r—
One of the Inquiry Commissioners
Has Received Favors. '
PLANS FOR INVESTIGATION
EX<Gov. Woodbury’s‘ Son 3 Major in the
V Engineer Corps. Attractive Nature of
the Appointment. No Charges Against
the Engineer Corps. The Time to Be
Covered.
Washington, Sept. 28.—An additional
interest is lent to the investigation of
the president’s commission to inquire‘
into the conduct of the war by the cir-
cumstance that ex-Governor Woodbury
of Vermont, one of the commissioners,
has a son, who is one of the beneficia-
ries of the present administration.
Charles Lincoln Woodbury was ap-
pointed from Vermont, on the 19th of
last May, a major of volunteers in the
engineer corps. To show what an hon-
or that conveyed, it must be observed
that of all .the staff corps that of the
engineers is the most exclusive and the
goal of ambition for regular army ofii-
cers of a strongly scientific bent. There
were only twenty-eight appointments
or transfers to this corps between the
outbreak of the war and the 22nd of
August last, and of the whole number
only six were civilians, the rest being
officers of the regular army. Mr. Wood-
bury’s appointment as one of the six
Was, therefore, a mark of special fa-
vor.
Another civilian appointed about the
same time was Hugh H. G. Gordon of
Georgia, and it will be observed that
ex-Senator John B. Gordon, the young
man’s father, was One of the first men
invited by the president to take part
in the so-called invesigation. The
senator declined, possibly not wholly
for the reasons assigned, but in part
because he did not care to be a target
for the critics of a whitewashing ma«
chine.
It must not be assumed from this
that the engineer corps is likely to
come in for a raking over. On the
contrary. when General John M. Wil-
son, chief of engineers, was invited to
serve on the commission, and ventured
to protest that it would be indelicate
for him to sit in a commission which
would have to investigate his own
branch of the service, the president as-
sured him that there were no charges
of any sort against the engineers, and
hence that he need let no sentimental
considerations weigh against h1s accep-
tance of the detail.
But in the case of a commissioner
like Mr. 'Woodbury it is different.
Young W'oodbury naturally has ambi<
tions in his military career which the
president and the secretary of war will
have it in their power to gratify. The
ex-governor has therefore placed him-
self hors de combat in all that con—
c‘erns the thoroughness of his inquiries
and the weight which will be attached
to his share in the verdict in the pop-
ular mind.
The commission has decided to limit
the period covered by its investigations
to that between the beginning of the
war and the Slst of August. The last
named date was chosen because the
departmental accounts and reports
will be presumably complete up to that
time, and are liable to be incomplete
and straggling later.
4 The commissioners have decided that
it will take them two or three‘ months
to do all their work on the lines on
whi 11 they have laid it out. Their
mode of procedure will be to inquire
first what were the conditions existing
in the branches of the service at the
hour when war was declared. Then
they will trace down to August 31 the
various changes, and inquire the rea-
sons for them, the methods by which
they were accomplished, and the char-
acter and quality of the results as mea-
sured by a reasonable standard of eX~
cellence.
For Alger to Answer.
To Secretary Alger the commission
has addressed six queries for his reply.
They are as follows:
1. Plan of campaign proposed im-
mediately after the declaration of war;
was it intended to move at once on Ha-
vana, or that the campaign should be
postponed until the autumn?
2.4 When was the Santiago campaign
determined upon?
3. Why was Tampa selected as the
base of operations?
4. Why were summer camps organ-
ized at Fernandina, Jacksonville and
Tampa?
5. When was the Porto Rico cam-
paign determined upon?
6. Why were the troops held on
transports after embarkation at Tam-
pa, and not permitted to sail for sev-
‘Pral days?
To Restore the Rates
New York, Sept. 28.—Meetingslof _the
passenger and freight committees of
the Trunk Line Association were held
yesterday at the headquarters in this
"city. ,
wa that the differences between the
Canadian Pacific‘ road and its Ameri-
can rivals are practically at an end,
it is expected that the passenger com~
mittee of the association will settle. the
matter of transconiental rates.
The restoration of these rates took
effect last Sunday and was put into
immediate operation by a. major *y of
the roads interested, including the VVCa-
nadian Pacific and Grand Trunk lines.
., It is believed that by the middle 01
next month the restoration will be gen-
erally observed.
Nicaragua Canal SurVey.
New York, Sept. 28.—The preliminary
survey of the route of the proposed
Nicaragua canal has been completed,
:and the engineers returned to this
,zcountry on the Atlas line steamship
_ Altai Monday night.
, ,. They are Andrew Onderdonk, Harvey
,V,C. Miller, Louis Hawkins, Eben S.
,'V Wheeler, William D. Thomas, Richard
”,3. Post, Percy J. Bruns and Horatio
"3 H. Trundle. The engineers say that
"..L-the plan of. the proposed canal is a
3:. simple one and that their reports wilii
{show that the out which the Spanish-
1,-1American war has made an absolute
Unecessity. can be made quickly and
V cheaply. 'V‘
THE ARMY SCAN], 113V NANNNNN CONVENTION‘
001. Roosevelt Is V Nominated F0!
1 Governor on First Ballot.
WOODRUFF RE NOMINATED
The Convention Meet: at Noon. The
Temporary and Permanent Organiza-
; V tion. No Contact to be Decided. Judge
Frank S. Black and
z _ Cody Names
Chauncey Depew Presents Roosevelt.
Convention Hall, Saratoga, Sept. 27.—
1 The Republican state convention met
here at noon to- day. The hour set for
the opening of business was twelve
o’clock, but long before that time the
galleries were filled with spectators.
Shortly before noon the delegates be-
gan to pour into the hall.
Up in the gallery a band was sta-
tioned, which enlivened the hours pre-
ceding the fall of the gavel by playing
patriotic airs.
The hall was simply but tastefully
decorated. The Stars and Stripes were
everywhere.
On the stage the chief decoration was
an enormous bouquet of flowers, which
had been placed before the presiding
officer's desk.
A picture of Colonel Roosevelt in his
service uniform was brought down the
right aisle at twelve o’clock, and the
band struck up, “See the Conquering
Hero Comes."
The portrait was raised above the
section where the Greater New York
delegates 'sat. The audience rose and
cheered.
Chairman Odell of the state com-
mittee took his seat at the presiding
officer’s desk at 12.20 o’clock to call the
convention to order.
After prayer by the Rev. Dr. Jud-
son of Saratoga the roll of delegates
was called.
Congressman Sereno E. Payne, tem-
porary chairman, was introduced at
12.40 o’clock. In the opening para-
graphs of his speech he referred to
William McKinley as 'a warrior and a
statesman and the roar of approval
was deafening.
The applause was renewed when Mr.
Stewart of Kings county called for
three cheers for the president of the
United States.
Chairman Payne’ 3 emphatic declara-
tion that the Republican party was the
party of sound money, and his chal-
lenge to the Democrats at Syracuse to
ignore silver at their convention was
rapturously received.
COL. THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
An enthusiastic Roosevelt man in the
New York section, when. Chairman
'Payne referred to the glorious charge
of the American troops at El CanEy,
raised the Roosevelt picture and the
cheering was frantic.
After some minor questions or organ-
ization had been disposed of, General
Stewart L. VVoodford moved the ap-
pointment of a committee on resolu-
tions.
General Woodford was named chair-
man of this committee, and the Hon.
Hamilton Fish chairman of that on
permanent organization.
At 1.25 o'clock the convention took a
recess until 3.30 o’clock.
Second Session.
At 4.05 o’clock the Republican con-
vention was again called to order.
The committee on credentials repor-
ted that there being no contests, owing
to the good feeling existing in the par-
ty throughout the state, it had nothing
to do.
Senator Horace White was chosen
permanent chairman and he addressed
the convention.
At 4.35 Chairman White abruptly
ended his speech and called for the re-
port of the committee on resolutions.
There was no response.
The chairman, Gen. VVoodford, was
not in the hall.
Congressman Juigg then moved that
nominations be made, and the motion
was carried with a shout.
Judge Cady of Albany thereupon took
the platform and made a speech nomin-
ating Frank S. Black for governor.
He was followed by Chauncey De-
pew, who placed Theodore Roosevelt’s
‘ name before the convention as a can-
didate for the same position.
The nomination of Governor Black
was seconded by Charles T. Saxton,
Abraham Gruber and Senator Clarence
Lexow.
Assemblyman Wallace of Queens and
Congressman Southwick of Albany sec-
onded the nomination of Theodore
Roosevelt.
At 6.20 Elihu Root took the platform
eligibility. He denied that a residence
in relation to Mr. Roosevelt’s candi-
dacy on the ground of citizenship.
Edward Lauterbach replied t0! Mr.
Root.
Roll Call Ordered.
It was past seven o'clock when the
chair declared the period for nominal
tions closed, and a roll call was order-
! ed. This resulted Vin' the nomination 0!
i Colonel Roosevelt or governor by an
overwhelming me. my;
_.—_______.__._ _. ..
and addressed the convention in regard
to the question of Colonel Roosevelt’s
had been forfeited and asserted that
no objection whatever could be raised
V!
P
l
1
The vote stood: Black, 218: noose.-
velt, 753. The result was greeted with
tumultuous cheering. The following is
the balance of the ticket:
Lieutenant Governor—Timothy L.
W oodi uff of Kings.
Secretary of State—John T. McDon-
1 cugh of Albany.
Controller—1V. J. Morgan of Erie.
Treasurer—John P. Jaeckel of Car
uga.
Attorney Gene.al—J 0"111 C. Davies of
Oneida.
Engineer and Surveyor—E. A. Bond
of Jefferson.
DEWEY SENDS REPORT.
He Seized the Steamer Ably. Which
Took Arms lor Rebels.-
Washington, Sept. 28.—The following
cablegrain was received from Admiral
Dewey yesterday at the navy depart-
ment:
Manila, Sept. 27, 1898.
Having received information that the
American steamer Abby left Macao
September 2 with a cargo of arms for
Batangas, I sent the McCulloch. She
arrived at Batangas on the 23rd, and
'found her to be in the harbor, having
arrived three days earlier and landed
cargo.
There were only Filipinos on board.
They refused to give any information
and had no papers whatever. Seized
and brought her here, where we are
now holding her. This steamer was for-
merly the Pasig, and is registered ,as
an American vessel. The United
States consulate at Canton has infor-
mation that she made one voyage of
the same kind already.
DEWEY.
The navy department very promptly
approved Admiral Dewey’s action, as
indicated by the following cablegram,
which was sent him yesterday:
W'ashington, Sept. 28.
To Dewey, Manila:
Your action in seizing American own-
ed vessel Abby approved. She is am-
enable to martial jurisdiction for any
violation of neutrality.
LONG.
2d New Jersey to Ga int-I Cmnr.
Jersey City, Sept. 28.—Three hundred
members of the Second New Jersey
volunteer ‘regiment, constituting a des
tail of twenty-five men from each com-
pany, met in the Pennsylvania rail-
road station in Jersey City yesterday,
in response to a call issued by Colonel
Hine. They took an early train to Sea
Girt, where they will be employed the
remainder of the week in preparing
the camp for occupation by the entixc
Second regiment.
When the Second came home from
Jacksonville on Saturday last the
weather was so cold that it was
thought inadvisable to put the men,
coming as they did from the South, into
camp at the seashore.
The regiment was therefore disbam
ded and the men were permitted to go
to their homes.
They will be reassembled at Sea Girl
on Saturday.
State Death Rate,
Albany, Sept. 28.—The state board of
health’s bulletin for August fixes the
annual death rate for the state from
all causes per one thousand of pop};-
lation at twenty, as against 20:60 for
the preceding month, and 18.75 for Au-
gust, 1897.
The total number of deaths was 11,-
302, of which 6,451 occurred in New
York city, divided as follows:
Borough of Manhattan, 3,427; Bronx,
35?; Brooklyn, 2,187; other boroughs,
480.
In the maritime sanitary district,
comprising Long Island, Manhattan
and the towns in Westchester county,
there was an excessive increase in ty--
phoid fever for the month, which caus‘
ed one hundred deaths, 99 being in tht
city of New York.
- Cabinet: Meeting.
Washington, Sept. 28.—With the ex-
ception of Secretary Alger, who has
not yet returned from his tour of in-
spection, there was a full meeting of
the cabinet yesterday.
Although the session lasted two
hours, it was stated at its conclusion
that no business of general interest
had been transacted.
The war investigation was talked
over informally, as were also the forth-
coming reports of the cabinet officers,
which will form a part of the presi-
dent’s message to congress.
Cits Decide to \Vait.
New York, Sept. 28.—It was announc-
ed at the headquarters of the Citizens'
Union yesterday afternoon that the In-
dependents would nominate no succes—
sor to Colonel Roosevelt until October
15.
R. F. Cutting has received a reply to
the letter he wrote to Seth Low asking
Mr. Low to explain why he thought the
nomination of an independent would
jeopard Colonel Roosevelt's chances.
A Train “’reck in Texas.
Corsicana, Texas, Sept. 28.—The south
bound Houston and Texas Central pas-
senger train was wrecked six miles
north of this city while going at a high
rate of speed.
Two coaches jumped the track and
went over a bridge. They were com.
pletely demolished. No one was killed.
but many persons sustained serious in«
juries.
Honored Mrs. U. S. Grant
New York, Sept. 28.—A reception was
given yesterday to Mrs. -Ulysses. S.
Giant in the parlors of the Windsor
hotel by the Woman’s National War
Relief Association.
Mrs. Grant is the president of the as-
sociation and is at present on a visit
to New York.
ON THE DIAMOND' '
V How the Clufls Stand.
WEEKLY - NORWAnk
.511, r
J‘ .
.456: ,
Clubs. Won. Lost. _P.C.
Boston . 91 44 .674
Baltimore 86 48 .642.
Cincinnati .............. 83 55 .601,
Cleveland 75. 59 .560
Chicago 76 63 .547
New York 72 63 .533
Philadelphia ........... ' 67 54 ' ’
Pittsburg .. 67 71 .486
Louisville . ............. 62 74
Brooklyn , '49 78 .386
VVashingtOn . . . . . .-; . . . . . 45 90 V .333:
st. Louis cocoon-cocoons. 35 99 £261;
1
V ‘ %
Among Our Troops.
INSURGENTS ARE ACTIVE
. postoffices in order to enable them to
' keep ,up with current work. In New
A Despatch from Gen. Otis. The Ameri-
HAZETT
. . T
.SITUATION AT MANILA
Exaggerated Accounts of Sickness _
cans Likely to Seize the Entire Insur.
gent Fleet.
Property and Crops.
Washington, Sept. 27.—The following
cable dispatch has been received at
the war depazrtment
Manila, Sept. 26.
Adjutant General, Washington.
Understand reporters send exagger-
ated accounts of sickness. Total in
hospital to-day, highest of _any day,
529; typhoid fever patients, 95; all. do-
ing well and mostly convalescent; ab-
out 1,200 excused from duty; mostly
slight ailments, showing condition fair
for this latitude. Nineteen deaths from
disease this month; 23 in August.
OTIS,
Commanding.
Manila, Sept. 27.—When the United
States revenue cutter McCulloch capt-
ured the insurgent steamer Abbey, for-
merly the Pasig, sixty miles south of
Manila, the Abbey, it is believed, hav-
ing landed seven thousand rifles, an i11-
surgent gunboat followed the American
vessel into Cavite, and now the Ameri-
cans contemplate taking possession of
the entire insurgent fleet, because the
vessels are flying an unrecognized flag
and are liable to seizure, as pirates, by
the war vessels of any nation.
Americans cruisers have gone north,
where the steamer Fllipinas is landing
troops.
Two steamers which have just arriv-
ed here ,1 brought many Spanish offi-
cials and refugees from the southeast
of the island of Luzon. They report
that the insurgents are overrunning
the country, destroying property and
the hemp crops. Sanguinary conflicts
have taken place at Cebu and 110110.
There has been an outbreak of small
pox in the California regiment here;
but only six cases of a mild type have
been reported.
Currency of Porto Rico.
Washington Sept. 27.,—Secretary Gage
has decided to, let the vexed question
of the ratio of the silver currency of
Porto Rico to our own go over till the
assembling of Congress in December.
This is but a temporary question, since
the ultimate policy of the United
States will be to introduce its own
currency on the island, but as this
change cannot be brought about rap-
idly, considerable confusion and many
troublesome complications cannot fail
to arise in the meantime from the con-
tinued use of the present currency of
the island, whatever ratio to our own
may finallybe established.
The custom house authorities have
been directed, till Congress decides oth-
erwise, to adhere to the two to one ra-
tio established by the military gover-
nor, which makes the peso equivalent
to our 50-cent piece.
Secretary Gage outlined a plan a
few weeks ago, for using the existing
currency by retaining on one side its
present inscription, and on the other
stamping the United States equivalent.
0n the peso, for instance, one side
would bear the Spanish coat of arms,
and the words “Isla de Puerto Rico,"
while the other would be stamped just
as is one side of our fifty-cent pieces.
2.000 Meuat Port Slocum.
Fort Slocum, sépt. 26.—The mobiliza-
tion of the Twenty-second regiment
has increased the garrison at this post
to two thousand officers and men. Ev-
ery available spot on the island is oc-
cupied by tents and equipage. The
overcrowded condition of the garrison,
combined with the fact that several
additional batteries of artillery are un-
der orders to come here within a few
days, makes it almost certain that the
Twenty-second regiment will be order-
ed away so that there may be ioom for
the regulars.
The health of the men is excellent.
but they are tired of garrison duty,
and any change will be w elcome,
whether it be Porto Rico, Havana or
home.
Sickness at Dawson.
Port Townsend, Wash. ., Sept.
steamship Topeka has arrived with
150 Klondikers, the most .of whom
have brought little gold.
They estimate that there were three
thousand cases of typhoid fever in
Dawson on September 6. Deaths occur
daily of which no record is made.
Among the Topeka’s passengers was
Joseph Ladue, the founder of Dawson.
He admits that there is much sickness, .
but says that when anyone is taken.
is‘.
sick anywhere along the Yukon he
sent to Dawson, which gets the credit.
To Succed Dr. Hall
New York, Sept. 27.—It is asserted on
high authority that a successor to the
late Rev. Dr. John Hall as pastor of the
Fifth avenue Presbyterian church has -
been chosen and that the man is the
Rev. Dr. George T. Purves of Princeton
Theological seminary. _
Dr. Purves is one of the. most emi-
nent divines of the Presbyterian faith.
Patchen and Gentry to Race.
St. Louis,
Robert Aull of the i.St‘ LOuis Fair A:-
...7. ~The
Mo. ., Sept: ‘27. 4-Pr‘eoinen't 1
sociation has arranged to hech a "match -V
race between the famous pa‘cers; John-
R. Gentry and Joe Patchen, held at
the fair grounds 'on Wednesday, Octo-
ber 5.
The Fair association will put up a.
purse of $5,000 for-- the race.
,W- L i
{the Victor-i :1 dub"!!! Bridge. '
Montreal, Sept. 27. -—‘-TVh'ere are about
three hundred and fifty men :‘at work
on thé VietOrla jubilee bridge and the
extension of the track: at both ends
of it. With a view to having it as near-
'13? completed as possible before winter
lets in.“~ 3-1 ..
2.,‘V >’ —’ \ 7,.
run nvfi‘cuauéa‘or car...
i Hevada.."~" Sept" 27.-—'i‘lie Americpn
evacuation. commission has been. outfl-
fame notified that: Madunillo will be
Promoted by October. 7.: .
3
,FJ‘:
'1“ POST OFFICES swmeen. ,2}
Full Trade Causes a Rush of £11ng
ness.
Washington, Sept. 26.—The rush of
business incident to the reviving fall
trade has about swamped the‘big post-
oflices of the country, and the depart-
ment here has been compelled to add
to the working force of all the main
York and other places it has been im-
possible to keep ahead of the volume-
1 of business now ouring '1. for .
The Rebels Destroying p b H re
ports to the department show that they
are four or five days behind with sec.
- 0nd class matter at New York. Twen<
ty extra employes were taken on to
catch uprith this department, and it
was only by extending the working
hours that the accumulated matter
was at last gotten out. Postmaster
an Cott complains that the space in
the basement of the New York post-
office devoted to the handling of second
class mail matter is not large enough
for him to place asuflicient number 01‘
clerks to keep up with the work. He
is constantly embarrassed by this fact
and it is getting to be~a frequent oc-
currence for the mails to accumulate.
The Brooklyn force has been increas-
ed lately at the request of Postmaster
Wilson, and further additions will be
made in the near future.
Assistant Postmaster General Heath
states that during the past few weeks
it has been found necessary to increase
the working force in eyery large city
in the country.
Plat ’11 :11..Ie Made Up.
Saratoga, Sept. 26.—This is the Plait
slate as given out last night:
For Governor—Theodore Roosevelt of
New York.
Lieutenant Governor—Timothy
Woodruff of Kings.
Secretary of State—John T. McDon-
ough of Albany.
Controller—Wm. J. Morgan of Erie.
Treasurer—John P. Jaeckel of ayu-
ga.
Attorney General—John E. Davies of
Oneida.
State Engineer—Not selected (per-
haps Col. George E. Waring of New
York
The Black managers have decided not
to make a fight on the organization of
the convention, and it will be organiz-
ed with Sereno E. Payne of Cayuga as
temporary chairman and Senator Hor-
ace G, White of Syracuse as perma-
nent chairman.
Chauncey M. Depew will name Mr.
Roosevelt and Delegates Cullinan. oi
Oswego, Farnham of Orange and Wal-
lace of Queens will second it.
Governor Black's friends have not
decided who will put their candidates
in nomination.
A bitter fight is on between the Platt
men, who have prepared the abOie
slate, and the supporters of Governor
Black.
This bitterness is expected to be ac-
centuated by the arrival of Governor.
Black. The governor will reach here
at 9.30 to-day and plunge into the fight
at once.
After a lengthy telephone talk with
the governor at a late hour last night,
Louis F. Payn said:
“The governor will go into the con-
Vention and will remain in the race un-
til it is run, if he doesn't get more than
ten votes.”
The governor will be substituted in
the Rensselaer delegation and will have
a seat on the floor. If the present feel-
ing continues to develop, nobody here
would be surprised if the openly de-
nounces Thomas C. Platt on the floor
of the convention.
L.
Chinese Emperor Dead.
London, Sept. 26.—The Daily Tele-
graph's Hong Kong correspondent tele-
graphs:
“Although there is no positive infor-
mation, all the evidence tends to the
conviction that the emperor is dead.
A private dispatch says he died on Sep-
tember 21, directly he issued the edict
giving the dowager empress the regen-
cy. Nobody doubts that Yang and
Chang Yin Huen, who was minister at
\Vashington in 1895, are both innocent
of the charge of poisoning the emper-
or.”
The Pekin correspondent of the Daily
Mail says: V
“The head eunuch at the palace in-
forms me that the emperor is seriously
indisposed and that his death is not un-
likely.” V
The Maria. Teresa Afloat.
Playa del Este, Sept. 26.—The wreck-
ing company engaged under Lieuten-
ant Hobson, in the work of saving the
wrecked Spanish w,;arships has suc-N
ceeded in floating the cruiser Infants
Maria Teresa.
' The cruiser, after being floated, was
taken in tow by the Potomac and, con-
voyed by the cruiser Newark, Scorpion
and the Alvarado, proceeded for Gua-.
ntanamo bay. where she arrived Sat-
urVday_ night;
The successful issue of the attempt
to float her was greeted w_ith the blow-
ing of whistles, the firing of national
salutes and by cheers, in which the
Cubans joined,‘ disturbing the noon
siesta. ' . .
.Txoope for Cuba in October. .
V_Washingtpn, Sept. 26. r—General Miles '
says that the first United States troops
will be sent to Cuba about October 20.!
1V
i
There will be more than three thou-~
sand men.
and they will probably be under the
command of General Wade.
When asked if the evacuation would
begin on the arrival of these troops he
would not reply, but this is the preVsi-fi .
as Stated _be one who talk--
dent’s Vlean, .
ed with the president.
, When A'cting Secretary of- War 111.31-}.
keljohn was asked as Vto .the’ time the-
A part will. be regulars,
troops would begin to move, he said:
.he thought the president did not _now;
plan to move them before November 1.4
An Independent Ticket.
New York, Sept. 26.—The declination:
by Theodore Réosevelt of the nominal.
tion for governor, tendered him by the ,
Independent citizens: - committee has”
/
not discouraged that body
The Independents have decided to go'i
on with their work, and to Substitute
another name than that of Roosevelt;
for the first” place on their ticket. Just in
What that name will-Vbe hey would not
say. yesterday, but. it _is known that a
number fat. men. have been; talked; of:
. for :the position.
'._‘
.- ..- u' ' ..5.
awe-e «b-o-«V-J
WAR INQUIRY BEGINS
First Meeting of the Investigating
Committee Held.
WORK MUST BE THOROUGH
Eight Members of President McKinley’l
Investigation Committee Present at
the First Meeting in the Capital. Two
Hours Listenlng to Instructions from the,
President Before the Committee Met.
Washington, Sept. 26. ——President Mc-
Kinley’ 3 commission to investigate the
conduct of the war, held its first meet-
ing in the quarteis of the board of
ordnance and fortifications in the war
department Saturday. -
There were eight members of the
commission present. They were Ma-
jor Grenville M. Dodge of New York,
olonel J. A. Sexton of Illinois, Captain
E. P. Howell of Georgia, Major Gen-
eral J. M. Wilson, chief of engineers of
the United States army, Charles Den-
by of Indiana, former minister to China
former Governor Urban A. Woodbury
of Vermont, former Governor James A.
Beaver of Pennsylvania, and Major
General Alexander McD. McCook, U. S.
A., retired.
In addition to these men, Dr. Phin-
eas D. Connor of Cincinnati, Ohio, has
accepted an appointment as the medi~
cal member of the commission, the
membership of which has thus been
filled. Dr. Connor's appointment was
recommended by Dr. Keen of Philadel-
phia, when he declined.
Before their first meeting at the war
department the‘eight commissioners
and Major Mills of the i pector gen-
eral's department, who 8 been or-
dered to duty as recorder to the com-
mission, vislted the White House and
called on President McKinley.
They were with the president nearly '
two hours and received from him in-
structions outlining the scope of the
investigations he desired them to
make. -
When they left the White House they
had instructions to make an investi—
gation of a much more far reaching
character than might seem to have
been indicated by the wording of the
president's telegrams to the men who
were first asked to serve.
As was indicated by this telegram,
the quartermaster's, commissary and
medical departments, being, the~ones
most severely criticised, are to be in—
vestigated most thoroughly, but the
commission is not to be confined to
these, but is to go into the general
conduct of the war.
The commission remained in session
at the war department until half past
one o'clock perfecting an organization.
General Grenville M. Dodge’was elec-
ted p sVident of the commission; Ma-
jor S. . Mills, U. S. A., recorder, and
Mr. Richard Weightman of Washing-
ton, secretary. Three army officers
will be chosen as sergeant-at-arms.
The scope of the work and the meth-
od of procedure were not decided upon.
The commission will meet at ten o'clock
this morning to lay out its ’plan of
work. It is expected that'Dr. Connor
will be present. ’
After the adjournment of the meet—
ing General Dodge said that the meet:
ings would be secret for the present.
and it had not been decided .Whethe'r
persons would be examined. in public.
The commission will be sub-divided in-
to three committees, so that the inves—
tigation can be conducted on three dif-
ferent lines simultaneously.
It is realized that a hard task is
ahead of the investigation There are V
on ..formal charges. upon which to act
and at the cutset _the operations of
the camin‘i‘ssi'On will be‘ of a dragnet
character. The investigators. will have
quire into them ‘
It is thought that theV commission
will make its first inquiries in the Sece—
tary's office, the Adjutant 'General-S’
office and the office of the major general
commanding the army, taking cogni-
zance of. the orders which were issued
for the conduct of the war and same
manner the ofiiCers of the surgeon Gen-
neral. quartermasterV. general and
Commissary General will be examined
into to ascertain the character of the
orders iSsued, and wheter they were
carried out. ~
It is not known Whether the commis-
sion will- visit the camps, but it is
thought probable that such journeys
will be made, as it will be more expe-
ditious and economical than bringing
witnesses to Washington.
Before that is done,; however, there
is a cast amount of work at hand in -
tlie department here. It is probable
that most of this Work will be done
by the commission in secret, and that
the public will be taken into Confidence
only when witnesses a1e examined
Washington. Sept.
dent McKinley -is determined that the
investigation of the war department? s,
conduct Of the war shall be thorbugh
is evidenced, by the, expression of his
wishes Saturday‘ before the commis-
sion. In his talk .to the commission the
V presidentmade it very clear that the
inVestigatl‘on was-not-tov be confined to
the bureaus of the war department and
to subordinate officials, but was to take
in the war department and the secre- .
tary of war himsele
He told the commissioners that he
was receiving _.a large. number of let- -
ters from different parts of .the country
saying that no investigation was need-
1 ed VV-b'ut that Secretary Alger should be
dismissed
a thorough investigation ‘ had been
made, and the secretary had been giv- .
en every opportunity to be heard. ~
11115 was interpietcd :11. some of the
members of the Commission to indicate.
that their inv'est‘igati‘un is n. it to stop'
short; of the secrelarx of war, and that»
the political fate of Secretary Alger
will depend. upon their action, _
YGHOWV Vl'V'VevVeVI‘V at JchkgriVn, ‘ ~ '. " - ‘
Jackson; Miss. ., _ Sept.
case of yellow {ever has appeared in
Jackson: The patient is 1a. 13-year Old
messenger. boy dHarry Wright.
Dr. Purnéll, state. health officer-.1135.
issued a proclamation advming 11 their
depopulati‘on of the 10me .:Prep'aras
tionsjarg now: being: made; to; send 101“
I special train load of.: refugees.
26.—That Presi-‘V '
He gave man _to understand that he V
could not for an instant consider the .
2'6 -V-Anothe_rV'V
6
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Norwalk Chronicler