The sun., 1899-02-10
WAR COMMISSIONS WORK.
THEIR REPORT PRESEN TED TO the
PRESIDEST YESrERDAr

| Result Of the Inspcction Of Southern Camps
| An Found in Excellent Condition, but
some Defects sotod In the Quartormns-
| ter's Depnrtment-Con G Congestion nt Tampa
No Chemicals In tho Beef Escd.
! NAsuISoToN Feb p.--The commission hp-
/ pointed Ivy President Mckinley to investigate
| the conduct Of the War Department in the war
with Spain concluded it's work to-day. and,
! after presenting its report to the Presi-
dent adjourned sine die. The inquiry
! of tho commission was begun in Wash
| ington. and after the examination OF
several witnesses the commission decided
| puspect the Southern camps Tho commission
| went to Jacksonville. where Gen. Lees camp
| impressed the members most taNOrably. While
| at Jacksonville a subcommittee visited Fer
nundina, and by a thorough search Of the land
records esta bshed the falsity of the charge
| published in several yellow journals that
| Secretary ARer was financially inter-
| ested in the selection Of the camp at
| that place. Another subcommittee went
! 10 Tampa. and by personal inspection
| came to the conclusion that there was much
| truth in the reported congestion Of troops and
| supplies at that place II was evident from
| the inquiry that the army officers In charge OF
| the transportation arrangements had done all
| in their power to relieve the congestion. but
| to the demand. and that the congestion was
practically unavoidable.
| From Jacksonville the investigation was
| transferred to Fort MCPHERSON Ga, where the
| hospital was inspected and found in excellent
| condition. The next stop was made at Anuis-
| ton. Ala. whore Camp Ship. under Gen.
| Royal T. Frank, received much attention 1t
was here that memters Uf the commission
| discovered traces Of clothing that was not up
10 atnp ,lpVI and lurL Al al hinty
| supplies. II was not until some time later that
| the commission learned that when the war
broko out kersey Of the regulation standard
could not be obtained in the country. and
| though the mills were going night and day. an
| inferior quality had 10 he accepted rather than
deprive the men OF their much needed cloth
| ing.
| At Huntsville, Ala. another apparent defect
| in the management OF the Quartcrmaster's
| Department was discovered. There new tentaEe
! received 10y the troops but several months be-
fore was leaking like a sieve and causing many
| complaints The soldiers failed to understand
| why this should be and why they had re
az provided by law. nut on ing 10
| Washington the matter was EXPLAINED to the
| Department. who showed that the demand FOR
| t"ntaRe was so great that the Government was
t. G1 so cond G pe be- mnn5 III he
| material OF the proper weight could be manu-
| luctured
! with The locality of all the camp sites. and.
| though there had been much criticism OF
| Chckamauga Park. after q careful Inspection
! the opinion was unanimous that il WIS an ex
| relent camping site for the troops. Members
Of the commission were Of the opinion. however.
| that some Of the best parts OF the park had not
| been utilized for camping purposes. and that
ne assignment OF regiments t. certain desiE %
| Judgment. II was apparent. too. that the open
| ground had not been used as much az i should
| that
| ing under III" trees. lhrr" was no i"StlnohV
secured showing That III" water suppIy was
| ments Of witnesses indicated that III" diner
eGr water supplies were gu Hnre. ,,o.;,r
| The CAMPS at hnoNNlii". lenh., ana LeNiilE-
ton. Ky; brought forth no new complaints,
During the stops OF ne ronmi.s.nn al tmG nli
| i"reht place many wltnGs~"S were examined.
| aud the cpmmi>sary ana mcdicli, departments
| w"r"cIgsely inquired INTO; N no place was thefr
! me sl!ghtest SusGrsil"m that m'"' tte@rrNeu Hy
chemicals lau been lssuSu i IT, the men. IN ,n1
contrary. tn testimony g, an ne Witnesses. nmT
m.yat"s we're ir"nH"mih rall@d t4 the rtsndi
. ruidy and had TO be used almost inlm"dl.
qt"iy after leaving the retrigerators Al
| huntsville there were many Witnesses VINO
had seen service in rua. aud they state
| mcuts ot the fresh brrl supplied the ro!Glers
| coni!rmrd the .tat"nI"nl tlat the heel
dI.resad th@. , I}a,sn"m,s at"r ra Tnem ogI Gsn
rmlbalmeh b""': aud -oysrai OF the m@mberIi
remarked up"l. n" r"ruIiaritN" "i heel treated
more more f fthnn "nr "rca-on Ihe Gonmssioners.
| Will" visiting the dn"r"nt ramp- Wsrr able t9
| sc" some 80 ms tee hha if"GH"nlIS observed
the cooking ~ the latiOh- Tor the ''Oops ,
The inquiry int" the operations Of the nedi-
| cnl n"rurtm"m, did not h"yel"p 80 favorable an
| impression. The mni.NlDn heard lnunycom,
| puim~ of lack OF attention ol surgeons and
n"g"rt on the rart oi nurses ana scarciiv
"i mciicai ~uppll"- ana had manage
men Of som" "t the hosMa!Si This
| was particularly lrut. "l camp Thomas
| and Moutauk Point hll"r hearing much OF
| the testimony ON This point the members
| agreed that there w"r" many Instances 81 minor
neglect ana HdtNlduai lIir"In "tehrE Ihet" was
never any inu"ation that ne department was
| responsible" Tor IN" rnnditloh" eNl~tihS ana
! the couclusions Of the commission wer" along
This line That III" camp at lqntauk was well
selected well supplied ana well administered
| Wa developed il ia" rr"poi d"rance OF t"sii-
umny heard 10y The r2mml~sinni .,.-..,
| u"sses th. commission secured Information
| and explanations about the allegations Of lack
entntinnnl in"iJnuts were a result nf the CON
| missions Inquiries. The statements OF Gen.