The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-27
GEN. ALGER TESTlFIES
DECLARES HE HAD NO Personal
INTEREST In THE AWARDING
OF ARMY CONTRACTS
HEARD OF "EMBALMED" BEEF
Referred to Letter Received From
Gen. Miles, Asking That No More
of 1t Be Sent to Porto RicO-SOme
Delicate Questions That the Sec
rotary Was Excused From An
swering-Camp Abuses.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26-Secretary
Alger. in response to an invitation Of
the war investigating commission, ap-
peared before that body today. The
secretary was sworn by Gen. Wilson,
after which Gov. Beaver, after asking
permission to use the title general
instead of 'Mr. Secretary" began the
examination of the head of the war de-
partment.
Secretary Alger, in beginning, stated
that he had been on duty at the war
department constantly during and aft
der the war with Spain. The chiefs of
bureaus in the department. he said,
We're generally appointed to such places
because of seniority, but the president,
if he thought proper, could break this
rule.
When asked in regard to the expen-
ditureS by the department OF the war
fund, the secretary replied that the
larger part had been devoted to
strengthening coast defenses. In an
ticipation of such an inquiry, he had
| brought with him memoranda prepared
by chiefs of bureaus giving details Of
the expenditure Of this fund.
The secretary went on to state that
he had never had any personal interest
in the expenditure of government
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 fur
nished the army?"
The secretary referred to his annual
report quoting a dispatch from Gen.
Miles asking that no more beef be sent
pQt a lar lU
there. Gen. Miles had said something
about beef that had spoiled there.
DELICATE QUESTION.
Gov. Beaver asked whether actual
preparation for war was not made be-
fore the declaration of war, because
it was thought it would be averted.
No reply, however, was expected if the
question was not deemed by the sec
rotary a proper one.
The witness replied that there had
been hopes that war would be averted
The chiefs of the several bureaus of the
department had never assembled to
hold a council of war They had been
too busy.
In regard to the inspector
generals office the department did not
consider that the bureau had been
practically abolished by the transfer
Of officers to other duty He believed
that it retained it's efficiency.
Secretary Alger next told of the in
spection Of camps, especially the tour
Of inspection by Gen. Miles. He CAL
geD never had received any official
complaint from the armies in the field
IN regard to fresh or canned meat fur
nished the troops
Have you any information that
meat was chemically treated ?"
Nothing but what has been brought
out by this commission
Beef, he went on, has been used as
all army ration for many years, and it's
use was not an experiment in the Span
ish war. No complaints had been re-
eeiVed by him from the camps In re-
gard to beef a-stszs .9s5
NO PERSONAL GAIN.
When asked whether he was per-
sonally interested in contracts for fur
nishing meat, the secretary said with
positiveness:
1 have not; l 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
o->@4AAe~N anu ScilIlp llOIIldS there
had been lack of medicines and sup
plies. The reports were investigated
ard supplies ordered at once. He had
never received report from the sur
geon general that he was unable to
furnish supplies
In regard to the arrival of the Fifth
corps at Montauk he said that every
possible preeaution had been taken to
make the camp healthfuI and comfort
able. There had been many DEFICIENCIES
that it was impossible to remedy. but
everything that could be done was
done.
This closed the examination and Sec
rotary Alger was asked whether he
wished to volunteer any statements
but he declined to do so.