The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-02-17
REPORT OUT AT last.
War Commissions Conclusions
Take Sixty.Five Thousand
Words to Express.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF ITS VIEWS.

/
High Places = War Department Lacking
In Grasp of the situation, However De.
clares the Rations Good and Wholesome
Criticism of the Inspector Generals
and Quartermaster Generals Depart
ments
Washington, Feb. 13.-The report SUBJ
nitted to the president last Wednesday
I by the commission appointed by him to
investigate the conduct of the war de-
partment in the war with Spain was
made public last night. The report is
unanimous one all the members of the
commission having signed 1t except COL
onel Sexton, whose death occurred Feb.
4. At its close 1t says: 1T is with pro-
found regret that the commission re-
ports that during its later session Col
onel James A. Sexton was prevented by
sickness from being present and on the
4th day of February our loved colleague
closed an honored and active life" The
report is a volumnous document con-
tanning about $4,000 words. An official
abstract containing several columns
was given the press for publication.
No Proof of Corruption.
After recounting its organization, etc.
the commission says:
ANY charge of corruption or intimi-
iation, of fraud or bribery, in connection
with the letting of contracts, even a
hint of wrong-doing, has been carefully
investigated 1t may be said now, at the
beginning of this report. that there has
been no evidence before us that any one
In or connected with the war department
has dishonesty received a dollar We
have made persistent efforts to secure
the attendance of persons to whose
names rumor had attached an q LEGATION
that they knew of corruption of officials
in the war department, but these men
have either denied the statements at
tributed to them or have maintained
silence when invited ~ tell what they
knew"
Before proceeding to a specific de-
scription Of the conduct and manage
ment of the war the report gives COM
ment and suggestions touching certain
matters which came under consideration
as logical consequence of the inquiry
pursued by the commission.
Response Was Prompt
The report then takes up the war de-
partment and it's various chiefs of sub
divisions. beginning with the secretary
OF war. THE records of the war de-
partment, which have been laid before
u.s. show that the secretary of war ex-
tended to all chiefs of bureaus cordial
and full support and promptly re-
sponded to every proper demand made
upon him by commanding officers. No
testimony has been presented showing
intentional neglect Of duty nor any at
tempt to serve personal interests. The
charges made that the secretary of war
was pecuniarily interested in contracts.
purchases and other transactions of the
war department have been thoroughly
examined and found baseless
'In the judgment of the commission
there was lacking in the general admin
istration of the war department during
the continuance of the war with Spain
that complete grasp of the situation
which was essential to the highest eff
ficiency and discipline of the army"
1.-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 it has been shown by the testi-
mony 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
ders."
Rations Were Good to Eat.
The commission also finds that the
rations were good and wholesome, and
decides that there was no "embalmed
beef" The canned meats are also up
held and the fact that the deaths were
less than l per cent. of the forces en-
gagged is cited to show that the soldiers
were well-fed and taken care of.
Of the inspector general the commits
sion says: 1.-The commission finds that
the inspector generals department was
not as efficient as 1t ought to have been
There seems to have been a question
as to the authority by which inspections
were to be ordered. On at least one
occasion the secretary of war instructed
the major general commanding the
army to inspect certain camps. The
major general did not act upon such in
structions. stating 1t to be his place to
order inspections"
OF the quartermasters department
the report says: ION March 1. with the
possibility of war with Spain. the quar-
termaster's department found Itself
charged with varied, numerous and i'm
portant duties: its appropriation was
small facing the probability of a large
army being soon organized for field
service
"At Santiago the deficiency at the
front appears to have been caused
rather from lack Of transportation from
the coast than from lack Of clothing, or
tentage. supply Of which was on the
transports. The condition of railroad
congestion during the early portion OF
the time Tampa was occupied by the
troops seems to have been unparalleled,
showing an almost inexcusable lack Of
executive ability on the part Of those
charged with loading. unloading. and
handling of trains.