Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1899-02-02
WAR INVESTIGATORS
They Will Probably Make a Report
by Next Thursday.
THE MAIN POINTS IN THE VERDICT.
no Names VIII he Mentioned Where ANY
Fault L. Found, But the President
WIN lIs Enabled 60 Fix
tho Blame

Washington, Jan. 80 president Nc"
Kinley will have in his possession on
Thursday next the complete report OF
the war investigating commission
The report will comprise about 10000
words Attached to it will be an APP
pendix of 500 printed pages, setting
forth all of the testimony taken by
the commission during its investiga'
ton. From information obtained a
reliable forecast of the report can be
given.
1t has been determined by the com
mission not to mention any names or
to make any recommendations, but
simply to record under the head OF
each department and each camp the
inefficiencies and scandals which have
developed by the investigation, but
the Identification will be so complete
that the president will be enabled to
fix the responsibility. Here are the
main points in the verdict:
A large number of civilians, who
were without experience, were APP
pointed to staff positions, but they
rapidly learned their duties.
The charge preferred against the
secretary of war that he and members
of his family we're interested in sites
selected for camps and in contracts
are without foundation.
The secretary OF war did not learn
of the condition of the troops at San
tiago de Cuba until the ''round robin"
was circulated when steps were taken
to bring the troops north
A sufficient number of inspections
was not made by the inspector gener'
:al's department Had such been the
case the camp conditions would not
have been as serious as they proved to
be. Many of the officers of this de-
partlnent, including the inspector gen.
eral, were transferred to the volun'
teer service and placed in command oil
troops, their places in the inspection
corps being taken by others of less eX'
perience in inspection work, the result
being epidemics of typhoid and irregu
larities which, had proper and fire.
,quent inspections being instituted
would not have occurred.
No irregularities have been found in
the quartermaster generals depart
ment, Notwithstanding the many
charges brought against it.
There was an undue overcrowdinQ
on board the transports, the fault Of
the quartermasters in charge of the
.quartermaster officers on board.
The administration of the commits
,sary generals department will be com
mended and attention will be called tt
disbursements amounting to about
sos, 900, 900 and the statements made
that the government obtained full
value.
Regarding the beef controversy, the
commission will find that the charges
that chemicals were used to preserve
the beef are without foundation, and
that the refrigerated beef furnished
the army was excellent in quality alc
sufficient in quantity. Attention viii
be called to the fact that the bee
upon which chemicals were used was
placed on board transport at Tampa
by Mr.. Powell and did not belong tC
the government With respect tC
canned beef. the commission will find
that the meat was good and under
went no chemical treatment; that in
the hot climate of Cuba the fat melted
and gave an unappetizing stencil to
the con tents of the cans, but that
they were entirely palatable anG
healthy.
An insuficientnumber of inspections
were made by the surgeon generals
department. Proper sanitary regula
tions were not strictly enforced
There was delay in some instances in
furnishing medical supplies.
The pay department was admins
tered satisfactorily. No fault will be
found with any of the other depart
ments.
The report will say there is as much
illness in Porto Rico as there was in
Cuba and the climatic conditions were
responsible. 1t will be shown tina
the Porto Rican campaign was wei
conducted.
With respect to Montauk point, the
commission will say that the war com
mitteee had no idea of the condition
of the men returned from the Santiago
campaign. Only 1858 deaths are regis
tered, 40 Of which occurred on the
transports.
They TnuD for a civil (3Overnment