The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-18
BEEF IO Be TRACED
From the Packer to the Pri-
vate Soldier Who Ate 1t.
COURT Is READY TO BEGIN
Packing Houses May be In
vaded in the Inquiry.
COURT Is READY TO BEGIN

Washington, Feb. 1.-THE court of in
quiry TO investigate the allegations OF
the major general of the army in respect
to the quality of the beef furnished the
army during the war with Spain met today
al the rooms formerly occupied by the war
investigating commission in the Lemon
building. A full membership was present
and the court went into secret session to
discuss the preliminaries of the proceed
ings and 10 endeavor 10 sketch out the
line Of inquiry 10 be pursued. This after
noon Colonel Davis, the recorder, gave out
statement as to the court and its work
Today and tomorrow. he said, it would be
occupied with an examination OF reports
of regimental and other commanders who
participated in the Cuban and Porto Rican
campaigns, the object being TO select wit
nesses TO be summoned. In addition 10
these reports the proceedings of the war
inquiry commission would be looked to
for suggestions of witnesses The taxing
Of testimony Will hardly begin before Mon
day. General Miles is expected 10 testify
first, presenting his charges and their foun-
dations. The investigation will be lin
tied strictly to canned roast beef and re-
fr1gerated beef. but the scope of the in
quiry Will be 80 comprehensive as TO fol-
low the beef from packer 10 private SOL
der. so that the action OF the packers and
all war department officials connected with
the beef supply will be investigated. Col
onel Davis said the inquiry would continue
indefinitely. Speaking further OF iuvesti-
cation and probable testimony, Colonel
Davis said the court was not limited in its
sittings 10 Washington. but, under the or
der converting it, could travel from place
70 place. This statement Is considered
significant for. while the court has an
nounced no determination to go elsewhere
there is possibility that it will visit the
Chicago and South Omoha packing houses.
where the beef in question Is prepared
The list of witnesses will include many
civilians as well as army officers Sugges-
TORS as to witnesses from any quarter
Colonel Davis said. would be considered
and 81 would be summoned wac might
seem likely to throw any Ugnt upon the
controversy.
1t was learned this afternoon that the
court has practically determined to visit
the packing houses in western cities from
which beef was furnished. The pilgrima ge
will take in Chicago South Omaha, Kan
sas City. and perhaps St. Louis. Some Of
the officers whose reports General Miles
has placed with the court are now in
the Philippines. Their testimony will not
be sought. OF course they could not be
ordered here and the taking OF their depo-
stions would be attended with too much
delay and inconvenience. II was pointed
out by a member of the court that their
testimony would be cumulative and
therefore really unnecessary, since It
would be in accord generally whit what
had come from officers who are accessi-
bic. The dispositions of a number OF Off
GERS now in Cuba will be taken. The
court will meet at 1890 tomorrow morn
ing. and resume behind closed doors the
work of mapping out the plan of proceed
ure and preparing a list of witnesses TO
be summoned.