The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-14
SECRETARY ALGER TALKS.
Wants Beef Subject Investigated
Discharge of Volunteers.

New York, Feb. 13.-Secretary of war
AIger, being interviewed yesterday, said
that the war department desired and
expected a full investigation of the
charges that unwholesome beef had
been supplied to the army under con-
tract with the government. General
Alger expressed no opinion as to the
character of the verdict of the board
of inquiry into General Miles charges,
but he said he believed it would be
conclusive.
1.-The war department is being investi-
gated said Secretary Alger I'VE want
TO give the investigators a free hand.
If there is anything wrong the depart
ment wants to know it, If anything was
sold to the government that should not
have been sold, it should be found out
If the beef packers are guilty they
ought to be brought to book"
1T depends upon circumstances
whether the regular troops now on the
way to Manila viii relieve an equal
number of volunteers. This was the
original intention when the regulars
were sent, but it is impossible now to
say whether the plan can be carried
out Immediately.
Il have not been able to ascertain
whether the army bill Will pass at the
present session of congress. | under
stand that Senator. Cockrell, who is
member of the military committee of
the senate, is opposed to it, but how
much he will be able TO accomplish, l
cannot say"
''Will there be an extra session if the
bill does not pass?" was asked.
1--WE must have an army" replied
General Alger. THE $4,000 men we now
have are not enough"
Everything in Cuba and Porto Rico
is going satisfactorily" he continued.
There never was any idea of making
General Wood commanding general in
Cuba. His rank is not high enough
and the grade of major general is now
full. The trouble about the customs
receipts III Santiago has been settled. 1
think it arose from a misapprehension.
They thought that the goods would
have to be landed elsewhere. OF course,
all the receipts from the tariff must
pass through General Brooke's hands
Il shall go to Cuba and Porto Rico
in March if everything is all right then.
never had any idea of going until
congress adjourned. have never been
IN Cuba and 1 thought / would like to
see for myself, if 1 could do so before
the bad season began. / expect to in
spect all the posts there"
the work all the way through the war
to the best of his ability.
During the war" said the secretary,
when we had so much to TO, c5iti-
cis.:ls began to appear in some PAPERS.
When this happened l gave orders that
those papers should rot be sent to ME,
as there was no time 10 waste. My first
duty was to conduct the affairs of the
department as well as 1 could
- 4 no Inf1o ~
ment with a large private business,
saying that many unforeseen things
happened in the department, just rs IN
a large private business. Storms came
up which could not be prevented.
Sometimes the manager of a private
business said the secretary, has look
ed over the field and believes he has
good and faithful helpers. Then he
learns that he has been Incorrect in
his thought and that some of his men
have not proved true. These are gen
orally Unforeseen things which VIII
happen in many large business con-
Germs. as well as to q government de-
partment. Though the worl. Of the war
department was difficult, 1 carried it
on, as was my duty. to tbs best of my
ability"
When asked about the criticism by
the war commission OF General Miles. |
Secretary Alger asked to be excused |
from talking about that.
Secretary Alger. IN connection with |
the intended naming OF Il commanding |
officer for the army, said that he |
thought a regular army man would he |
named in preference to volunteer, al |
though congress could do as it wished |
about such a matter.
Speaking of the condition of affairs |
n Cuba. the secretary said:
THE reconcGntradOS We're largely |
driven into the larger cities, but we
,annot find anywhere near the number
IF men we expected To find. For in
stance, an officer from Sancti Spiritus. /
Who came back to Washington last |
week, told us that town was filed with
women and children. but no men. They |
ire not in the country districts, as far
Is we can find. The Cuban army is es-
mated at 10000 men, but this does net
recount for the thousands who are not
0 be found. They are not with CO.