The record-union., 1899-02-13


ALL WE'RE HEARD.
Our purpose in the discharge of our
duties was to 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,
divisions, brigades, regiments and COM
panies; nom commissioned officers and
privates, nurses, and persons from
many employments in private life. NO
man or woman who has stated to us
that he or she had any material matter
the subject of our inquiry to
communicate has been refused hear
ing.
All the members of the commission
have been engaged in taking testimony.
1t has happened that subcommittee
have been occupied in hearing witnesses
at four different places at the same
time.
The committee visited in person
most of the old camps.
AS a rule the inspection was not only
of camps, but of troops and supplies,
and much valuable information was
obtained by contact with officers and
enlisted men.
At all of these places we have invit-
ed, sometimes 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 cor
rupption. or intimation of fraud OF
bribery in connection with the letting
o<,% ir,f Of D.
doing-has been carefully Investigated
1t may be said now, at the beginning
of this report, that there has been no
evidence before us that any one con-
nected with the War Department has
dishonesty received a dollar. We have
made persistent efforts to SECURE the
attendance of persons to whose names
rumor had attached an allegation that
they knew of corruption of officials IN
the War Department. but these men
have. however, denied the statements
attributed to them, or have maintained
silence when invited to tell what they
knew.
RETIRED OFFICERS.
Before proceeding to specific de-
scription of the conduct and manage
ment of the war, the report gives COM
ments and suggestions touching certain
matters which came under its consider
alton as logical consequence OF the
inquiry pursued by the commission
Referring to the question Of retired
officers, the report says: "Under exist
ing laws the officers of the army are
retired when they reach the age of 64
We have had before US many sugges-
tions made by officers on the retired
list, who are men eof experience and
distinction, that this law should be 50
amended as to give to the President the
right to call into active service any re-
tired officer during the time of war
This right exists as to the retired offl-
GERS of the navy. and it seems to us
there is no reason why'it should not be
extended to embrace the retired army
officers.
ct does not appear reasonable that
an arbitrary law should prevent, dur
ing the existence of war; the use of ex-
perfenced men merely on account OF
their age We think it would be wise
to make it discretionary with the Pres
ident to use the officers on the retired
list for filing positions during war, and
not trench on the executive organiza-
ton that may be needed in the field.
During the recent war many posi-
tions were filled by the appointment OF
civilians to which retired officers could
have brought professional training, val
liable knowledge and large experience .
In the matter of the regimental Off
GERS the commission found that all vol
unteers' commands officered by men OF
military experience and training Jared
much better than those differed by
amateurs. The soldiers were more ef-
fectively cared for, enjoyed better
health. and were better fed and clothed
The commission recommends for the
future a strict examination into the
qualifications of all officers appointed
to the army, regular or volunteer. The
establishment of schools of instruction
for inexperienced officers taken from
civil life to meet the emergency Gre
ated by the war is highly commended
Quite a number of regular officers as
signed to the command of volunteer
troops adopted this expedient. and the
results were eminently satisfactory. A
most important criticism by the COM
mission is as follows:
1.-THE routine work in the depart
ments. in our opinion, is far beyond
what is necessary, and each year seems
to increase it, The methods employed
make it almost impossible to transact
business promptly. The heads of all
departments, officers of large depots.
chiefs of staff, departments, corps and
divisions have necessarily been obliged
to give the time and attention to de-
tails which should have been given to
matters of larger moment. No we'll
regulated concern or corporation could
transact business satisfactorily under
such regulations as govern the staff
departments, and the fact tha. every
holding responsible positions has been
obliged to ignore routine demonstrates
the necessity of reform"
AN IMMENSE WORK.
The report now proceeds to take up
the subjects in their regular order, be-
ginning with the army.
On the first day of April the strength
of the army was 2,143 officers and 26,-
040 enlisted men, total of %, 1873. War
with the kingdom of Spain was de-
clared April 81, 1898.
On May 81, 125000 volunteers had
been mustered into the service.
In August, 1898. the regular army
numbered 56.365. the volunteer army
POI .244, total of 263,609.
These figures of themselves indicate
that an immense work was thrown
upon the War Department. After
thirty-three years of peace, during a
great part of which the army did not
exceed 10000 men. it suddenly became
necessary to arm. ciothe, feed and equip
more than quarter of million.
How that duty was discharged will
appear in details in subsequent parts
of this report. The sudden emergency