The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-01-31

HE ia A< ~
him he investigated 1t ar once.
During the early days OF h war.
with q large body to provide for, some
defects were apparent. II was not De-
cause OF a Lac of funds. but because
il was impossible TO handle properly
so large a body of men on short notice.
Witness did not recall having received
during the war complaints in regard
TO food furnished the army. There was
a shortage OF food at Santiago, not be-
cause there were no supplies. but be-
cause they could not Dc landed from
the ships. No old soldiers. said the
/ secretary, he believed, would make
harsh criticism of the o furnished
the army under the circumstances. He
had lever had any cause during the
war for complaint of any officer.
WAS the head of any bureau guilty
of failure to discharge his duty dur
ing the continuance of the war;" asked
Governor Beaver.
mo, sir" replied Secretary Alger.
did any report come TO you Of any
ir~regularity or of any fraudulent prac-
tees in the contracting for supplies
furnished TO any Department."
mo. sir"
did you directly or indirectly have
any interest in the selection of any Of
the camp food for any of the troops?''
"No, sir, / never had any interest in
any camp. / do not know that any
one connected with me had any such
interest"
Did you have any interest in any
contract for materials supplied during
the WARP"
Not a cent in any contract" replied
the secretary emphatically.
Does that apply to transports pur-
| chased?'
Yes, sir"
The secretary went on to state that
he had never had n personal inter-
est in the expenditure of government
funds, directly or indirectly. No con-
tracts for equipment were entered into
prior to the declaration of war.
have you received any complaint
from the major general Of the army
while at Porto Rico as to the quality
of refrigerated and canned roast beef
furnished the army?"
The secretary in replying, referred to
his annual report, quoting a dispatch
from General Miles, asking that no
more beef be sent because they could
get a large supply. General Miles had
said something about beef that had
spoiled there.
Governor Beaver asked whether ac-
tual preparation for war was not made
before the declaration of war because
it vas thought it would be averted.
| No reply, however, was expected if the
question was not deemed by the secre-
'tary a proper one.
The witness replied that there had
been hopes that war would be averted.
Secretary Alger next told of the in
spection of camps, especially the tour
of inspection by General Miles. He
complaint from the armies in the field
in regard to fresh or canned meat fur
nished the troops.
"Have you any information tina meat
was chemically treated"
Nothing but what has been brought
| or hu fbtc o0ooro;io~ D4 -
went on, had been used as an army ra-
ton for many years and it's use was
not an experiment in the Spanish war.
| No complaints had been received by
him from the camps in regard to the
beef.
When asked whether he was person.
| ally interested in contracts for furnish
ing meat the secretary said with posi-
~tiveneSS:
II am not; I never had directly or
indirectly, interest in any property, in
anything supplied to this government"
He had never received an official re-
port that beef furnished the army had
caused sickness. He had received re-
ports from several sources that at
Chickamauga and camp Thomas there
had been a lack of medicines and sup
plies. The reports were investigated
and the supplies ordered at once. He
had never received a report from the
surgeon general that he was unable to
furnish supplies. In regard to the ar
rival of the fifth corps at Montauk, he
said that every possible p%recaution had
been taken to make the camp healthy
and comfortable. There had been many
deficiencies that it was impossible to
remedy, but everything that could be
done had been done.
This closed the examination and Sec
rotary Alger was asked whether he
wished to volunteer any statements,
out he declined to do so.