Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-02-13
WAR ,NvesrlGATlom.
(Continued from page ~

J one. who declined to take the oatn
The chief examination was conducteo
! by the member designated for tna'
1 purpose. but each witness was interro-
gated by everyrmember of the coniiiiis-
sion. who desired to doaso.
Our purpose in the charge OF our du-
tues was to arrive at the facts toucn-
| ing the conduct of the war and no ef-
for, was spared by us to REACH that re-
suit. We have examined the secretary
of war. the commanding general heads
of departments. officers of corps, dlVis-
| ions. brigades. regiments ana COM
| panies, commissioned oflicefs ana
| privates; nurses. and persons from
many employments in private life. No
man or woman who has stated to us
that he or she had any material mat
ter touching the subject Of our inquiry
| to communicate, has been refused
hearing.
..All the members of the commission
have been engaged in taking testimony
1t has happened that subcommittee
have been occupied i'm hearing witness
es at four different places at the same
time. At all of the places we have in
vited, come time with special insist
ence. every person to come before US
and testify who could throw any light
on The conduct of the war department
in any of its branches
ANY charges of corruption or inti-
nation of fraud OF bribery in connec-
,inn with the letting Of any contract,
even a hint of wronsdoing has been
carefully Investigated. 1t may be said
.,c
that there has been no evidence before
us that any one in or connected with
the war department has dishonesty re-
ceived q dollar We have made per-
sistent efforts to secure the attendance
of persons whose names rumor has at
tached an allegation that they knew of
corruption of officials in the war de-
partment but these men have either
denied the statements attributed to
them or have maintained silerce when
invited to tell what they knew"
Before proceeding to specific de-
scription of the conduct and manage
mem Of the war; the report gives COM
ments and suggestions touching Ger
tain matters which come under consid-
GRAFTON as a logical consequence of in
quiry pursued by the commission. Re-
feri1inS to the question of retired Off
GERS the report says:
Under existing laws the officers of
the army are retired when they reach
the age of 6f. II does not appear rea-
sonahle that an arbitrary law should
prevent withdI awing the existence of
war. the use of experienced men mere
iy on account of their age. We think Il
would be wise TO make ii discretionary
with the President to use the officers
on the retired list for filling positions
during war and not trench on the ac-
tive organization that may be EeeIed
in the field. During the recent war
many positions We're filled by the ao-
pointnent of civilians to which retired
officers could have brought professional
training. valuable knowledge and large
experience
In the matter of regimental officers
the commission found that all volun-
teer commands otfcered by men of mill
itary experience and training. Jared
much better than those oflicered by
amateurs. The soldiers who were most
effectively cared for. enjoyed better
health andw better fed and clothed
The commission recommends for the
future d strict examination into the
qualification of all officers appointed
to the army regular or volunteer The
establishment of schools of instruction
for inexperienced officers taken from
CIVILIAN life 10 meet the emergency
created by the war is highly commend
ed. quite number of regular officers
assigned to the command of volunteer
troops adopted this experiment and the
results were iminently satisfactory \
most important criticism by the COM
mission is as follows:
The routine work In the departments;
in our opinion is far beyond what i;
necessary and each year seems TO in
crease il. The methods employed make
it almost impossible to transact business;
promptly: The heads of all departments.
officers OF large depots,, chiefs of staff de
necessarily been obliged to give the time
and attention to details which should
nave been given to matters of larger mo-
ment No well regulated concern or cor
lioration could transact business salts
factorily under such regulations is gov
rrn the staff departments, and The fact
ihat every officer of each of The staff de
has been Obliged Ia ignore routine dem
"nstratcs the necessity Of thorough re
form
The report then proceeds to take up the
subjects in their regular order beginning
with the army, and says: after % years
OF peace, during great part of which
the army did not exceed 5000 men. it
suddenly became necessary To arm.
clothe, feed and equip more than 25OUtU.
The sudden emergency which called our
people to arms after an interval of half
a century of peace with all foreign pow
cfs was met by the war department with
carncstness and energy. The situation
found the country unprcparcd with any
large stock of arms. ammunition cloth
ing. supplies and equipments. That they
were duly provided and that the numcr-
Gus demands on the industries of our
people were met so promptly will remain
one Of the marvels of history
Speaking of the lessons taught by tho
war, the report says: 1.-The rapidity with
which commanding officers of corps, di-
visions. brigades. regiments and officers
OF the star departments have proiited bv
tue first six months service is shown in
the improvements in new camps. theil
location. water supply and sanitary ar
engagements. The present camps are
mouels. the hospitals adapted to the COM
fort and care of the sick. the grounds
clean and the sanitary conditions greatly
improved. The troops are now moved
with promptness. without friction and
with more rapidity than in the beginning
OF the war, The improvements have
come from experience and the new army
now is far advanced in facilities for feed
ing, equippng, camping and trausporta-
ton
a recommendation looking to the future
then follows. "Opp pf the lessons. ta,,pbt