Evening star., 1901-04-17
DETAILS CABLED FOR
Information Wantel Concerning Re-
ports of Commissary Frauds.
SECRETARY ROOT CALLS FORA REPORT
Gen. Weston Discusses Possible
Chances for Peculation.
PRAISES COLONEL WOODRUFF

| Secretary Root has cabled General Mac
| Arthur. asking for detailed information
| concerning the reports of fraud in the com
| mssary department in the Philippines. 1t
| is expected that reply will be received
| this afternoon or tomorrow. While spe-
| cific instructions have not been given Cen
| eral Macarthur heretofore to make a
| searching and complete investigation, 1t is
| understood that the requests for informa-
| tion were of a character to imply that
| the department assumed that such an in
vestigation is being made In fact, refer
| ence has been made to an investigation in
| cables received General MacArthur's first
| dispatch on the subject indicated that there
| had been eXasgeration in the press re-
ports, but the persistence with which the
| reports have been reiterated, and yester-
| days dispatch giving names and specific
| amounts, has indicated to the department
officials that perhaps General Macarthur
was not fully advised when he made his
| first report The department intends to
| have all the information possible on the
subject and General Macarthur is expect
ed to push the trials and make COM
piete report of all wrong doing.
Major Davis Refuses to Talk.
Major George B. Davis, whose name is
| mentioned in the dispatch from Manila as
being credited upon the books of Evans &
| Co. as having received $1,000, is in Wash
ington. but refuses to be interviewed. He
| was called upon by the War Department
| for an explanation, and to brother Of
| ficer said that he knew nothing about the
matter. He said that he never had any
money from the firm of contractors men
| tCned, had not borrowed any and could
| not explain why there should have been
| any charge made. Although he is in this
| Manila, and if the matter is not cleared
| up by the time he arrives there, Will de-
mand court of inquiry.
Mr. Evans of the firm of Evans & Co.
| is known to some army officers in Wash
| ington. He was in this country 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 Englisman,
an American a Canadian. He was from
| Niagara, though from which side of the
| river is not stated.
| Gen. Weston Praises Col. Woodruff.
Al .ne commissary department nothing
more is known than elsewhere in the War
| Department. Gen. Weston speaks of his
| subordinate, Col. Woodruff, in the highest
terms He says that Col. Woodruff has
always borne the highest reputation in the
army a splendid officer and thoroughly
honest man.
| The general admits that there might be
| opportunities for small frauds in a great
depot such that at Manila, where SO
| much done in commissary stores, but
FSayS there would have to be colluston
among the officers and the sergeants in
| charge for the execution of frauds to any
great extent. 1t devolved largely upon the
commssary in charge to prevent any wrong
| doing, and he would very likely soon dis
cover any Irregularities. Gen. Weston
adds, however, that where there is much
business at Manila it is almost inposs-
| BILE to keep an absolutely correct inventory
| of goods on hand. Before such an inven-
tory completed half of the goods might
be taken away.
Usual Method of Inspection.
The usual method was for the command
| ing general and the commissary officer in
charge to go through the warehouse, in
spect the stores and make a statSment
to the stores on hand at given time. OF
course, 1t is recognized that such a busy
man as Gen. Macarthur would not be able
to make such an inspection and even if he
did would have to rely on the chief COM
missary for such information so as mat
ter of fact the commissary has almost ex-
elusive control and is the man held Off
cially 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.
Col Woodruff has made illusions to the
arrest of the commissary sergeant in tele-
grams to Gen. Weston, but nothing lac
report has been received from him From
| military standpoint the whole matter is
one of communication between Gen Mac
Arthur, in chief command, and the Secre-
tary of War. -
Investigation Taken for Granted
General Macarthur is supposed to be
making most careful investigation into
the conditions in the commissary DEPART
ment at Manila, and is probably withhold
ing response to the departments request
for information until he is in possession of
all the facts.
The arrests at Manila in connection with
the alleged commisSary frauds still form
the principal topic of discussion among
army officers here. 1t may be noted that
the opinion is general that the frauds will
be found to have been confined to one or
two volunteer officers and some of the
non- commissioned force. The officers here
are quite sure that none of the regulars
will come out of the investigation with
tarnished regulations, and the most they
are prepared to admit is that some Of the
regular officers of the department may have
been guilty of over-confidence, and have
leaned upon unworthy supports.
Fault of the System.
The one remarkable fact developed by
the discussion is that under the present
system such frauds as those reported at
Manila seem to be unavoidable. No mat
ter how energetic and honest the chief
commissary may be- he is always at the
mercy of his subordinates-he must trust
somebody. 1t has been the object of army
reformers in all countries to make the
issue department proof against fraud and
human cupidity, but so far without avail.
1t has been found practicable to make
near approach to perfection in time of
peace, but in the disorganiZation caused by
the rush and hurry of war the opportuni-
ties for fraud increase greatly. With vast
Quantities of supplies pouring into depot
and heavy requisitions going out the other
end. it is practically impossible to account
for every package until many months have \
elapsed. Therefore. it is pointed out by
army officers that just such allegations as
now come from Manila have followed the
march Of nearly every great army, not only
of the United States, but in Europe and
South Africa and in Egypt and It is not
doubted that irregularities will come to
light in connection with the International
forces operating in China.
Contention of Army Officers.
But even after advancing these argu-
ments in palliation of Manila conditions,
many of the officers here stoutly contend
that the result of the Investigation will he