Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-13

neSSeS. All VI IueSe were sworn or
affirmed exdept one, who declined to
take the OATH The chief examination
was conducted by the member desig-
mated for that purpose, but each wit
ness was interrogated by every mem
Der of the commission who desired to
do SO.
Our purpose in the discharge of our
duties, was to arrive at the facts
touching the conduct of the war, and
no effort was spared by us to reach
that result We have examined the
Secretary of War, the commanding gen.
eraJ, heads Of departments, officers Of
corps. divisions, brigades, regiments
and companies; non-commisSioned Of
ficers and privates; nurses and per-
sons from many employments in pri-
vate life No man or woman who has
stated to US that he or she had any
material matter touching the subject
Of our inquiry to communicate has
been refused hearing.
All the members of the commission
have been engaged in taking testimony
1t has happened that subcommittee
have been occupied in hearing wit
nesses at four different places at the
same time.
The commission visited in person
most of the old camps.
As a rule, the inspection was not
only of camps, but of troops and sup
plies, and much valuable Information
was obtained by contact with officers
and enlisted men.
At all of these places we have inyit-
ed, some times with special insistence,
every person to come before us and
testify who could throw any light on
the conduct of the War Department in
any of its branches.
Any charge of corruption or intimta-
tion of fraud or bribery in connection
with the letting of any contracts, even
a hint of wrongdoing, has been
f., 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 dollar. We
have made persistent efforts to secure
the attendance of persons to whose
names rumOrs had attached an allega-
ton that they knew of corruption of
officials in the War Department, but
these men have either denied the state
ments attributed to them or have
maintained silence when invited to
tell what they knew.
Before proceeding to specific de-
Scription Of the conduct and manage
me1lt of the war, the report gives COM
ments and suggestions touching cer-
tain matters which came under consid-
GRAFTON as logical consequence of the
inquiry pursued by the commission.
Referring to the question of retired
soldiers, the report says:
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 exper-
fence 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 the time Of
war. This right exists as to the retir- |
ed officers of the navy and it seems to |
us there is no reason why it should not !
be extended to embrace retired army |
officers.
1t does not appear reasonable that |
an arbitrary law should prevent, dur |
ing the existence of war, the use of ex- |
perienced men merely on account of |
their age. We think it would be wise |
to make it discretionary with the |
President to use the officers on the re- |
tired list for filling positions during |
war and not trench on the active or |
ganization that may be needed in the |
field.
During the recent war many posi- |
lions were filled by the appointment of |
civilians to which retired officers could |
have brought professional training, |
valuable knowledge and large eXper- |
fence. |
In the matter of regimental officers, !
the commission found that all volun- |
teer commands differed by men Of |
military experience and training Jared !
much better than those officers by |
amateurs. The soldiers were more eff
fectively cared for, enjoyed better
health and were better fed and clothed. |
The report now proceeds to take up
the subjects in their regular order, be-
ginning with the army.
ION the first day of April 1898, the
strength of the army was 2,143 officers
and 26,040 enlisted men, a total of u.s.
1873. War with the kingdom OF Spain
was declared April q, 1898.
"On May 81, 125,00O volunteers had
been mustered into the service.
In August, 1898, the regular army
numbered $685., the volunteer army
207 ,224-a total of 263, 500"
The commission recommends for the
future
A STRICT EXAMINATION
into the qualifications of all officers
appointed TO the army, regular or vol
unteer. The establishment of schools
OF instruction for inexperienced Off
GERS taken from civilian life TO meet
the emergency created by war is high
ly commended. Quite a number of
regular officers assigned to the COM
mand of volunteer troops adopted this
expedient and the results were emin-
emily satisfactory. A most important
criticism by the commission is as fol-
lows
The routine work in the departments,
in our opinion, is far beyond what is
necessary, and each year seems to in
CT ease ii. The methods employed make
il almost impossible to transact bust
ness promptly. The heads of adj de-
partments, officers Of large depots,
chiefs Of staff, departments, corps and
6iuiciopc have nacaSraiily haaO phLiood