The morning news., 1899-02-10
pFpORT is WITH PRESIDENT.
INvEsTIGATION COMMISSION
FORMALLY DISSOLVED.

N.xvSDapers-Miles Cr1ticised 1or
- Acting PrOmptIy-Said There
was No Whitewashing.
Wellington. Feb. 9.-The report of the
investigating commission is in the
hords of the President, and the commits
sion is dissolved.
,n the members of the commission, in
o,n5fne the secretary, Mr.. Weightman,
and the recorder, Col Davis, met by ap-
nointment at the White House at 4;5O
o.clock this afternoon and were at once
shown into the cabinet room. where they
we're received by the President.
cen. Dodge, the chairman of the COM
mission. presented the report, and in re-
ceiving it the President congratulated the
commissioners on the completion of 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 report
which covered certain points in which he
had expressed an interest.
The conference lasted about an hour and
half. and as the commissioners were
about to leave the President stated that he
was satisfied that each member had done
his whole duty He, himself, had rendered
them every assistance possible, and said
they would bear witness that he had not
sought to influence them in any manner
or in the slightest degree.
Scope of the Report.
The report may be in the hands of the
President several days before being given
official PRONUNCIATION, 10 enable him to give
full consideration to the document. Ii con-
eists of between sixty and sixty-five thou
sand words. The general scope of the re-
port was sent out last night and renewed
attention was called to-day to the fact
then presented that there were only two
witnesses who made charges against the
government in the beefNissue.
The report points out that there were
numerous allegations made and many at
tacks in the public prints, but that when
those making the attacks and charges
were called on to appear before the COM
mission with their statements under oath
or otherwise substantiate them. they fail
ed either to appear to furnish proof of
what they had said.
It is insisted that all the men who had
made any charges were offered the fullest
opportunity TO be heard and their state
ments given full consideration and that
every effort had been made to probe the
truth in whatever matters had come up
before their body.
Eagan-MiIes Controversy.
The Eagan incident is passed over with
out material mention, if al ALL in view
of Gen. Eagans revision of the statement
that he originally made to them The re-
port avoids all question of the strategy
of the war, that being matter regarded
as outside the functions of the commits
sion
The references to Gen. Miles. command
ing the army are devoted mainly to STRIFE
lures on his course with reference 10 the
beef issue, as covered in his testimony
In this connection, main point made it
is understood, is as to Gen. Miles failure
to take prompt action in reporting on the
beef, and instead, waiting a long period
before communicating the facts to the de-
partment, and, meantime, with the infor-
nation he gave in his possession and his
Judgment on the beef supplies made up
permitting beef he so vigorously condemn
ed to be issued to the army. The fact
that he was the only witness falling to
testify upon oath is referred to.
Says 1t Does Not Whitewash.
Speaking of the report to-day, a promi-
nent member Of the commission said:
The report does not whitewash It
crlilcises, but crbticises no persons. or
things not warranted by the evidence be-
lore u.s. We started out with the assump-
ton that the conduct of the war was s\all
right and then we went ahead to hear
ana call witnesses who said it was not
The report represents the honest opin-
ion OF every member of the commission
we We're unanimous in adopting it, I saw
ms and l am of the opposite political
falth and don't expect and don't want any
thing from the administration.
There was no suppression or conceal
ment and no point brought out in the evil
dence was evaded or CLOSED over. We
never met before hearing a Witness and
agreed not to examine him or touch on
certain matters that might not turn out
unfaVorabiy. Everything that a man
knew or thought he knew was the subject
OF inquiry, and I am satisfied when the
country gets our report in full that there
wIll he no complaint either as to our
methods or results.
President Had Not Seen 1t.
'The President never saw a line of our
report before he received it officially. not
a single word. Nor, indeed, has he ever
talked with any of the commission about
IT, He has never in any way, by word or
action or message, evinced a wish to have
us develop anything but the truth or even
touched upon the matter of our work.
We have questioned more than 500 wit
nesses. and the majority of them had some
complaint they wanted TO relate. In no in
stance can it be proved that we have
omitted to call any witnesses who have
been brought to our attention as having
important facts to disclose But had we
0N y NHitSWeSli tH6 administration
we could have had ten thousand witnesses
who could truthfully testify that the con-
uuct Of the war was all right.
Some Evils Expected.
"Of course, there were some evils. but
they We're to be expected. The soldiers in
the clvh war never had hospitals or medi-
cal attendance a good as was given them
IN the war with Spain. And their army ra-
uon then was not as eatable as it is now
Inc men who complained the most of the
Looo' We're very generally the militamen
from The interior of states and who had
been allowed 50 per head for subsistence
Stores While they were in state camps
Wheh they went into the active fighting
they expected the same sort of thing.
IN questioning these men nearly all
oonIessed to us that they had always re-
served the army ration. They had no
rlgnt 70 expect any more l could tell
some XerX funny. stnrina Z ill.,st..at. .I.l.