Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-09

MARKABLE NEATNESS AND DE-
SPATCH.
Washington, d. c., February S-The
war investigating commission has now
| completed its labors and its report will
be in the hands Of the President to-
morrow.
The committee held session to-day
that extended well into the afternoon,
going over details. Tomorrow the
members of the commission will meet
at their old Offices. formally attach
their signatures to the original docu-
ment and proceed in a body 10 the exec
( utive mansion to inform the President
that they have completed their mis-
sion and present their report. The !.
commission will then cease to exist.
/ The commissions quarters will he
vacated Immediately and viii betaken
| possession of by Gen. Kennedy and
Major Watkins. who hold the newly
created offices of advisers to the War
Department on colonial affairs.
The report of the commission is
voluminous document of $50 printed
| pages. Each member has been provid-
ed a printed copy to retain and ar
rangements have been made so thq
President will have as many printed
copies as he wishes when he makes the y
document public.
The report makes an important fea-
ture of the beef issue and dismisses "a
a general proposition the charges that
have been made against the beef fur
nished the army. 1t finds, it is ind
stood, that most of the beef was suchM
as could be properly furnished as an
emergency ration, pointing cut that
the evidence shoyed. i meyer waz4an
tended TO be anything but an emeri
cy ration. 1t says there were only
two witnesses who really testified
against the beef. Gen. Miles and Majov
DAILY, the chief surgeon Who made the 4
report, regarded as the most sensa-
tional, forwarded to the commission by
Cen Miles. As to the testimony OF
these two witnesses the commission.
it is understood, goes on to point out
the mass of evidence submitted to tho
contrary as off-setting this testimony.
AS to canned beef, which was found
to be Objectionable, the commission
points out the effect Of the tropical cli-
mate in producing liquefaeoon of the
fat in the meat and the consequent
rendering OF the contents unpalatable.
Most. of the beef, though. Is found To-
have byen satisfactory for emergency
use, where. fresh beef or beef on the
hoof could not be procukd-
The structures OF .sflles made
publicly on the beef. - public
expression in other w 80
stood, are subjected
cism.
! The methods and manner OF loadiN
the transports In Gen. Skaters Cuban
expedition are also discussed and re-
sponsibility placed for the results. The
| report finds that the statements Of
| chemical treatment made by General +
Miles on the authority Of Major DAILY
are not borne out by the chemical ex- {
perts who were also placed on the
stand 1t quotes from Major Days |
/ testimony and then takes up the testl-
mony of Chemists Clarke, OF the Geo.
logical Survey, and Biglow, OF the Agri-
cultural Department, who examined an
analysis Of the beef submitted and ands 1
that as a chemical expert Major Daily 5
is not supported by the other chemical
authorities, and therefore his testimony
is regarded as not worthy Of credence.
There are also said to be some rec
concentrations as TO organization OF
certain branches Of the army, but, 1t Is
stated, the recommendations are not
radical.
AS to the administration and condree
OF the war the conclusions OF the COM
mission are understood TO be that
everything possible was done by the
department in the limited time that 1t
had at its command In making It's prep
arations for the war and the report
says that the conduct OF the war no4
only worked out in the end successfully
but in such a way as to be worthy q
great commentator.
The report says that the evidence Be.
fore the commission shows that Scores
tary Alger exercised proper diligence
and supervision and that his subordi-
mates also were efficient, experienced
and faithful The commission is a unit
on its report and there Is no m.ka6
report
At the outset the commission IA
Itself into subcommittee fo
s se::. ::,