The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-10
TO INVESTIGATE
NILES CHARGES.
oCont,nued from First Fage.J


10 the beef issue as covered In his tesli-
mony. In this connection q main point
muue. IL Is understood, Is as 70 Genera
Mics failure TO take prompt acton on
reporting on the beef and alstead Oh
waiting a long period before cOmmuhi.
eating the facts 10 the Department anu
meantime. with the Information ne gave
in his possession and his Judgment on
tho beef supplies made up, permit tins
beef ne so vigorously condemned 10 DC
issued 90 the army. The iact tnat ne
WAS the only witness falling 10 tesuly
upon oath is referred to.
WAS 30 WHTEWASH.
Speaking OF the report to-day. prom
ineut member Of the commission said.
'The report does not whitewash, Il criti-
cIsce. but no persons OF things not Wal
ranfcd by the evidence before Us. We
started ont with the assumption That tn p
conduct of the war was AN rlSht d"u
then we went ahead to hear aud call VIII
ncsses who said it was not The report
represents the honest opinion OF every
member Of the commission. we We're
unanimous in adopting &c. ] say mis- AN !
am OF the opposite political iailh' anu
don't expect and don't want anythil-
from the administration.
There was no suppression or conlel'-
mcnt and no point brought our 90 inc
evidence was cvadcd or CLOSED over
We never met before hearing witness
and agreed not 10 examine him or lOufh
upon certain matters That fnlsht TUT"
ont unfavorablv. Everything That
man knew. or thought DE- knew. was iAe
subject of inquiry and ! am satished
when The country hears our report ODD run
that there Will be no complaint as to our
methods or results.
"The President never saw our report
before Dee received 80 officially Not %
single word has ne ever said to n single
commissioner about IT, Nor has De any
way by word. action or message evinced
% wish to have us develop anything hut
the truth or even touched upon the mat
ter ~ orr work
"Wo have questioned more Than 81"
witnesses. and tho majority ~ Them hai
'mc complaint they wanted 20 relate
I'm no instance can it he proved that We
havo omitted 20 call any witnesses who
have been brought to orr attention rs
having important facts to disNV~e. but
hal we desired to 'whitewash the ad-
minisuation we could . 1ve had 1000
witnesses who coulHA. fully testify
thar the conduct war was all
right
cor course. there were some evils. but
they were to be expected The soldiers
in the civil war never had hospitals or
medical attendance as good 1s WAS given
them in the war with spain. and ihc.r
army ration then was not as cdtable as
10 is now The men who complained the
most Of the food were found very gem
orally the miliiiamen from the interiors
Of States and who had been allowed So
per head for subsistence stores while
they were I'm State camps. When they
went into the active fighting they eN-
pccted the same sort Of thing.
ON questioning these men nearly al
confessed to us that they had always
received the army ration. They had mo-
right TO expect any more. ] could tell
some very funny stories 20 Illustrate this
There were many complaints brought 90
us that on their face were foolish and
false. but we went 90 every trouble and
expense 10 inquire into every genuine
charge"