Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-13
WAR INVESTIGATION.
The President Makes Public
Part Of the Report.
No Evidence Of Fraud in Furnishing
Supplies for the Army.
495 Witnesses Examined Criticisms 81 War
and Recommendations.

submitted I'd tne FreSluent, last Wed.
nesday, by the commission appointed
by him to investigate the conduct. OF
the war department In the war with
Spain, was made public, tonight. The
report Is an unanimous one. all the
members ot the commission having
signed 1t except Col. Sexton. whose
death occurred, F'eD. 4.eslAt Its close 1t
says: 1t Is WITH regret that the COM
mission reports that during Its later
session Col. James A. sexton was pre-
vented by sickness from being present
ana on the attn day OF February. our
loved colleague closed an hOnOred and
active life"
The report is : vOluminous dOcu-
ment, containing about $1,000 words
and an official abstract prepared by the
secretary of the commission was fur
mshed to the press FOR its convenience.
inis acs'ract says:
lnc COMMISSION oTsahizeu, sept. -,
e'oeuns zen. ureehVilie NJ. Dodge.
presiueht. NharIes Dcpby, wee presi-
ucht' anu iachard Wrshtinan. secre-
Jury zen. James ~. Beaver was desig-
ha.eu 10 CONDUCT tue examination OF
wi.hesses. Lieut.. Col. r. u. Jones.
c"iei quarterihaster OF volunteers, was
uetaiied by the war department as dis
ouisi's o!lcef' anu MAJOR StepncnsC.
Mills U. .. A. was appointed Dy the
pfesideht as recorder.
vi Moioay, sept -. the commlS.
SION convened IN regular session, Ar
ranSemeHts were made to admit to the
fco" SIN Journalists. three OF them rep
resentlnS the three established press
associations. having only two rooms
at 'heir disposal the commission could
not throw these open TO the pubic IN
discriminatory. All the newspapers IN
me country, however. had access.
thiouSh the press ASSOCIATIONS. 10 the
examination OF witnesses ana the
american people were served IN respect
10 'ie Pioceeuiiss Oh tne commtsslon'
eNae.is as .he! are serNeu IN MI mat
,ers oi pupiic ihterest .l rom gay 70 day.
Among the first acts ofAtheaennmis-
sion was to ask the secretary OF war.
the ad1utant general. the quarter
master Senefaf, conimlsSary~ General
ana the surgeon general to TRANSMIT all
complaints received by them touching
the administration 2f their respective
departments. rms request was
promptly complied with. ana from tnat
ti'ne iofth all Complaints were Tor
wareed 10 the commission immeuiateiy
upon their receipt at the war depart
ment.
III iufther pursuahceo OF this pre-
paratory measure, the commission.
sept. -, h'aue pubic ih'itatioh
throush the press 10 all persons haVihs
kho"iedse OF pelieI any oihciai wrong
vi deTeiietioh W SUBMIT their State-
nents In Wrltlng, accompanied Dy Sucn
collateral proof or information as
might be at their disposal. This lnvi-
tatlon met WITH a liberal response.
hundreds OIL aflidaVits. letters. news
paper clippings, editorial articles ana
sermons were received. all OF wnicn
We're thoroughly ana vigorously ln-
veStigated.
Next the secretary of war. was re-
CURED to direct the various chiefs OF
department under him to furnish the
commission with statement OF the
condition of their respective depart
mentS at the outbreak of the war and
the. operations of the same during the
period Of hoStilities. s
This communication recitcd In de-
tail the subjects on which Information
was desired. comprising facts touch-
ing the mobilization of troops and their
the amount and kind OF
camp garrison equippaEc ON hand At
the beginning of the war. the amount
purchased: similar infor-
nation with regard to furnishing the
troops with arms and accOutremcnts;
as to which OF the volun-
tccr regiments were armed ana
equipped in the various state camps;
how the location OF the camps on gen
eral rendezvous was determined iull
as to the transportation OF
troops; account OF the quantity' quat-
ity and kind of food furnished: IN