Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-02-18
WAR INVESTIGATORS.
Their Report Rebukes Charges Of
Corrupt Practices.
MILES CHARGES NOT SUSTAINED.

Inc BeDf fuFnl~nPu the soldiers was
In Fine Condition, and the Commits.
sioners Are satisfied That No Chem
icaIs Were Used In Preparing 1t.
Washington, Feb. 13.=The report
submitted TO the president last We'd
nesday by the commission appointed
by him to investigate the conduct Of
the war department In the war with
Spain was made public last night. The
report Is an unanimous one, all the
members Of the commission having
sighed it except Colonel Sexton, whose
death occurred Feb. 4. The report is Z
yoluminous document, containing about
IS, 900 words, and an official abstract.
prepared by the secretary Of the com
mission, is in part as follows:
There has been no evidence before
us that any one In or connected with
the var department has dishonesty
received a dollar. We have made per-
sistent efforts to secure the attendance
of persons to whose names rumor a
attached ar 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 silence when
invited to tell what they knew.
Under existing laws the officers Of
the army are retired when they reach
the age of Ga. We have had before us
many suggestions made by officers on
the retired list, who are men Of ex-
p%erience and distinction, that this law
should be so amended as to give to the
president the right to call into active
service any retired officer during a war."
The report then tells of the rapid
eouipping of the army under adverse
circumstances, declaring 1t "one of the
marve OF history" and proceeds:
"One of the lessons taught by the
war Is that the ountry should here
after be in a better state of prepare
ton for war. Suggestions have been
made that large supplies of all the ma
terial not liable to deterioration should
be kept on hand, to be continuously is
sued and renewed, so that in any
emergency they might be available"
Perhaps h most significant utter
nee in the whole document, so far as
concerns the discipline and efficiency
of the army, comes next.
The president must have the same
power of selection of his general in
chief as he has of his secretary of war.
Without this there can be no guaranty
that he will give, or that the secretary
of war will place in the general in chief
that confidence which is necessary TO
perfect harmony. Neither the presi-
dent nor the secretary Of war should
have in the command of the army an
officer who is not working in harmony
with him.
The report now takes up the war de-
partment and its various chiefs of sub
divisions, beginning with the secretary
of war. 1t says:
The records of the war department
which have been laid before us show
that the secretary of war extended to
all chiefs of bureaus cordial and full
support. and promptly responded to
every proper demand made upon him
by commanding officers.
N testimony has been presented
showing Intentional neglect of duty,
nor any attempt to serve personal in
%terests. The charges made that the
secretary of var was ~pecuniarily in
terested in contracts, purchases and
other transactions of the war depart
ment have been thoroughly examined
n found baseless.
I'm spite of every effort there were
occasions where troops suffered from
poor tentage or from lack of tentage
and absence of straw for bedding,
where clothing was scarce and troops
suffered discomfort for lack of shoes,
shirts and other articles of apparel.
The commission has carefully in
vestigated the subject of the condition,
quality and quantity of the food sup
piled to the army. Almost without ex-
ception ii has been shown by the tes-
timony taken that wherever the troops
were ordered. whether to the various
camps in the United States, or in Porto
Rico, Cuba, and Manila, the rations
prescribed by law were on the trans
ports and at the camps with the SOL
diers.
"On the 2tst day of December last
Major General Nelson A. Miles, upon
the written request of the president of
this commission. appeared before it.
He refused to he sworn. as all other
witnesses had been except one. who
affirmed, stating hat he would make
his statements without being sworn,
and was responsible for what he said.
He proceeded, and for the first time in
the history of the Investigation the al
legation was made that refrigerated
beef issued to the troops had been
chemically treated. He proceeded to
read a communication from DR.. w. II.
DAILY, major and chief surgeon United
States volunteers, on his staff, bearing
late of Sept. 81, 1898, wherein DIR. DAILY
stated that he found the fresh beef to
be apparently preserved with secret
chemicals which destroy it's natural
favor, and which ] also believe to be
detrimental to the health of the troops
although DR.. DAILY swears he
informed General Miles about the LIST
of August, 1898. that ne suspected that
the refrigerated beef was chemically
treated, it does not appear that the
general informed you or the war de-
partment that the officer of his staff
had made this discovery.
For months, as it appears. DR.. DAILY
concealed the knowledge Of the com
mission OF crime affecting men under
his charge. whom, as an officer and a
physician, he was bound to protect"
The report then tells of having had
samples of refrigerated beef examined
by government experts. with no traces
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