The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-22
INSTRUCTED BY
THE PRESIDENT.
The Line of Inquiry He Laid Down for
the Wade Court.
TO FIX THE RESPONSIBILITY
So that the Guilty May be Punishcu u
Miles Allegations are Proven
1rue-Aiany Reports were
Submitted.
TO FIX THE RESPONSIBILITY

WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE Wade
Court vi Inquiry devoted t0-oays ses-
sion 20 reviewing testimony and tonight
held another session for the purpose Oh
reading reports. letters, dispositions ana
other papers bearing upon the beer ln-
NcstisatiOn. The most interesting mat
ter developed was President Mckinney
instructions 10 the Court OF Inquiry
which were delivered TO the members OF
the Court ON February 2Jth last. These
Instructions were read by Colonel Davis
IN order TO make them a part Of the re-
cord, and are as follows:
THE INSTRUCTIONS.
'The character and quality Of the
meat, refrigerated and canned. furnished
to the army. how purchased. how ship
ped TO The soldiers. il good when shop
ped. what the cause OF us deterioration
If any?
III the meat was doctored did the
commissary general or any ~ his Off
GERS have any knowledge of 81 or means
Of knowledge?
"Was it the meat % commerce.
WAS il inspected by the government
inspectors as provided be- law?
WAS it an authorized ration I'm the
army?
IF good when purchased. what made
1t bad2
"Was it anybody's neglect or fault and
II 50, whose?
when unfit FOR use. n Won ehou'd so
find. was the fact made known 10 tho
| War Department When and by whom
If after the leaving the depot come
missary 10 was not cared for and properly
preserved. whose fault2
WAS it "a suitable ration for the cam
paigns in Cuba and Porto Rico2
WAS there anything better that was
practicable?
Would 81 have been prudent for orr
troops 10 have made The expedition 70
Santiago and Porto Rico without iho pre-
served meats. either refrigerated or
canned. with which they were supplied?
Gould the army with any certainty rc-
~ upon the cattle on the hOof on those
islands?
TO FIX THE BLAME.
"Did tho commanding officers .n Sane
tiago or Porto Rico. or the mqior-gcneral
commanding. report during the War that
either the refrigerated or canned beef
was an unfit ration?
when were these reports first made.
and by whom?
'If the allegations of the major-roncrai
commanding are established. 7 want inc
court 70 find the cause and fv tho ro-
sponsibllty for the fact that the guilty
may be properly punished.
did the cattle in Porto Rico make
wholesome ration?
"If the packers 0f the country arc
guilty. 81 must be known.
"If the officers of the commlssary dee
partment 81 must Doe known
IF any officer Of the army IS guilty 10
must be known
Both Major Lee and Co'onc. Davis sin-
mitted "a number Of reports and mass
of correspondence Among the do.H-
ments read by Colonel Davis was "a lei-
ter fr0E the Washington attorneys wi
Messrs. Armour and Company dai'i
June Is. 1888 after the contract Tor prel
had been lct asking for reconsideration
of the subject I'm the interest of their
clients. and an endorsement oy 'e"elai
Eagan. as commissary general opposing
the request. In their letter the alioi-
news represented that the Armolrs cone
trolled the Powell process for the treai-
ment Of meat. and that this fact gave
them such an advantage I'm the prceer a-
ton OF fresh beef. as TO justify The War
Department in disrcgardins the diner
ence in price. and awarding them the
contract.
In his endorsement. General Easan
referred TO the letter OF the attorneys as
a special pleading, anu T"iu 'i'''' wa
no reason in this plea why the SUBJECT
should be reopened.
OTHER TESTS MADE
THE rests made by Armour and COM
pany are not the only tests that nave
been made" he said, and there were
other tests.
This document was introduced by Col
onel Davis TO show that Colonel Ea-dn
had not been Influenced by the represen-
tatlons concerning THE Powell Process
Major Lee submitted a statement Bog
James Armstrong president of The arm
strong Company Of Dallas. Texas. which
said among other things The substance
of a conversation with General kaean
The company were bidders for beef In
bloc. and said while he was in Wash
inrt6n he discussed with General Eaean
the question Of beef being kept for
seyentv-two hours after being taken from
the refrigerator. Nj. Armstrone said
that he expressed the opinion that this
was impossible. 10 which General Eagan
replied that Swift x Co.. and Armour
both had knowledge of a process hv
which beef could be kept for that length
Of time