Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-04-17
FRAUDS IN ARliI.
Macarthur Asked to Send IN
formation.
DAVIS WAS IN WASHINGTON
War Department Called Upon fiin y
Explain, and Made Oenisls-1e
eral Weston Spoke Highly of Col.
oneI 5oodfuff.

Washington, April 17-Secretary
Root cabled General Macarthur ask.
ing for additional inforL 4yien' eo18.
corning the reports Of fraads in
Manila. It is expected that c Feplf
will be received today While deli4-
ite Instructions have not been given
General Macarthur heretofore %
make a search and complete iayesti-
cation. it is understood that the re
quests for information were of a
character to imply that the depart
ment expected such an investigation
should be made. Nothing definite has
been received from General MacAF-
thur about the alleged frauds, al
though reference has been made 70
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 ANports have been re-
iterated and tbs news dispatch CIV
ing names and specific amounts ind
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 a
complete report of any and all wrong
doing.
Major George B. Davis, whose name
is mentioned in the dispatch from
Manila as being credited upon the
books of Evans & 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 a court
of inquiry.
Evans, of the firm of Evans & Co.
is known to some army officers in
Washington Evans was in this eoun-
try a short time ago and may now be
in New York. if he has not returned
to Manila It is not known whether
he is an Englishman, an American or
Canadian. He was from Niagara,
though from which side on the river
was not known.
At the commissary department Gen
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 splendid officer and thor
oughly honest man. There might be
opportunities for small frauds in a
great depot such as that at Manila
| but there would have to be collision
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 if there was anything
crooked going on in large way.
WHERE So uuC4 business is QOQe 1t
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 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. It 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"
Colonel Woodruff made illusions to
the arrest of the commissary sergeant
in kilograms to General Weston. but
nothing like a report was made by
him.
lNREMMfTJ hIMC M Nlnkt.