The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-10
HAVE DONE THEIR BEST.
War Investigation Board Endtavored
TO Learn Truth.
VERDICT WAS HONEST OPINION
OF EVERY MEMBER.

Every Charge Was Investigated and
over 800 witnesses Were Heard--
President Expresses Himself as
Satisfied.
Washington, February 9.-The war in
vestigation commission with the presen.
tction Of Its report to President MoKin-
ley this afternoon, ceased Its existence.
The general score Of the report was
sent out last night and renewed atten-
ton was called today to the fact they
pointed out that there were only two
witnesses who made charges against the
government IN the beef issue 1t IL
pointed out that there were numerous
allegations made and many attacks in
the public prints. but that when those
making the attacks and charges were
called on TO appear before the commits
sion with their statements under oath
or otherwise substnntisted they failed
| either TO appear or furnish proof Of what
they had said. 1t 10 insisted that all
the men who had made any charges were
offered the fullest opportunit' to be
heard and their statements given iull
consideration nnd that every effort had
been made To prove the truth In what
ever matters hal come M before their
body. The Eagan incident Is passed
over without material msntion, II at all.
In view OF Gen. Esgans revisal of the
| statement he originally made to them
The report avoids all question OF he
strats0y OF the war, that being n matte
regarded as outside the functions of he
| commissions. The references to Gen.
Miles, commanding the army are dcvot-
ed mainly to structures on his course
with reference to the beef issue IA COW
n. -.
| main point made. 1t Is Understood, Is
| "a to ten. Miles's failure to take prompt
action in reporting on the beef AID in
steau waiting long period before oop-
municating the facts TO the department,
and meantime, with the Information ne
gained In his possession and his judgment
/ on the beef supplies made up, permitting
best he so vigorously condemned to be
issued TO t"s army The fact that he
was the only witness falling to testify
under oath Is referred to.
| President Mckinley ON receiving the
| report from the oommi ssiun, copgratu-
lated the commissioners on the compile
\ ton of their task The commissioners
| went over their wrrk In n gensrnl way
and. at the request # the President, read
| portions of the report which covered
certain points in which he ha expressed
| an interest. The conference lasted about
an hour and half The President stated
that he was satisfied that each mem Der
bad done hts whole duty. He, himself,
| had rendered them every assistance pos.
sib and he said that they would bear
witnesses that he had not sought to iniiu-
enoe them In any manner or in the slight
est degree. In speaking OF the report TO-DAY
to Star reporter. prominent member
OF the commission said:
The report does not whitewash. 1t
oriticises. but not persons or things not
warranted by the evidence before us
tNA
the conduct OF the war was all right and
then We went ahead to hear witnesses
who said IL was not "lhat report repre-
| sents the honest opinion OF every mem Der
of the commission. We were unanimous
In adopting It, l say this and | am OF
the opposite political faith, and don't
want anything from the administration.
There was no suppression or conceal.
ment and no point brou Iht out in the
evidence that was evaded or CLOSED over.
everything that man knew or thought
he knew was the subject of inquiry and
| Am satisfied when the country ge,s
our report In full that there will he no
| complaint either as to our methods .or
results.
The President never saw q word Of
| our report before he received it OFFICIALLY.
Nor indeed, has he never talked with any
Of the committee about It. he has never
| In anyway by wnrd or action or messen-
ger svinced wish to have as develop
anything but the truth or even touch
upon the matter OF our work. We have
| questioned moe than $40 witnesses and
| the majority of them had some complaint
| they wanted to relate. In no Instance
can IL DO proved that we have omitted TO
call any witness who has been brought
to our attention as having important
| facts to disclose.
"Of course there were some evils, but
they were to be expected. The soldiers
| In the Civil war never had hospitals or
| medical attendance so good as was given
| them In the war with spain. And their
army ration then was not eataole AS
| II 10 now. The men who complained the
most Of the food. we fouuu were very
generally the militiamen from the interi
ors of states who had been allowed 3!
per head for subsistence stores while they
| wers in state camps. When they went
into the active lighting they expected the
same sort of thing.
"Ihese men nearly oil confessed to US
that they had always received the army
rations. They had no right to expect
any more.
"there were many complaints brought
to us that on their face were foolish and
false. but we went to every trouble and