The Indianapolis journal., 1899-02-09
A VOIuminouS Document Of 150 Print
ed Pages, Much of Which Is De-
voted TO the Beef Question.
GENERAL ALGER COMMENDED
MLES'S TESTIMONY NOT UPHELD BY
CHEMICAL EXPERTS.
His Evidence and Also Gen. DaIy's
Criticised and the Two Officers
Probably Arraigned.

WASHINGTON Feb. S.-The war in
vestigating commission has now completed
its labors and its report will be in the
hands of the President tomorrow The com
mission held a session to-day that extended
well into the afternoon, going over details
Tomorrow the members of the commits
sion will meet at their old offices, formally
attach their signatures TO the original doc
ument and proceed in a body to the execu-
tive mansion to inform the President that
they have completed their mission, and pre-
sent their report. The commission then will
cease to exist. The commissions quarters
will be vacated Immediately and will be
taken possession of by General Kennedy
and Major Watkins, who hold the newly
created offices of advisers to the War De-
partment on colonial affairs.
The report of the war commission is
voluminous document of $50 printed pages
Each member has been provided a printed
copy to retain, and arrangements have been
made so that the President will have as
many printed copies as he wishes when he
makes the document public. The report
makes an important feature of the beef is
sue, and dismisses, as a general proposition
the charges that have been made against
the beef furnished the army. It finds. it is
undRstood, that most of the beef was such
as could be properly furnished as an
emergency ration, pointing out that the evil
dence showed it never was intended to be
anything but an emergency ration. 1t says
there were only two witnesses who really
testified against the beef-General Miles and
Major DAILY. the chief surgeon. who made
the report regarded as the most sensational
forwarded to the commission by General
Miles. AS to the testimony of these two
witnesses the commission, it is understood
goes on to point out the mass of evidence
submitted to the contrary as offsetting this
testimony. AS TO such of the canned beef
as was found to be Objectionable the COM
mission points out the effect of the tropical
climate in producing liquefaction of the fat
in the meat and the consequent rendering
of the contents unpalatable. Most of the
beef, though, is found to have been satisfac-
tory for emergency use where fresh beef
or beef on the hoof could not be procured
The structures that General Miles made
publicly on the beef and his public express
sions made otherwise, it is understood, We're
subjected to a severe criticism. The methods
and manner OF loading the transports in
General Skaters Cuban expedition are also
discussed and responsibility placed for the
results
The report finds that the statements of
chemical treatment, made by General Miles
on the authority of Major Daily, are not
borne out by the chemical experts, who
were also placed on the stand. 1t quotes
from Major Days testimony and then takes
up the testimony of Chemists Clarke of
the geological survey and Bigeow of the
Agricultural Department, who examined
analysis of the beef submitted and finds
fhEf oh Tool = IT.
not supported by other chemical analysis
and, therefore. his testimony is regarded as
not worthy of credence.
There are also said to be some recommen-
dattonS as to organization of certain
branches of the army. but, It is stated, the
recommendations are not radical. AS to the
administration and conduct Of the war, the
conclusions of the commission are under
stood to be that everything possible was
done by the department in the limited time
that it had at it's command in making
preparations for the war. and the report
says that the conduct of the war not only
worked out in the end successfully but in
mendation.
The report says that the evidence before
the commission shows that Secretary Alger
exercised proper diligence and supervision
and that his subordinates also were efficient,
experienced and faithful The commission
Is a unit on its report and there is no mi
nority report.
AT the outset the commission divided itself
into subcommittee for the separate consid-
erauOn OF designated branches or the main
subject of inquiry. These subreports will be
added to the principal statement of conclu-
sions handed to the chief executive.
The inquiry into the charges against the
character of the army meats preferred by
General Miles will follow close upon the
presentation of the report of the commits
sion to investigate the conduct of the war
Three members will constitute the court.
The late Eagan court-martial will be repre-
sented in the membership, but up to this
moment no designations have been made.
n h M HNyilI hea
into the condition of the army meats as
delivered by the contractors. of course, in
volving the determination of the question
icallV treated