The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-27
a. lLGER ON THE STAND.
-~srs THAT uE WAS INTEREST,"
ND IL AM CONTRACTS.
w.ssi Complafnts Ever Reached
NJ In Regard tn the Quality 81
neef Farntshed-seereta An
swess Many Pertinent oaesfioas.


= "a rsspovz~e to an Invitation Of flse
sesar~ that bsdy today TIE secretary
=. sscru by Gen WI.Scza, after sbteh
nxr Bxaze~. after asking permission 10
=. ia tftss general Instead of +ssf.
r~-usary" BEGAN the examination Of the
"a Of the Rag department.
1.cretary Asxe-. III IRE beginning. STAT
= 49, se had been ca duty IN the war
s-a2r.tzsent Constantly during AMI after
- var WITH Spain, TIE chiefs II .tss-
,.eas tr ff1e department. ne said. we're gen.
~ssy appointed 10 sneh places he.aase OF
s..kreffy, but tire president, IL he thought
sroev. eonsd break This rule.
Whess ASKED IN regard TO the expszs6i-
,xrss ty the department. Of the war fund.
4. secretary replied that tho larger part
= besG devoted to strer sthening the
-, eefsnses. In anticipation Of s1ich an
uazry he had brought with him memo
erdunss prepared by TIRE heads CT bureaus.
ssvsnx details OF tAe expenditures OF this
fnd.
Dung the continuance OF the war ne
"a ae@a kept CO sssanily advised OK all ac-
ems taken by the several bureaus. The
sxafs q. bureaus oftef- reported To him
ewvsr>l times a day. IL he had aSt been
sdy,aad OF any important fact in regard
a. the bureaus was - blame. If any
,sport. originating outside Of the depart
neaa. came 10 him. he Investigated IL at
asa&.
/ large body TO provide for. some defects
lsrk Of fan1a. bat becaD~e IL was inipos-
ebls to handle 50 large a hcdy of men on
ssh xsort r.vtIce Witness did not recall
sssinx rseeised during the MAJ complaints
Il regard to the food furnished tie army.
there was "A shortage Of food al Sauti-
sxo not because thsrs were 10 Supplies.
bal because they could not he uulDatsst
fom the ships. No Old soldier. he be-
tFai would make marsh criticism OF the
fsad furnished the army under The ciTeum-
ssAnceA He had nssver had ATTY caiz.se dur
10 the war for complaint OF any officer.
awas the head Of airy bureau guilty OF
fkissrr 10 discharge his dates durina the
cssSnaaace OF the war; asked Gov.
Ma dr. replied the secretary
sptd any report come to you Of any ir-
.sralaritsss or III any fraudulent practices
b the contract Of the supplies furnished
any depastmem?''
no STR
sDld you directly or indirectly have any
Secrsxsf In sise selection Of any Of the
anps occupied by the trnnps?'
No, ST. do not know that any ono
nnnestcd with me had any such interest"
DID you have any interest IN any con-
usn fvr materials ssapplied during the
Not a cent In any contract" replied
u secretary. emphareaiiy
Dos that apply TO transports paIr-
sAneedy'
TEA SIR
Ths secretary went on TO state that he
had never had any personal interest in the
sxpenditure or government funds directly
- Indirectly. No contracts for equipment
were entered into prior to the declaration
II var.
Have you received any complaint from
ih~ major general In command Of the army
While ~ Porto Rico as 10 the quality OF
ne refrgerated ard canned roast beet
fwnsshed the army
The secretary replying. referred To his
Annual report. quoting a dispatch from
aenepi Miles asking that no more beef
- 9Ns because they could get a large
dor. Beaver asked whether actual pre-
hraiien fer war Was not made before the
sn expected II the question was rot
famed by the secretary a proper one.
re witness replied that there had been
eYAs that war would be averted.
Tao chiefs OF the several bureaus Of the
Apartment had never assembled - held
council OF war. They were all too busy.
n regard 30 the Inspector generals ofsiae,
ne secretary did not consider that the
&rMu had been practically abolished by
- transfer Of officers to other duty. He
Viewed tina; II retained It's efficiency
Secretary Alger next told or the irspec-
nen " the camps, especially the tour OF
hsrecsfon 10y Gen. Mica,
He tAigers never rad received any off,
al complaint from the armies an the sieid
. regard 10 fresh or canned meat furnish
= TIE troops
Have you any Information that meat
va chemically fress ell >"
Nothing bat what had been brought out
Ills commission
Asf. he went on. has bsen used az an
EasF ration for many years and its use
80 Eot an experiment In the Spanish war.
- eenspl&ints had been received by him
HeM the camps tn regard 70 beef.
Wien asked whether he was personally
1ssrsstsd n contracts for furnishing
msef tfse secretary said With pasftivs3ess.
! have not | rsvsr had directly or inds-
sstls any interest IN any property or any
mig supplied ia this government"
ne had never received an official report
stas hsef furnished the army had caused
sesnsss. lie had resolved reports from
sfsfsl sources that at Chit kama fga and
amp Thomas there had been a lack q
mfslesns and supplies These reports were
mssstisatei ana supplies Ordered for them
ne hsa never received a report from the
sisgeoa General that ne was unable 10 far
Ssh suTalsx
II fegagsi 70 the arrival Of sh. Fifth
nvfs al Moatauk - sais. tina. every pos
ssae precaui.on had been taken - make
.ae rsrsn hsaithful ard comfortable There
aaa t~sa many deficiencies that It ~As i'm
Fa<ssnse "a remedy. hus everything shat
nosa be Gene had h~sn done.
ths escse5 thu examination ard Se~re-