The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-25
aPARTHUR'S OFFICIAL REPORT on
COMMISSARY FRAUDS REACHES
WASHINGTON
CORRUPTION WAS WIDESPREAD
LAX METHODS OF OFFICERS I'm
CHARGE AT MANILA LARGELY
TO BLAME
SYSTEM HAS BEEN SHAKEN UP

WASHINGTON, May A-About 10.
pounds Of Manila mail were received at
the war department today The most
important document received was the re-
port of the Taft commission on the
scheme of civil government for the Phil
ippines which it is expected will be put
into operation about July l, If approved
by the president and secretary of war.
The document is quite voluminous
The mail also brought the report Of
Gen. Macarthur en- the investigation
made as to the connection of Col Wood
ruff and other regular commissary Of
ticers with the frauds in the commissary
department This report, eXonerates
Col. Woodruff, although some of his
former subordinates are criticised for
lax methods.
1t appears from the official reports re-
ceived by the department that Col
Woodruff had set on foot ar investiga-
tion Of the irregularities, especially those
relating to the sales of commissary sup
plies. before the arrival Of NAL West
The latter began an independent in
vestigation. When Mai West became
depot commissary he found a very lax
state of affairs. There were several
large warehouses, mostly in charge of
commissary sergearts, and no way Of
holding these non-commissioned officers
responsible for the property under their
charge. Maj. West decided to take an
inventory before proceeding with other
business, but found this almost impos-
sdble because individual stock books for
each warehouse had not been kept under
the Former management
HOW IT WAS DONE.
AS large amounts of goods were being
sent out from each warehouse daily the
opportunities for irregularities induced
tie commissary sergeants, civilian en-
ployes, and teamsters to engage in the
business Of selling commissary supplies
The method by which this was accom-.
0lished was:
Orders would be given by a commits
Sary sergeant in charge of a Warehouse
sor delivery to the civilian teamster of a
warehouse of certain goods This teamster
Sould deliver the goods to parties a,
Shom they had been previously sold bv
scne other individual in the conspiracy
and the money would be divided pro rata
among the men engaged in the scheme
1he lax methods of Maj Davis. the
CORNER depot commissary, and of Capt
6ead' allowed the system to go on
Mag. West In reporting upon the gen
e1al conditions recommended that a COM
mlssioned officer be placed in charge of
each warehouse and held responsible for
the property.
WIDESPREAD ABUSE.
From a report made by Col Wood
ruff, it appears that ne became satisfied
that the purchase privileges of the COM
missary stores in Manila were being
abused. This induced him to make an
Investigation and it was found that -four
bacon and other supplies were being sold
In Manila. 1t also was found that the
rations which We're not used by the
troops were being disposed oe and this
was attributed largely to the sales made
by the returning volunteers. Col. Wood
ruff also found that Read had accepted
rebates from sugar dealer and through
naval officer had solicited a percentage
from vegetable contractors. Col. Wood.
run also found that there was stealing
10 a certain extent on the lighters, some-
thing that was very hard TO prevent
owing to the conditions prevailing in
Manila harbor. and the methods of un
loading goods from the transports to the
lighters and thence to the shore.
1t is stated that the mer who engaged
IL the peculations expected to cover the
losses by boards Of survey which would
report certain losses of stores, but fixing
no responsibility, as there has been
loss in the shipment of goods to Manila
and their delivery to the troops. losses
Which are said to be unavoidable.