The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-13
Department Lacked Complete
Grasp of the Situation.
Department More or Less
CriticiZed--The Subsistence Depart
ment Voted All RigEat--M Miles Charges
Not Sustained and He is Criticiz for
Not Reporting What He Knew Before
mot Slightest Proof Of Fraud.

Washington. Feb. 13. The report sub
mitted to the President last Wednesday
by the commission appointed by him to
investigate the conduct Of the war de.
partment in the war with Spain, was
made public tonight The report Is
unanimous one, all the members OF the
Com mission having signed it except Col.
Sexton, whose death occurred February
A. At its close it says;
at is with regret that the commission
reports that during its later session Col.
James A. Sexton was prevented by sick
ness from being present and on the
fourth day of February our loved col
league closed an honored and active
life."
The report is voluminous document,
containing about 5000 words and an
official abstract prepared by the secretary
of the commission was furnished to the
press for its convenience. The abstract
says:
The reports tell of the appointment and
organization OF the comm mission. The
heads OF departments were asked to fur
nish statement of all complaints made
to them, and complied. All who had any
complaints to make were invited to ap-
per before the board. Statements were
furnished from the chiefs of the depart
ments regarding the condition OF their
respective departments. Strict rules
Arf hpt IN nrh
leeway given. In all 495 wistnesses were
examined: :and all took the oath but one
who declined to do so. Charges or hints
of corruption or bribery were carefully
Investigated.
1t may be said now at the beginning Of
this report that there has been no evidence
before us that any one in or connected
with the war department has dishonesty
received q dollar. We have made persist
ent efforts to secure the attendance of
persons to whose names rumor has at
tached an allegation that tEey knew OF
corruption Of officials in the war depart
ment but these men have either denied
the statements attributed TO them, or
have maintained silence when invited
to tell what they knew
Before proceeding to a specific descrip-
ton of the conduct and management of
the war, the report gives comments and
suggestions touching certain matters
which came under consideration as logi
cal consequence of the injury pursued
by the commission.
Referring to the question OF retired off,
Q the report says:
Under existing laws the officers of
the army are retired when they reach the
age Of 6i.
at does not appear reasonable that an
arbitrary law should prevent, during
tho existence of war. the use of expert
enced men merely on account of their
age. We think 1t would be wise to make
is discretionary with the President to use
the officers ON the retired list for filling
positions during war and not trerch on
the active organization that thy may be
needed in the deld.
During the recent war. many posi-
tions were filled by the appointment OF
civilians to which retired ottcrs could
have brought professional training. val
liable knowledge and large experince.
''In the ter of reigmental officers,
the commission found that all volunteer
commands officered by men of military
experience and trainin Jared much better
than those oficered by amateurs. The
soldiers. who were more effectively cared
for. enjoyed better health and were better
fed and clothed.
"The commission recommends for the
future strict examination into the quail
ifications of all officers appointed TO the
army. regular or volunteer. The estab-
lishment of schools Of instruction for in
experienced officers taken from civilian
life to meet the emergency created by the
war is highly commended. Quite num-
ber of regular officers assigned to the
command Of volunteer troops adopted