Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-13

SURE NORlH The NAME,
WHICH BEARS OUT PREDIC-
TIONS.
Washington, D. c.. February ~
The report submitted to the President
last Wednesday by the commission APP
pointed by him to investigate the con-
duct of the War Department in the war
with Spain was made public tonight.
| The report is an unanimous one. all
the members Of the commission having
signed it except Col Sexton, whose
death occurred February 4. AT its close
| it says:
! 1T is with profound regret that the
commission reports that during its later
sessions, Col. James a. Sexton was
prevented by sickness from being pres
ent and on the fourth day of February
our loved colleague closed an honored
and active life"
| The report is voluminous document,
containing about $4,000 words, and an
official abstract. prepared by the secre-
tary of the commission. was furnished
to the press for its convenience.
This abstract says:
THE COMMISSION ORGANIZED
on September cath, eleeting Gen. Gren-
vile NJ. Dodge president; Hon. Charles
DENLY vice president, and Mr.. Richard
| Weightman, secretary. Gen. James A.
Beaver was designated to conduct the
examination Of witnesses; Lieut.. Col.
f. B. Jones, chief quartermaster of
volunteers, was detailed by the War
Department as disbursing officer, and
appointed by the President as recorder.
On Monday, the Goth of September,
the commission convened in regular
session. Arrangements were made to
admit to the rooms six journalists.
three of them representing the three
established press associations. Having
only two rooms at their disposal, the
commission could not throw these open
to the public indiscriminately. All the
newspapers in the country, however.
had access through the press associa-
ions 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 touch
ing the administration Of their respect
i've departments. This request was
| promptly complied with and from that
time forth all complaints were for
warded to the commission Immediately
on their receipt at the War Department.
| In further pursuance Of this
PREPARATORY MEASURE,
the commission on September q made
public invitation through the press to
all persons having knowledge or belief
of any official wrong or dereliction to
submit their statements in writing, ac-
companied by such collateral proof or
| information as might be at their dis
posal. This invitation met with a lib
eral response. Hundreds Of afildavits
! letters, newspaper clippings, editorial
| articles and sermons were received, all
of which were thoroughly and labori-
| ously investigated as will appear in
the testimony taken by the commission
and the various exhibits and appendices
to be published hereafter.
| Next, the Secretary OF War was re-
qrested 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 operation 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 equip
| page on hand at the beginning of the
war; the amount subsequently pur-
| chased; similar information with re-
I gard to furnishing the troops with
! arms and aceoutrements; information
/ as TO when volunteer regiments were
armed and equipped in the various
| state camps now the location or the
camps OF general rendezvous were de-
| termined; full particulars as 10 the
| transportation OF troops; an account
| OF the quantity, quality and kind of
! food furnished; information as to the
! tentage, beds, linen, medicines and all
| other necessaries for the hospitals; as
| to whether the medical staff was eff
| cient; and as to the conditions and
| operations of the engineer and ord
nance departments.
These statements. promptly and in
diligently made, were Of great service
in the investigation in the character
Of text and reference books.
Having thus arranged the prelim-
| mary matters. which seemed advisable
| to be determined, the commission re-
solved that all charges specifically
| brought before 1t should be made the
| basis OF examination OF witnesses who
| had, or professed TO have, knowledge
OF the facts involved in such charges. 4
IL was further determined that in u
examination OF witnesses the STIR
rules Of evidence as applied in Ia
proceedings should not be adhered
but