The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-14
TWO SECRETARIES TALK
INTERVIEWS WITH ALGER AND GAGE
on NATIONAL QUESTIONS.
Their Opinions on the Beef Inquiry,
the Army. the Philippines, Financial
Reform and other Matters.

NEW YORK, Feb. 13.-Secretary of War
Alger. being interviewed here, said that the
War Department desired and expected a full
investigation of the charges that unwhole-
some beef had been supplied to the army
under contract with the government. Gen.
Alger expressed no opinion as to the char
acter of the verdict by the board of inquiry
into General Miles's charges, but he said he
believed it would be conclusive. "The War
Department is being investigated said Sec
rotary Alger. We want to give the inves-
tigators a free hand. If there is anything
wrong the department wants to know it. If
anything was sold TO the government that
should not have been sold it should be
found out If the beef packers are guilty
they ought to be brought to book
When asked in regard to the report of the
war commission, Secretary Alger said he
would rather say nothing about it until he
had read the entire report General Alger
said nc had carried on the work all the way
through the war to the best of his ability
During the war said the secretary, I'VE
had so much to do criticisms began to ap-
pear in some papers. When this happened l
gave orders that those papers should not be
sent to me, as there was no time to waste
My first duty was to conduct the affairs of
the department as well as I could"
General Alger compared the department
with the large private business saying that
mary unforeseen things happened in the de-
partment Just as in large private business
storms came up which could not be pre-
vented. sometimes the manager of a pri-
yate business; said the secretary, has
looked over the field and believes he has
good and faithful helpers. Then he learns
that he has been incorrect in his opinion
and that some of his men have not proved
true. THESE generally unforeseen fbipoS
which Will happen in any large private bust
ness concern as well as in the government
business. Though the work of the depart
ment was difficult / carried 1t on as was my
duty TO the best OF my ability"
When asked about the criticism by the
war commission of General Miles, Secretary
Alger asked to be excused frcm talking
Secretary Alger said, in connection with
the naming of a commanding officer of the
army that he thought regular army man
would be named in preference to a volun-
teer, although Congress could do as it
wished about such matter
Secretary Ayers attention was called to
me selling of supplies in Havana at less
than the regular market rates, in connection
win which 1t was said the supplies We're
al army rations. The secretary said: Col
Bliss. who was in charge of the collection of
customs at Havana, was asked to investi-
gate TINS, when it learned that such
sales We're being made. Some persons We're
selling supplies at less than any one else
could sell them after importing them and
paying the duty. Colonel Bliss found that
TWO men were buying up all the surplus
latOns from the troops The rations the
troops received Were more than they could
use. and 1t is considered legitimate to sell
them again. 1t Is a general practice in the
army for companies to sell their surplus
fatcnS and place the sums received to the
credit of the company funds. These two
men We're IN a way. carrying on a legiti-
mate business. Colonel Bliss found that they
had 4 storehouse fun of flour and coffee and
some other things and that they were able
TO sell -four at 81 barrel less than persons
who We're importing flour and paving duty
on it. lie told them, after consulting Wash
mgton. that they must either pay duty on
the goods or he would prevent them from
selling them. This practically stopped this
practice. Orders were given to the commits
sary department 10 buy back the extra re-
tons. 50 that the soldiers would get as much
from the government as from outsiders and
save the scandalous talk
In speaking of the Philippine and Santiago
campaigns. Secretary Alger said: General
Shafter and his expedition had to land on 4
hostile island and do the attacking durins,
the worst season there the hottest part az
the rainv season. General Otis had been AZ
Manila for some time and he was prepared
for the attack In Santiago General Shafter
had TO attack the Spaniards, while in the
Philippines our forces occupied the postum
the Spaniards had in Santiago" General
Alger said he wished to make no criticism
OF General Otis. who had done brilliant
work in Mania. He said that the two cam
paigns could hardly be compared as they
had been fought at different seasons and