The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-13

I professed to have, knowledge Of the
! facts involved in such charges.
1t was further determined that in the
| examination of witnesses the strict
rules OF evidence as applied in legal
proceedings should not be adhered to-
! but considerable latitude should be al
| lowed.
While, therefore, in general, the rules
| of evidence have been followed we have
not hesitated to relax their application
when thought advisable. During our
! sessions we have examined 495 wit
nesses. All of these were sworn or af-
firmed except one who declined to take
the oath. The chief examination was
| conducted by the member designated
for that purpose, but each witness was
! interrogated by every member of the
commission who desired TO do so.
DESIRED THE FACTS.
Our purpose, in the discharge of our
duties, was to arrive at the facts touch
! ing the conduct of the war, and no ef-
fort was spared by US to reach that re-
suit. We have examined the secretary
of war, the commanding general, heads
OF departments, officers of corps, divis-
ions, brigades, regiments and COM
panies. non-cOmmissioned officers and
privates, nurses and persons from
many emDlOyments in private life. No
man or woman who has stated to US
that he or she had any material mat
/ ter touching the subject of our inquiry
to communicate has been refused a
hearing.
All the members of the commission
have been engaged in taking testimony.
II has happened that Subcommittee
have been occupied in hearing wit
nesses at four different places at the
same time. The commission visited il
person most of the old camps. AS
rule, the inspection was not only ot
camps, but of troops and supplies, ano
much valuable information was obtain
ed by contact with officers and enlisted
men.
AT all of these places we have invit-
ed, sometimes with special insistence,
every person to come before US and
testify who could throw any light on
the conduct of the war department in
anv oE its branches.
Any charge of corruption or intima-
ton of fraud or bribery in connection
with the letting of any contract, even
hint Of wrongdoing, has been care
fully investigated. 1t may be said now
at the beginning of this report, that
there has been no evidence before Us
that anyone in or connected with the
war department has dishonesty receiv-
ed a dollar. We have made persistent
efforts TO secure the attendance Of per-
sons TO whose names rumor had attach
ed an allegation that they knew of
corruption of officials in the war de-
partment, but these men have either
denied the statements attributed to
them or have maintained silence when
invited to tell what they knew.
SUGGESTIONS MADE.
Before proceeding to a specific de-
scription OF the conduct and manage
ment of the war, the report gives COM
mentS and suggeS tons touching certain
matters which came under cOnsidera-
ton as a logical consequence of the in
quiry pursued by the commission. Re
ferring 10 the question OF retired Of
ncers, the report says:
Under existing laws the officers Of
the army are retired when they reach
the age OF 64. We have had before Us
many suggestions made by officers on
the retired list, who are men OF eX-
perience and distinction that this law
should be so amended as to give TO the
president the right to call into active
service any retired officer during the
time of war This right exists as to the
retired officers of the navy. and it seems
TO US there is no reason why it should
not be extended to embrace retired
army officers
1T does not appear reasonable that
ing the existence of war, the use of eX-
perienced men merely on account of
their age. We think it would be wise
TO make 1t discretionary with the presi-
dent TO use the officers on the retired
list for filling positions during war and
not trench on the active organization
that may be needed in the field. Dur
ing the recent war many positions were
hlled by the appointment of civilians to
which retired officers could have
brought professional training, valuable
knowledge and larger experience"
In the matter of the regimental Of
ficers, the commission found that all
volunteer commands differed by men
Of military experience and training
fared much better than those differed
by amateurs. The soldiers were more
effectively cared for, enjoyed better
health, and were better fed and clothed. |
The commission recommends for the
future strict examination into the !
qualifications of all officers appointed /
to the army, regular or volunteer The
establishment of schools for inexoer-
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