The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-05-25
COLONEL WOODRUFF ExoNERArED.
General Forwards Report OF investigation
OF Commissary Scandal.

General Forwards Report OF investigation
OF Commissary Scandal.
Washington, May 24--About 600 pounds
of Manila mail were received Mt the war
department today. Tho most important
document received was the report of the
Taft commission on the scheme of civil
government for the Philippines. which IL
Is expected will be put into operation
about July If approved by the president
and secretary of war. The document III
very volumnous.
The mall also brought the report OF Gen
erRi Macarthur upon the investigation
made as to the connection of Colonel Wood
RUIZ ana other regular commissnry officers
with the fraud In the commissary depart
nient. His report, Il Is understood. eX-
onerates Colonel Woodruff, although some
OF his former subordinates are said to he
criticised for lax methods.
II appears from the official reports that
Colonel Woodruff had set on foot an IN
vestigation OF the Irregularities, especially
those relating to the sales OF commissary
supplies before the arrival OF Major West
The latter began an important lnvestleh-
ton. When Major West became depot
commissary he found very lax state a
affairs. There were several large ware
houses mostly In charge Of commissary
sergeants and no way Of holding these non
commissioned officers responsible for the
property under their charge. AS large
amounts Of goods were being sent out
from each warehouse reports OF lrregulau
ties reached the headquarters that civilians
and teamsters were engaged In the busi-
ness of selling commissary supplies The
method by which this was accomplished
was: Orders would be given by commits
sary sergeant in charge Of warehouse for
certain goods. The teGmsterr would deliver
the goods TO parties to whom they bld
been previously sold by some other indi-
vdual In the conspiracy and the money
would be divided pro rata among the men
engaged In the scheme The lax met huds
Of Major Davis, the former depot commits
sary, aud Of Captain Reed allowed the sys
tenn to go on.
Major West, in reporting upon the gen
eral conditions recommended that cam
handing officer he placed In charge 81 each
warehouse and he held responsible for the
property.
II appears he became satisfied that the
purchase privilege Of the commlssary
stores was being abused. THIS Induced
him 10 make an investigation. aud II was
found that nour. bacon and other supplies
were being sold In Manila. IL was alse
found that ratlons which were not USED
by the troops were being disposed Of and
this was attributed largely 10 the sales
made by the returning volunteers. Colonel
Woodruff also found that Reed had nc.
cepted rebates from cigar dealer ana
centage from vegetable contractors. Colonel
Woodruff also found that there was steal
Ing 30 certain extent on the lighters,
something that was very hard 70 prevent,
owing to the conditions prevailing in Ma
Mia harbor and methods Of unloading
goods from transports to lighters aud
thence to the shore. II Is said that men
n cover the losses by boards of survey,
which would report certain losses Of stores.
but fixing no responsibility, as there have
and their delivery to the troops, losses
which are said to be unavoidable.