Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-26

formation from him than. is contained in
that disoatch?''
Secretary Alger-"No SIR"
Heneral Beaver-"Were any complaints
SO far as you know made by any others 80
Secretary Alger-"No sir"
General Beaver-"Did YOU have any Of
nclal complaints OF any kind from any
officers or others at the camps or in Porto
iflco as to the fresh beef or the canned
roast beef?'
Secretary Aiger-"No, sir"
Emergency Medical Fund.
Gen Beaver-'General, DIR. Conner de-
sires me to ask If you know whether or not
tne surgeon general applied for funds out
OF the emergency fund prior to the time at
wnich his report shows that the funds from
that emergency fund were allotted to him?''
secretary Alger-''No. sir. My impression
Is tilat ne did not The several department
heads came TO my office during the excite
hent after the emergency fund became
aFaiiaDie and before the declaration of war
10 Know IL they should do anything-as /
eIe r,ls oeI-ln the way of getting ready for
u var III IL should come. And | inyariah hlv
.oia tlem no, except what we could do in
the way OF coast defenses That was a
part OF the plan which has been carried on
- @ @1iteI year by the government. and we
pe!tI every effort possible to increase those
ueienceS ana get as many guns and mines
III pIdce as quickly possible for any
ei,g;[geney. But nothing was done toward
zen Beaver-"Did you at any time dur-
ing the preparations for war have the
HedaS OF the bureaus assemble together and
advise with you?''
Secretary Alger replied af5rma+i,o,,, ,rs
aoaed that no contracts were begun or
completed prior to the declaration of war
Every body hoped that hostiIities would be
aVerted. HIS bureau chiefs are generally
appointed IN the order of seniority al
thousn the President has power to ignore
that custom.
Gen. Beaver-"Have you any additional
information as to complaints?"
Secretary Alger-"No, SIR
The Inspector Generals Bureau.
Gen. Beaver-''Concerning the inspector
generals bureau. was the work of the hu-
reau impaired by his appointment to a sep
arate command during the war, and by the
cetalnng of various officers of that bureau
to different posts and work in the feId?"
Secretary Alger-"No sir"
Gen. Beaver-"It has been said that the
inspector generals department was abol-
ished, practically"
Secretary Alger-"It was supposed that
the work
Gen. Beaver-"Was the inspector general
appointed to a separate command at his
own request or by that of the depart
ment?'
Secretary Alger-''I have no idea. 1t was
not at the request of the department: that
is. L have no idea whence it came"
Gen, Beaver (at Gov. Woodbury's re
quesO-"Wby vas the inspector general
sent to Santiago? Was it after his appoint
ment as major general?'
Secretary Alger-''No, sir. He was. by re-
quest OF the major general commanding the
army, appointed chief inspector OF the lat
ter's staff. He then afterward asked for a
command and was assigned to the com
mand of the 1st Division of the lst Army
Corps"
He Admits Defects.
Secretary Alger said that during the
early days of the war with a large body to
provide for some defects were apparent
1t was not because of lack of funds, but
because 1T was impossible to handle prop
erly so large a body of men on short
notice. There was a shortage of food at
Santiago, not because there were no sup
plies, but because they could not be landed
from the ships. No old soldier, said the
Secretary, he believed would make harsh
criticism OF the food furnished the army
under the circumstances.
Gen. Beaver-'Have you any information
that meat was chemically treated?"
Secretary Alger-"Nothing but what has
bean brought out by this commission"
Beef, he added, has been used as an army
ration Tor many years, and its use was not
an experiment in the war. No complaints
had been received by him from the camps
in gard TO beef. When asked whether he
was personally interested in contracts for
furnishing meat, the Secretary said with
positiveness:
L have not; never had, directly or in
dlrectly, interest in any property, in any
thing supplied to this government"
He had never received an official renort
that beef furnished the army had caused
sickness.
He had received reports from several
sources that at Chickamauga and Camp
THOMAS there had been a lack of medicines
and supplies The reports We're investf-
gated and supplies ordered at once He
SAID he had never received report from
the surgeon general that he was unable to
furnish supplies.
In regard to the arrival of the 9Th Corps
at Montauk, he said that every possible
precaution had been taken to make the
camp healthful and comfortable. There
had been many deficiencies that il was i'm
possible to remedy, but everything that
could be done had been done. This closed
the examination, and Secretary Alger was
asked whether he wished to volunteer any
statements, but he declined to do SO.
THE BOARD OF TRADE.