The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-04-19
FRAUDS
IN ARMY
Macarthur is Asked to
Send Inform alton.
DAVIS AT CAPITAL
War Depa rtment Called Upon
Him to Explain, and
Made Deniais.

"aue DenlaiS.
Washington, April 17.-Secretary
Root cabled General Macarthur ask.
ing for additional information con-
cerning the reports of frauds in
Manila. 1t is expected that reply
will be received today. While defin-
ite instructions have not been given
General Macarthur heretofore 70
make a search and complete investi-
CATION, it is understood that the re-
quests for information were OF
character to imply that the depart
ment expected such an investigation
should be made. Nothing definite has
been received from General MacAr-
thur about the alleged frauds. al
though reference has been made to
the investigation in cablegrams re-
| ceived. The first dispatch on the
subject from General Macarthur said
there had been exaggeration in the
press reports, but the persistence
with which the reports have been re-
| iterated and the news dispatch CIV
ing names and specific amounts indi-
Gated to the department officials that
perhaps General Macarthur was not
advised fully when he made his first
report. 1t can be stated that the de-
partment Intends to have all the in
| formation possible on the subject.
| and General Macarthur will be ex-
pected to push the trials and make
complete report of any and all wrong
doing.
Major George B. Davis, whose name
Is mentioned in the dispatch from
I Manila as being credited upon the
books of Evans G Co. as having re-
/ ceived 81 900, is in Washington, To a
reporter he would give no information
when asked if he desired to reply to
the assertion. He was called upon
by the war department, however, for
an explanation, and to an officer said
that he knew nothing about the mat
ter. He was closely questioned and
said that he never had any money
from the firm Of contractors men
toned had not borrowed any, and
could not explain why there should
have been any charge made. AL
though he is in this country on sick
leave, he will return to Manila, and.
if the matter is not cleared up when
he arrives there, will demand court
of inquiry.
Evans, of the firm of Evans G Co.,
is known to some army officers in
Washington. Evans was in this coun-
try a short time ago and may now be
in New York, If he has not returned
to Manila. 1t is not known whether
he is an Englishman, an American or
a Canadian. He was from Niagara,
though from which side on the river
. was not known.
At the commissary department Cen
, eral Weston spoke of his subordinate,
. Colonel Woodruff, in the highest
terms. He said:
Colonel Woodruff always has
borne the highest reputation in the
army as a splendid officer and thor
, oughly honest man. There might be
opportunities for small frauds in
great depot such as that at Manila,
but there would have, to be collusion
among the officers and the sergeants
in charge if frauds were carried on
; to any great extent. 1t depends
largely upon the honesty of the COM
, missary in charge to prevent any
wrongdoing, and he would be very
, likely to know il there was anything
crooked going on in large way.
, Where so much business is done it
. is almost impossible to make any in.
, ventory of goods on hand. Before
such an inventory is completed half
; of the goods may have been taken
, away. The usual method is for the
/ commanding general and the COM
missary officer in charge to go
: through the warehouse and inspect
, the stores and make a statement as
to the stores on hand at a given time
1t is recognized that such busy man
as General Macarthur would not be
able to make such an inspection, and
even If he did he would have to take
the word of the commissary for nearly
everything, so as a matter of fact
the chief commissary has almost ex-
elusive control and Is the man held
, responsible. 1t Is for this reason
that man Of experience and rank is
selected to be chief commissary of an
important point like Manila, which
is the distributing point for 10000
? troops"
p Colonel Woodruff made illusions to
q the arrest Of the commissary sergeant
: in kilograms to General Weston, but
: nothing like report was made by
Z him.