supplies,
The pay department was admins
tered satisfactorily. No fault will be
found with any of the other depart
ments.
The report will say there is as much
Illness in Porto Rico as there was in
Cuba and the climatic conditions were
responsible, 1t will be shown that
the Porto Rican campaign was well
With resnect TO Montauk point, the
commission will say that the war com.
mitteee had no idea OF the condition
OF the men returned from the Santiago
Only 2dS deaths are regis.
tered, 40 of which occurred ON the
4 -