The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-27
ALGER'S Own STORY
Of the Conduct of the War,
Told to the War Board.
DOODLE POSITIVELY DENIED
Stands Up for the Beef Fur
nished the Army.

response 10 an lnNlldIOn OF the Wat III
/ vestigating commission. appeared before
/ that body today. The secretary was sworn
/ by General Wilson, after which Governor
Beaver, after asking permission TO use the
title General instead OF Mr.. Secretary"
began the examination of the head of the
war department.
| Secretary Alger, in beginning. stated that
| he had been on duty at the war depart
ment constantly during and after the war
with Spain. The chiefs OF bureaus in the
department, he said, were generally ap-
pointed to such places because OF senior
| ity, but the president, II he thought proper.
could break this rule.
When asked in regard to expenditures
by the department. OF the war fund. the
secretary replied that the larger part had
been devoted TO strengthening coast de-
fenses. In anticipation OF such an inquiry.
ne had brought with him memorandum
prepared by heads Of bureaus giving de-
tails of the expenditure of this fund.
During the continuance of the war ne
had been kept constantly advised OF all
actions taken by the several bureaus. The
chiefs of bureaus often reported 70 him
several times day. If he had not been
advised of any important fact in regard 10
departmental work the head of one of the
bureaus was to blame. If any report orig
mating outside of the department came to
him he investigated it at once.
TOO BIG a JOB FOR ANYBODY.
During the early days of the war with
an army TO provide for. some defects were
apparent. II was not because of a lack
of funds but because ii was impossible 10
handle properly so large body Of men on
such short notice.
Witness did not recall having received
during the war complaints in regard to
food furnished the army. There was a
shortage of food at Santiago, not because
there were no supplies, but because they
could not be unloaded from the ships. No
old soldier. said the secretary, ne believed.
would make harsh criticism of the food
furnished the army under the circum-
stances.
He had never had any cause during the
war for complaint of any officer.
DISTINCTLY. NO DOODLE.
"Was the head of any bureau guilty Of
failure to discharge his duty during the
continuance of the war;" asked Governor
Beaver. /,
mo, sir" replied Secretary Alger.
did any report come to you of any
irregularities or of any fraudulent prac-
tees in the contracting for supplies fur
nlshed to any department."
mo, sir
ibid you. directly or indirectly. have
any interest in the selection of any OF the
camps occupied by any of the troops?"
mo. sir Teo not know that any one
connected with me had any such inter-
est"
did you have any interest in any con-
tract for materials supplied during the
WARP"
Not a cent in any contract" replied the
secretary emphatically.
Does that apply to transports pur-
chased?"
"Yes. sir
The secretary went on to state that
he had never had any personal interest in
the expenditure of government funds. d.
rectly or indirectly. No contracts for equip
ment were entered into prior to the dec
laration of war
THE BEEF QUESTION.
"Have you received any complaint from
the major general of the army while at
Porto Rico as to the quality OF refrig-
Grated and canned roast beef furnished the
army?''
The secretary, replying. referred to his
annual report. quoting a dispatch from
General Miles asking that no more beef
be sent because they could get large sup
ply there. General Miles had said some
thing about beef that had spoiled there.
Governor Beaver asked whsther the rea-
son why actual preparation FOR war was
not made before the declaration Of war.
was because it was thought IL would be
averted. No reply. however, was epected
II the question was not deemed by the
secretary a proper one.
The witness replied that there had been
hopes that war would be averted. The
chiefs Of the several bureaus of the de-
partmnts had never assembled to hold a
council OF war. They were all too busy.
in regard to the inspector generals Of .
fee. the secretary did not considsH that /
the bureau had been practically abolished
BY the transfer OF ocers 70 other duty. He
believed that # retained its efficiency
Secretary Alger next told of the insDec- (
ton Of the. camps. especially the tour %
inspection by General Miles. He CAigerl f
never had received any official complaint I
from the armies in the field in regard 10
fresh or canned meat furnished - ops. .
Have you any Information THAI meat F.
was chemically treated2''
Nothing but what has been brought out .
by this commission"
Beef. ne wen. on. had been used as an
army ration FOR many years and rs use
was not an experiment "a > Spanish VA f.
No complaints had been received by TN (.
from the camps IN regard 20 beet
When asked whether re- vas personally
IN contracts for furnishing meat,
the secretary said vlrh positIveness.
Il have not. 7 never had. directly o. in
directly. Interest IN any property. in any
thing supplied 70 this government
He had never received a. Official repors