The times., 1899-01-27


The call for clothing and tentage came
suddenly. but every bureau cf the War De
partment exerted itself in making up the
deficiency.
General Baaver-If comp amt came TO
you from a source outside Ct the War De-
partment was an investigation of it made?
Secretary AIger-If the complaint ap-
peared to have any foundation al all It
was Immediately inquired into.
General Beayer-Did you ever hear any
complaint against the Qua tzTnastsr's and
Medical Departments of the army during
the war?
Secretary Alger-I can recall no specific
complaint. ! heard Of some emp aints
which came from sources outside Cf tn
army.
General Beaver-were these comp aints
properly attended tc?
Secretary Alger-Inyariably and at the
earliest possible moment.
General Beayer-Was trouble, when
pointed out in these complaints. rfmedied
when found?
Secretary Alger-If a deficiency in any
department was found, it vas supplied At
the earliest possible moment, though we
could not perform miracles.
General Beaver-Did you receive any
special complaint against the food, either
against refrigerated beef, or canned roast
the war.
Secretary Alger-I don't think so. Re-
ports were received indicating a shortage
of certain supplies at Santiago. because Of
the difficulties encountered in getting sup
plies ashore. but supplies were on board
the ships of shore in great abundance.
No Criticism to Make.
General Beaver-Have you had occasion
10 investigate any bureau of your depart
ment and 10 censure any head OF any bu-
reau?
Secretary Alger-No sir; there has
arisen not a single instance where l felt
it my duty TO censure the head of any bu-
reau.
General Beaver-Has any head OF bu-
reau of your department been guilty of
neglect of duty?
Secretary AIger-No. sir.
General Beaver-Have you received any
complaint, charging irregularity or fraud
uIent practices in the making of contracts
for supplies for the army?
Secretary Alger-Not one. sir.
No Financial Interests
General Beaver-Were you directly or
indirectly interested in financial way in
The selection of any camp site in the
United States?
dollars worth of interest in anything in
the vicinity of any camp or 4 dollars
worth of interest in any State in which
national military camp was located.
General Beayer-D.d you have any in
terest, either direct or indirect, in any
contract for the supply of materials to
the Government during the late war?
Secretary Alger-No, sir. l was lot in
teresJed in any way in any contract 10 the
extent of a single cent.
General Beaver-Does that answer ap-
ply also to the matter of Government
transports?
Seer Alger-Yes. sir. Every cent
expended under the direction Of the War
department was expended on things in
which ! had no direct or indirect interest
DR.. Counor's Query.
General Beayer-Dr. Connor would like
10 know if the Surgeon General applied
for funds before the allotment OF The de-
fence fund?
Secretary Alger-My impression is that
he did not. No purchase Of equipments for
the army was made prior TO the declara-
uiOn OF var. All the energies OF the de-
partment had been bent toward the
strengthening Of the coast deicnces. the
placing OF guns. and the planting Of mines.
General Beaver-Have you any knowl-
edge Of complaints made by the Major
General Commanding the Army while in
Porto Rico. that the refrigerated and can
ned roast beef issued by the Commissary
Department was bad?
Miles bad Beef Rcuort.
Secretary Alger-In my last annual re-
port there is printed a dispatch from Cen
eral Miles requesting that no more beef
Of this kind be sent, as large supplies of
fresh meat could be obtained in Porto Rico.
and in view OF the fact that the refriger-
ated meat could not be carried inland far
ther than one days travel from the coast.
/ think he also reported that some beef
had spoiled down there.
General BeaYer-Have you any other
information about that beef?
Secretary Aiger-No sir.
General BeaTer-I don't want TO go into
the secrets OF the Government. and If YOU
think it not fit TO make an answer to the
question, | don't want you 10 do It. ]
want sou to exercise your own Judgment
want 10 ask you if it was the belief OF
these inside officials Of the Government W
TO the time or about the time OF the dec
laration OF war that war would be aYerted
Secretary AlEer-Yes.
General Beayer-Did you ever have youl
heads OF bureaus assembled for confer
ence as to how the war might be prose
cUted before war was declared.
Secretary Alger-I don't remember that
all the heads Of bureaus We're assembled
for tha; purpose.
General Beaver 90 the Commission -
Sir. President. / have no disposition 10
take the Secretary over all the details
which have come out Ia evidence here and
which are part Of the records Of our
proceedings,
General Beaver-GeneTal, the testimony
which has been brought out here seems 10
indicate that the inspectors department
0: the army was impaired by reason OF the
fact that officers OF that department were
assigned 10 commands.
Secretary Alger-We supposed that a
sufficient force was left 10 properly ad-
minister the duties of that department.
General BsayeT-Was the Inspector Gen.
eral appointed to command at his own re.
quest. or vas he assigned to q commanC
by you;
Not Assigned by ilGer.
Secretary Alger-He was not assigned /,
Q command by me.
The witness having been furnished witt
a copy OF his last annual report read L
the Commission the dispatch from Genera
Miles in which that officer requested tha
no more canned roast or refrigerated bee
be shipped 10 Porto Rico for the use o
the army, and that no more obsolete equip
ments for the army be manufactured.
At the suggestion of Captain Howell
the Secretary of War read his rep'y to th'
dispatch Of General Miles. SO that il nigh
become a part OF the record of the Com,
mission.
The witness said that General Mre.
had asked for additional funds to be sem
10 Porto Rico for the purchase Of supplies
but that the Commanding General did no
seem 10 know that the commissary Off