The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-04

WASHINGTON. Feb. 3.--Tho purpose
OF the President to terminate the unsat-
isfactory state of affairs that has ex-
listed for some time ms the result of
charges and interviews respecting the
character of the army beef, by institute
Ing II formal Inquiry into these matters
and cndeavOring to place the rcspon-
slbility where it belongs. was made
known to-day. This investigation will
not be undertaken before the commits
sion 10 Investigate the conduct Of the
war has made its report to the Prcsi-
dent. The scope Of this new inquiry
has not been defined. but 1t certainly
will embrace the allegation made by
Gen. Miles us to the character of the
army supplies and will involve that
officer that he must make these charges
good, and to that degree will be on trial
himself In Il preliminary way. Should
the charges be found well established,
heavy responsibility would be placed
upon the packers and persons connected
with the meat inspection, and perhaps
others; should they fall unsupported,
Gen. Miles may be obliged to answer
10 courtmartia! for rejecting upon
The character Of other officers.
Two Methods.
There are two methods by which such
IN investigation may be conducted ac-
cordlnS 10 established military usage.
The first is b. tho appointment OF u
court OF inquiry and the second by the
appointment Of what is known as an
officers or inspection board In the
former case 1t would be necessary TO
name some officer who is to be the sub
lcct Of the investigation. In the lat
ter the board is charged simply 10 i..-
quire into \ state Of facts or alleged
facts without reference to any purticu-
lar person and to place responsibility
II possible FOR anything OF which COM
n!aint is made. Their findings may
serve as the basis for n court martial
quite as ei(ectuaily as the findings OF
court Of Inquiry and has some advan-
tages In that IL does not begin the re-
sumption nt court Of inquiry. Where
a court Of Inquiry is ordered it is said
there Is conveyed 4 distinct reflection
upon the officer named.
y Case in Point.
Because Of this when the navy de-
NaFtment requested the war depart
msnt to order 4 court OF inquiry to in
rsStiSatc The circumstances or the Kill
lnS Of 4 number of Spanish prisoners
on board the Harvard. the latter in
stead ordered an Inspection board. con-
Sider!nS that the ordering OF court OF
inguiry might be looked upon as a
hredcciSion against our troops. Such
N'Icers' boards are frequently ordered.
10 IN responsibility for the less or dam
ase 0t stores, and several Of them have
neeh appointed during the war 10 LODI:
mo the loss OF meats. notably ir ;he
case OF thar shipped To Porto Rico and
returned To M0niauk Point. Like y
court OF inquiry. these boards return
statements OF facts developed by them
upon which the superior authorities can
act.
'frrsidcrts Position.
II IS not possible at present to learn
IN which direction the President leans.
but he has been in conference on tho
SUBJECT with the secretary OF WAY and
Ihe attorney general and the matter has
Desh discussed In the cabinet TO sou.c
extent as before stated, however, no
ast'oh is 10 be taken on either plan until
u'e report Of the war investigating
commission Is submitted.
Lh To The close oftthe day. Gen. Miles
ruS!iNeIy 4eclin"d 10 discuss in any
nlaiiheF the events OF the day so far
as they relate 10 himself. or to discuss
hnS statemen: contained In any OF the
interviews attributed to him. 1t may
e saia Of these interviews that while
IL Is conceivable they might figure, they
WoNid not do so Of necessity. for the
matters to be first looked into are those
connected with the character of the