Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-01-30
VERDICT OF THE
WAR COMMISSION
Alger and Family Had No Interest
in Any Contracts.
WILL FIX RESPONSIBILITY.
prc.Idsnt Mckinley viii Place the
ulanc where Needed In Zach OF
the Departments.

chicago. Jan. 3o.--A Washington dis
match TO the New York Herald. which
4 printed here this morning. says:
President Mckinley will have In his
pousesslon on Thursday next complete
IMPORT Of the war investigating COM
missions. The report will comprise
about 10000 words. Attached to II viii
be an appendix u 200 printed pages.
se,,lng forth all Of the testimony taken
BY the commission during It's invcati-
cation.
IN fact. the next three days will be
most important for Secretary Alger AS
the commission IL finally TO determine
during the sessions to be held on those
days. Just what facts shall be pre-
sentcd TO show the incilciency In the
administration OF the war department.
From Information obtained a reliable
forecast OF the report can be given.
Il has been determined by the COM
mission not to mention any name nor
to make any recommendations, nut
simply to record under the head OF each
department and each camp the lncf-
fcicnoy and scandals which have been
developed ny tnf iuNtNllENNlplff uhN
Identification VIII be 40 complete that
the President viii be able TO TX the
responsibility. Here IL a summary or
the main points In the verdict.
MILES on HIS DIGNITY.
The secretary OF war ordered the
major general commanding tu make an
Inspection tour Of camps. The major
general commanding returned the order
"a tssI Las II Ina he =
IN the habit OF making out his own
o.dcr.
The major general commanding was
Permitted 10 go to Santiago de cuba
and at the same time the secretary Of
war Informed Cen. Shaftcr that Gen.
Miles was not to Hupcrsede him In CONE
mnnd.
4 large number Of civilians who were
without experience were appointed 60
stan positions bud they rapidly learned
their duties.
AIGER INDICATED.
The charges preferred against the
secretary Of war that he aud members
OF his family wvrr Interested ON sites
selected for camps and In contracts ARE
without foundation. The major general
commanding recommended location OF
camps nt ChlcknmnuHa ana Tampa and
an officer ON the stan OF den. Miles
selected the site for Camp Aigcr. The
fecretnry strongly opposed the ioca-
tlon ~ camps ut Miami.
The secretary OF war did not learn
~ the condition nf the troops at santi-
ago de Cuba until the Hound Robin
was circulated. when steps were taken
10 bring troops north.
NOT ENOUGH INSPECTIONS.
A sufficient number Of inspections was
not made by the Inspector generals
department. Had such been the case
the camp conditions would not have
been AZ serious as they proved to BE-.
Sanitary precautions would have been
adopted and IN ease Of Camp Thomas.
conditions which finally brought about
the removal Of the camp would have
been discovered before.
Many VI the officers OF the Inspector
Eenerafr department were transferred
10 volunteer service aud placed In
command Of troops. their places In the
Inspection corps being taken by othcrs
less experienced In inspection work. re-.
suit being cpldcmics OF typhoid and
Irregularities which. had proper and
frequent inspections been Instituted.
would not have occurred. The COM
mission win show that this department
should be radically rprganlEed.
40 irregularities have been found In
The quartcrmnHicr generals depart
mcnt Notwithstanding many charges
Preferred against II. Contracts for
clothing and supplies wcrc found 60 be-
carefully drawn. In the matter OF
horses Il was found that prices had
BEEN paid for splendid animals ranging
between sos ana tisG. nH cheap az an,
corporation In the country could have
bought them. so far M clothing was
conecrned,it win be found that In some
eases prices paid were cheaper than
NOSE paid for the same articles before
The war,
a long chapter win be devoted To
transportation. The commission has
found no evidence Of scandal In the
matter Of purchases of Transports. not
MlihHtanding charges made that Sees
felhry Algcr and Col. Hccker were
soandnlonsly involved.
shAFrER RECEIVES ATTENTION.
There was undue overcrowdlng on
hnlfi transports, the fault OF quarter
master In charge ana Of the officers
on board. though n viii be admitted
mat Gen. Shafter should have taken
action TO prevent such oycrcrowding.
me commission VIII present facts
WIN Inference 10 transports In order
ihat the President may take such ac-
Won against officers responsible as he
may deem necessary.
coMMIssARY BUREAU.
The administration Of the commits.
tAIN generals department win be
commended and attention viii be-
eauei 10 Disbursements amounting "a
ahput Nb0oo,oo0. ana the statement
idr that the government obtained
BEEF SCANDAL.
Hesardlng the beef controversy. the
commission VIA lind the charges that
snemlcnlS were used 10 preserve beet
~ Without foundation, ana that re-
ulsefatcd beef furnished the army
VA excellent In quality and sufficient
~ quantity. Attention will be- called
We fact that the beef upon which
lchlH We're used was placed on
puolil a transport AZ Tampa by Mr.,
eminent.
win respect 10 canned beef. the
ohhllHHlon VIII lind that meat was
49, ana underwent no chemical treat
,fht that In the hot climate OF cuba
w. lll melted ana gave AN unappetiz-
~ appearance 10 the contents OF ths