Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-10
THE DODGE REPORT.
TT Is FORMALLY PRESENTED fo
THE PRESIDENT.
F GAN INCIDENT HARDLY MENTIONED.
structures on MiIes's Course win
reference to the Beef Issue-"he-
nort Doe. Not Whitewnsh," says n
Prominent Member.

W ASltlN IONs -. - h'"i "'S -
The report of the war Investigating Com
mission is in the hands of the President,
and the commission Is dissolved.
All Of the members of the commission,
including the secretary, Mr. Weightman'
and the recorder. Colonel Davis, met by
appointment at $50 o'clock this afternoon
and were at once shown to the Cabinet
room. where they were received by the
President.
General Dodge. the chairman Of the COM
mission, presented the report, and the
President. In receiving ii, congratulated
the commissioners on the completion OIL
their task. Seated around the Cabinet
table the members went over their WORK
in a general way, and at the request OF
the President read portions of their re-
port which covered certain points In
which he had expressed an interest. Inc
conference lasted about an hour and
half. and as the commissioners were
about TO leave the President said he was
satisfied that each member had done his
whole duty. He himself, had rendered
them every assistance possible, and he
said that they would bear witness that
he had not sought to influence them in
any manner or in the slightest degree.
SCOPE ALREADY PRINTED.
The report may be in the hands Of the
President several days before being given
official PRONUNCIATION. 1t consists Of be-
tween $1,000 and 5000 words. The general
scope Of the report was sent out last
night. and renewed attention was called
to-day 10 the fact then pointed out that
there were only two witnesses who made
charges against the government in re-
gard TO the beef issue.
The report points out that there were
numerous allegations made, and many
attacks in the public prints. but that
when those making the attacks and
charges were called on 10 appear before
the commission with their statements un-
der oath, or otherwise TO suDstan-
tate them. they failed either to appear
or 10 furnish The proof of what they had
said II Is insisted that all the men
who made any charges were offered full
opnortunity 10 appear. The Eagan Incl
dent Is passed over without material
mention. If any at all. In view of General
Eagan's revision of the statement that
he originally made 20 them The report
avoids all question Of the strategy of the
war.
REFERENCES TO MILES.
The references to General Miles, COM
handing the army. are devoted mainly
to structures on his course with reference
10 the beef issue as covered In his testi-
norv. I'm this connection. a main point
made It IS understood IS as to General
Mies's failure 10 take prompt action in
reporting on the beef, and instead. wait
ing a long time before communicating
the facts 10 the department, and mean
time, with the information he gave in
his possession. and his judgment on the
beef supplies made mp. permitting beef
he so vigorously condemned 10 be issued
to the army The fact that he was the
only witness failing to testify upon oath
is referred 20.
docs NOT WHITEWASH."
Speaking OF the report to-day to a Star
reporter prominent member of the
commission said: THE report does not
whitewash. 1t critcises. but not persons
or things not warranted by the evidence
before us. We started out with the as
sumption that the conduct of the war
was all right, and then we went ahead to
hear and call witnesses who said it was
not The report represents the honest
opinion Of every member of the commits
sion. We We're unanimous in adopting it.
| say this. and I am Of the opposite pO-
Htical faith and don't expect and don't
want anything from the administration.
NO SUPPRESSION.
There was no suppression or conceal
ment. and no point brought out in the
evidence was evaded or CLOSED over We
never met before hearing a witness and
agreed not to examine him or touch upon
certain matters that might turn out UNI
favorably. Everything that a man knew
or thought he knew was the subject Of
inquiry, and I am satisfied that when the
country gets our report I'm full there with
be no complaint, either as 10 our methods
or as to results.
NO PRESIDENTIAL INFLUENCE.
"The President never saw our report
before he received il officially. Not
single word has he ever said TO a single
commissioner about IL. Nor has he In
any way by word. action, or message,
evinced a wish to have us develop any
thing but the truth, or even touched upon
the matter Of our work.
we have questioned more than 800 wit
nesses, and the majority Of them had
some complaint llty wanted TO ltldte.
In no instance can it be proved that we
have omitted 10 call any witness who has
been brought TO our attention as having
important facts TO disclose But had we
desired 10 'whitewash the administration,
We could have had 10000 witnesses who
would truthfully testify that the conduct
of the war was all right
EVILS TO BE EXPECTED.
"Of course, there were some evils. but
they were TO be expected. The soldiers
In the civil war never had hospitals or
medical attendance 50 good as was given
them In the war with Spain. And their
army ration then was not as eatable as II
is now. The men who complained the
most of the food, we found were very
generally militiamen from the interiors
OF States. and who had been allowed 81
per head for subsistence stores while they
were in State camps. When they went
into active fighting they expected the
same sort Of thing.
IN questioning these men, nearly all
confessed 20 US that they had always re-
ceiyed the army ration. They had no
right to expect any more I could tell
some very funny stories 10 illustrate this.
There were many complaints brought
10 rs that on their face were foolish and
false, but we went to every trouble and
expense 10 inquire into every genuine
charge"