The age-herald., 1899-04-22
INSTRUCTIONS TO
 THE BEEF BOARD Mas Ordered to Fully Investigate the
 Meat Question. CHARGES OF GENERAL MILES Were ID Be Looked Into and ReSp0nSl-
 bility Fixed. MASS OF TESTIMONY OFFERED Both Col Davis and Major Lee Submit Vast Amount of Evidence-Depo- sition Regarding Gen. Egan
 by J. s. Armstrong
HARGES OF GENERAL MILES
ASS OF TESTIMONY OFFERED

Washington, April A.-The Wade court of inquiry devoted today's session to review ing testimony and tonight had another ses- sion for the purpose of reading reports letters, depositions and other papers bear ing upon the beef investigation. The most interesting matter developed was President McKinleys instructions to the court of in- quiry, which were delivered to the mem bers of the court on February 20 last These instructions were read by Colonel Davis in order to make them part of the record, and are as follows:
 "The character and quality of the meat ! refrigerated and canned furnished to tho army; how purchased; how shipped to the soldiers; if good when shipped; what the cause of it's deterioration, if any.
 "If the meat was doctored, did the com missary general or any of his officers have any knowledge of it or means of knowl- edge? Was the meat of commerce?
 Was it inspected by the government ln- spectors, as provided by law?
 Was 1t an authorized ration in the army?
 "If good when purchased, what made it bad?
 Was 1t anybody's neglect or fault, and if so, whose?
 "When unfit for use, was the fact made known to the department? When, and by whom?
 If, after leaving depot commissary it was not cared for, and properly preserved, whose fault?
 Was it suitable ration for the campaigns in Cuba and Porto Rico?
 Was there anything better that was practicable?
 ''Would it have been prudent for our troops to have made the expeditions to San tiago and Porto Rico without the preserved meats, either refrigerated or canned, with which they were supplied? "Could the army with any certainty rely upon the cattle on the hoof on those islands?
 Did the commanding officers in Santiago or Porto Rico or the major rgeneral com manding report during the war that either refrigerated or canned beef was an unfit ration?
 by whom?
 General Miles Allegations
 ''ff The allegations of the major-general commanding are established, I want the court to find and fix the responsibility for the fact that the guilty may be properly punished.
 "Did the cattle in Porto Rico make a wholesome ration?
 'If the packers of the country are guilty
 it must be known. 'If the officers of the commissary depart ment are guilty it must be known. If any officer of the army is guilty it must be known"
 Both Colonel Davis and Major Lee sub mitted mass of evidence. In his endorsement General Eagan re- ferred to the letter of the attorneys as a special pleading and said there was no req son in this plea why the subject should not be reopened "The tests made by Armour | 6. Co., are not the only tests that have been made" he said land there is no doubt whatever in my mind but that the beef | can be furnished as required" This document was introduced by Colo mel Davis to show that General Eagan had not been informed by the representations concerning the Powell process. Major Lee submitted deposition by J. s. Armstrong, president of the Armstrong Packing company of Dallas, Tex, which among other things set forth the substance of conversation with General Eagan. MT. Armstrong was one of the bidders for beef on the block and said that while he was in Washington he discussed with General Eagan the question of beef being kept for seventy-two hours after being taken from the refrigerator. MT. Armstrong said he expressed the opinion 1t was impossible to which General Eagan replied that Swift & Co.,, and Armour both, had knowledge of process by which beef could be kept for that length of time.