The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-02-09
INQUIRY FOR MILES.
His Charges Regarding Beef to
Be Investigated.
PRESIDENT DECIDED TO ACT.
uns Been 10 Conference with 0riggs
Aiger aud the cabinet May order
Court Of Irqu ~ "r an Inspection
Board Miles Rctus,d tu Talk.

Court Of Inqu ~ or an Inspection
Board Miles Reiusrd To- Talk.
WAsHlNe1oS, Feb. 1.-The indica.
tions were that some sort of inquiry
wuuld be ordered 70 investigate and re-.
port upon the truth or falsity of the
statements alleged to have been made
by General Miles III which the quality
of beef furnished the troops during the
late war was brought in question. The
matter was discussed at some length at
the cabinet meeting and although no
definite decision was reached the Concen.
sus of opinion was that such proceed.
ing should lee had. It was argued that
if the packers who had furnished the
beef to the army had frauduleptly sup
piled an article OF the character charged
by General Miles the country had
right to know it, and If the charges
were without foundation the people had
an equal right to know that fact.
Justice to all concerned, it was agreed
demanded, that the whole truth b.
brought to light. 1t was also agreed
that General Miles should not be sus.
pended from his Office as commander o.
the army pending such investigation, "a,
il was not intended that even by infer
ence should he be prejudgeu of any
wrongdoing In this connection. 1t Is
not believed that any action will BE-
taken, however, until the war investi.
eating commission has maze its report,
which is expected within the next feW
days.
1t was the expectation that the war
investigating commission will submit
its report to the president next Monday
No one outside the commission Is sup.
posed to know what the nature of tina
report will be.
The method which is to be adopted
namely, some kind of inquiry to pass
upon General Miles conduct, is taken
to indicate knowledge on the part o.
the administration of what the report
will have to say as boaring upon the
Miles charges.
Upon the presentment of facts mad
by the court of inquiry the president
must determine whether or not court
martial shall follow.
General Miles on being informed ul
the currently reported inv s iga on
in store for him said that alter thorougi
| consideration he had decided to cav
uDJllllb On VIC SuDJtCJ. Ilb TtlUdiuS III
his office in the discharge of his regular
duties.
1t is suggested that it will be matter
| of difficulty TO secure the personnel Oh
membership without employing som,
| of the officers wLo have already taken
some part i'll the controversy between
| General Miles aud General Eagan. This
is on account Of the scarcity OF available
| officers of sufficient rank to warrant
| their assignment to this duty.
| The scope Of the inquiry has not beer
| defined, but it certainly will embrace
| the allegations made by General Mile
as 70 the character OF the army supple
| aud viii Involve that officer TO the eX.
tent that he must make these charges
good, and TO tnaJ degree will be ON trla
himself III preliminary manner
Should the charges be found we'll lestab
hshed, heavy responsibility would b,
placed upon the packers and person,
concerned III the meat inspection, aud
| perhaps others. Should they fall uu
supported, General Miles may be obligeC
to answer to cOurtmarual for reflect
ing upon the character of other officers
There are two methods by which suCl
an investigation may be conducted ac
cording to established military usage
The first is by the appointment OF &
court of inquiry, and the second by the
appointment of what is known as al
olhcers' or inspection board. In tn,
former case, it would be necessary u
name some officer who * to be che su o
ject of the investigation. In the latter
the board Is charged simply to inQulr,
into q state of facts, or alleged facts
without reference to any partICu AZ
person, and to place responsibility 4
possible for anything OF which CON
plant is made. Their findings ma
serve as the basis for u courtmar,il
quite as effectually as the findings OF I
court OF inquiry and has some advant
ages in that it does not begin with tn
presumption of a court OF inquiry.
Where court of inquiry is ordered
it IS said there is conveyed a distnc
reflection upon the officer named. Be
cause OF this, when the navy depart
ment requested the war department tC
order court of inquiry to investgat,
the circumstances attending the KILN.
of u number of Spanish prisoners o.
board the Harvard, the latter instea.
ordered an inspection board, consider
ing that the ordering of the court o
inquiry might he looked upon as a pre-
decision against our troops.
1t is not possible at present to learI
in which direction the president leans
but he has been in conference on tn,
subject with the secretary of war anC
the attorney general, and the matte
has been discussed in the cabinet {,
some extent. AS before stated, how
ever, no action is to be taken ON eithe
plan until the report of the war inyesUi
eating commission is submitted
1t may be said Of the Niles interview
that, whlle it is conceivable they migh
figure, they would not do so of necess.
ty, for the matters to ba first looked inr,
are those connected with the Gharacte
of the army beef.
War Investigating Commission.