New-York tribune., 1899-06-13
MR.. MEIKLEJOHN'S WORK.
REPORT OF THE WAR INVESTIGATING
COMMISSION ARBITRARILY
sIrppRTSSED

SUPPRESSED.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: There was a general enjoyment here Of
your recent article about Mr.. Meiklejohn at
work Those of us who have been forced TO
observe how that functionary. as you said,
takes his eminence seriously II not awfully."
were glad to see his pretty little girsh airs
Of rapture described.
But why didn't you publish The Associated
Press dispatch which gave the facts about
Meikejohn's snuffing out General Grenville "
Dodges War Department investigation? As
your readers were thus deprived Of the authsn-
tic basis for your comments, perhaps you will
be willing to print some points Of the case. IN
cluding some details known here In the service
but possibly not known 10 you.
First-The Commission to investigate the
conduct Of the War Department in the war with
Spain" was appointed by the President at ths
request Of the Secretary Of War.
Second-The Commission at the very outset
understood that II was TO be absolutely inde-
pendent Of the War Department, as Is dis
closed in the instructions given 10 the Commits
sion by the President. and It's members, or
at least a majority of them. would have re-
fused TO serve had It been suspected that the
slightest connection. official or otherwise, ex-
listed between the Commission and the Depart
ment II was charged to investigate.
Third-With that understanding the Commis-
sion entered upon and prosecuted its investiga-
ton. fling its report, OF which the testimony
was part on February .. 1899.
Fourth-Pursuant 10 the orders OF the Com.
mission. under authority Of the President TO
compile for publication the testimony and evil
dence submitted to It, such testimony and evi-
dence was set In type and has been stereo-
typed.
Flfth-On May "a, upon the verbal orders OF
Assistant Secretary Mekejohn, Colonel Mills
the recorder Of the court. was directed 10 sus-
pend the printing Of the testimony and eyi.
dence taken and 10 discharge the employees Of
the Commission.
Sixth-That Colonel Mills, as an officer Of the
Army, accepted this verbal order OF the As
sistant Secretary as sufficient warrant for the
discharge of the employees Of the Commission,
including its secretary, who had been directly
appointed by the President.
Seventh-There remains now TO the credit Of
the Commission a balance OF about $4,000.
against which. however. is to be charged an
Indebtedness to the Public Printer almost as
large.
Eighth-The expenses Of the Commission have
ID,
the lack Of money for completing its work by
the publication of the testimony is. in view Of
the fact that more than S2O0OOO0 Of the $780,
100000 defence fund is said to remain at the
disposal Of the President not sufficient rea-
son for suppressing the testimony at this time
and in this manner.
There is good authority for believing that
Secretary Alger did not know on the day be-
fore Meikleiohn issued his order that the en-
p,oyes of the Commission were to be discharged.
Cn the contrary, he discussed at some length
with an official the best method OF distributing
the testimony. When IL was suggested TO him
tha. it would be best not TO turn this part or
the work over TO the War Department General
Aiser readily admitted the propriety OF such
course and was himself the first to Indicate
that a different method of distribution might
tend 10 create in the public mind notion that
the War Department and the Commission which
had investigated II were in colluson.
have yet TO encounter. outside the stan bu-
rcau ring Of the Department, a single officer, or
civilian, for that matter, who Is willing to shed
a tear over Meiklejohn. He is universally dis
liked One Republican. Senator Hawley. openly
talks of him as inflated ass Another Re-
publican Senator suspects him OF suffering from
'megalomania" Among his former party as
socrates
This was clearly shown In the debate over the
Army Reorganization bill in February last
The attitude OF the President in the matter Is
not quite so clear. 1t is inconceivabe, but for
the fact that Meiklejohn is Meiklejohn, that
such an order could have been issued without
the Presidents knowledge. Yet here is Ager
confessing his ignorance Of It. II 1t was issued
by the Presidents direction then he delioer-
atalv snuhheI Secretary OF War. besides
exposing himself TO the charge Of compelling
a subordinate to do a thing which ne himself
is either unwilling or afraid to do. The Presl-
dent certainly received from at least one Oh
the Commissioners letter protesting against
Meikletohns action, and l rather think tna'
another of them has written in similar spiFL:
Since your article the disbursing offcer Oh
the Commission Colonel Jones L. ;. Al re-
ceived the promise OF the auditor 10 pass
reauisition for S25,000 TO complete the work OF
printing the testimony. This promise was no'
kept, however. the auditor. upon thinking Ihe
matter over, taking the ground that ne mas n'
authority TO allow such requisitlon Whae-
ever his course may ultimately be, IL SHOWS
that the War Department felt the justice ..
the editorial criticism and made the attefnp'
to undo what Meiklejohn had done. yours re
spectfully. AN OLD BUREAU Glenn"
Washington June 6, 1899
M n IECT