The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-13
ALGER WASHED AS WHITE
AS THE DRIVEN SNOW
His Administration Of the War Department Practically
Faultless -Embalmed Beef Was Just What the
Soldiers Needed Miles and DAILY the
Criminals All the Mistakes
CLOSED Over.

Washington, Feb 12.-The report sub
mitted to the president last Wednesday
by the commission appointed by him to
investigate the conduct of the war with
Spain, was made public to-day. The
report is unanimous one, all the MEM
bers of the committee having signed it
except Colonel Sexton, whose death &C.
CURED February 4. At its close it says:
1T is with profound regret that the
commission reports that during its lat
ter sessions, Colonel James A. Sexton
was prevented by sickness from being
present, and on the 4th of February
our colleague closed an honored and
active life
The report is a voluminous document,
containing about 65 600 words, and an
official abstract, prepared by the secre-
tary of the commission, was furnished
to the press for it's convenience. This
abstract says:
The commission organized on Sept.
"a electing General Grenville M. Dodge,
president; Hon. Charles DENLY, vice
president, and Richard Weightman.
secretary. General James A. Beaver
was designated to conduct the exam
ination of witnesses; Lieutenant Col
onel B. F. Jones, chief quartermaster
of volunteers, was detailed by the war
department as disbursing officer and
appointed by the president as re-
corder.
On Monday the 26th of September,
the commission convened in regular SEES
sion. Arrangements We're made to ad-
init to the room six journalists, three
OF them representing the three estab-
lished press associations. Having only
two rooms at their disposal, the COM
mission could not throw these open to
the public Unfortunately. All the
newspapers in the country, however,
had access through the press associa-
tions to the examination of witnesses,
and the American people were served,
in respect of the proceedings of the
commission, exactly as they are served
in all other matters of public interest
from day to day.
Among the first acts of the commits
sion was to ask the secretary of war,
the adjutant- general, the quartermas-
ter general, the commissary general
and the surgeon general to transmit
all the complaints received by them
touching the administration of their
respective departments. This request
was promptly complied with, and from
that time forth all complaints were for
warded to the commission immediate
ly upon their receipt a. the war depart
ment.
In further pursuance of this prepar-
atory measure the commission on Sept
~ made public invitation through the
press to all persons having knowledge
or belief of any official wrong or de-
reelection to submit their statements in
writing accompanied by such collateral
proof or information as might be at
their disposal This invitation met
with a liberal response Hundreds of
amdavits. letters. newspaper clippings.
editorial articles and sermons were
received, all of which were thorough
ly and laboriously Investigated, as will
appear in the testimony taken by the
commission and the various exhibits
and appendices to be published here
after
Next, the secretary of war was re-
quested to direct the various chiefs of
departments under him to furnish the
commission with a statement of the
condition of their respective depart
ments at the outbreak of the war and
the operations of the same during the
period of hostilities.
This communication recited in detail
the subjects on which information
was desired, comprising facts touching
the mobilization of troops and their
organization: the amount and kind of
camp and garrison equipage on hand
amount
subsequently purchased similar infor-
nation with regard to furnishing the
troops with arms and accoutrements:
information of how volunteer regiments
were armed and equipped in the various
state camps; how the location of the
camps of general rendezvous was de-
termined; full particulars as to the
transportation of troops; an account of
the quality, quantity and kind of food
furnished; information as to the tent
age, beds, linen, medicines and all
other necessities for the hospitals; as
to whether the medical staff was eff
Gent, and as to the condition and
operations of the engineer and ord
nance departments
Of Great Service.
These statements, promptly and in
telligently made, were of great service
in the investigation of the character of
text and reference books Having thus
arranged the preliminary matters which
seemed advisable to be determined, the
commission resolved that all charges
specifically brought before it should be
made the basis of the examination of
witnesses who had, or professed to
have, knowledge of the facts involved
in such charges.
1t was further determined that in the
examination of witnesses the strict
rules of evidence as applied in legal
but considerable latitude should be al
lowed.
While, therefore. in general, the rules
of evidence have been followed, we
have not hesitated to relax their APP
plication when thought advisable. Dur
ing our sessions we have examined 495
witnesses. All of these were sworn or
affirmed except 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 Intercepted by every men,
Der of the commission who desired to
do SO.
Our purpose in the discharge of our
duties was ito arrive at the facts touch
ing the conduct of the war and no eff
fort was spared by us to reach that re-
suit. We have examined the secretary
of war, the commanding general, heads
of departments, officers of corps, di-
visions. brigades, regiments and compa-
mics: non commissioned officers and pri-