The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-09
OF COURSE MILES WAS WRONG
COMMISSION CRITICIsEs HIS sTRIC-
TUREs ON THE BEEF.

As n Chemist Mai. Daily Is Consid-
cred an Unreliable Witness-Tl.e
Meat Pronounced First-CIass as an
Emergency Rntton-The AIger RE-
lief Board, as IL Is Called, Warmly
Commends the Secretary of War.
Was Unanimous.
Washington, Feb. S-The war lnvestl-
eating commission has now completed It's
labors and its report win be in the hands
of the President tomorrow. The report
of the commission Is a voluminous docu-
ment Of $50 printed pages.
The report makes an important feature
of the beef issue and dismisses as a gem
eral proposition the charges that have
been made against the beef furnished the
army.
lt finds, il Is understood, that most of
the beef was such as could be properly
furnished as an emergency ration, point
ing out that the evidences showed II never
was intended to be anything but an emer-
gency ration. 1t says there were only two
witnesses who really testified against the
beef, Gen. Miles and Maj DAILY. the chief
surgeon, who made the report regarded as
the most sensational, forwarded to the
commission by Gen. Miles.
AS 60 the testimony of these two wit
nesses the commission, 1t is understood
goes on to point out the mass of evidence
submitted 10 the contrary as offsettine
this testimony. As to such OF the canned
beef as was found 90 be Objectionable the
commission points out the effect of the
tropical climate in producing llquefactlon
OF the Fat i'm the meat, and the conse-
quent rendering Of the contents unpalata-
BILE
Most of the beef, though, is found 10
nave been satisfactory for, emergency use
where fresh beef or beef on the hoof
could not be procured.
Niles Severely Criticised.
The structures of Gen. Miles made pub
lie ON tho beef and his public expressions
in other ways. il is understood are sub
Jected to severe criticism.
The methods and manner of loading the
transports i'm Gen. Skaters Cuban expe.
dition are also discussed and responsibility
placed for the results.
Ihe report finds that the statements OF
chemical treatment made by Gen. Miles
on the authority of Maj. Daily are not
borne out by the chemical experts. who
were also placed on the stand.
IL quotes from Mai Daly's testimony
and then takes up the testimony OF Chem
ist Clark of the geological survey. and
BigeloW of the agricultural department.
VINO made ar analysis of the beef SUBJ
mitted. and finds that as a chemical ex-
pert Maj. DAILY Is not supported by other
chemical authorities, and that therefore
his testimony is regarded as not worthy
of credence.
There are also said to be some recon-
mendations as TO the organization of GER
tain branches of the army, but IL is
stated the recommendations are not rad
ical.
Warmly COmmends AIger.
AS to the administration and conduct of
the war, the conclusions of the commits
sion are understood to be that everything
possible was done by the department in
the limited time that It had at les com
mand in making it's preparations for the
war and the report says that the conduct
of the war not only worked out in the end
successfully, but in such a way as TO be
worthy of great commendatlon.
The report says that the evidence before
the commission shows that Secretary AL
ger exercised proper diligence and super
vision, and that his subordlnates also were
efficient, experienced and faithful. The
commission is a unit on It's report, and
there Is no minority report.
At the outset the commission divided it.
self into sub-committees for the separate
consideration of designated branches OF
the main subject of inquiry. These sub
reports will be added to the principal state
ment of conclusions handed to the chief
executive.