The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-13

ssfy general and the chief OF ordnance
Tor conditions that he found there. No
such ieprimanG Was ever rareived and
General Miles has no authority In his COM |
miss on or his position under tile Jaw orl
regulations 10 send reprinards - de.
This uncontradicted story OF reprimand
10 the head OF three OF the nst.st Important
departments OF the army aided as much rs
an. thirg In exciting the yellow journal
press, the knaves OF so-called journalism,
to hnrass and Willy and libel the con-
GERS on duty In Washington Since ask
ing that an Investigation be mada 10 learn
whp gave out this garbled and alleged
rey,iinsnd | have Instituted inquiries to
and my request with .ho newspaper clip
ping enclosed. The adjutant generals de-
lulrtmtnt has reported its inaDiiity 10
Ind It,, sss III
General Esan, referring to the newspa-
per attacks, asserted that the secretary of
war had nothing whatsoever to do Win
the furnishing OF refrigerated meats or tho
tirned meats. nor had he attempted to con-
troll the contracts. awards or purchases,
and In that connection. In heated Language,
he attacked the New York newspapers and
their editors and prorriet0rs whom, he
said. should be indicted and tried for trea-
son to the United States during this war,
ss giving aid, comfort and Information to
gain
We're j a man Of wealth or MEANS" he
protested. II would take this subject upon
myself; would put the journalistic
knuves, purloiners of the secrets OF tho
government, behind the bars. where they
belong"
General Egan made vigorous attack
ON the inspector generals department IN
connection with this Investigation. He
nsked. why were not those inspections
made while the armies were In the field?
Where were the officers OF this depart
ment?" He said the principal officers OF
this department took other positions and
let the inspections OF the army, which we're
never nceaed so much as during the war,
60, so far as they were concerned, for per-
scnal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. as we know they
took volunteer rank With Increased pay,
and now at this late day we find this de-
partment suddenly endeavoring to get ok
parte views OF people In n manner not au
thorized by the secretary OF war--the prop
er authority-about things that are passed
The senior major general OF the army
and the inspector general Of the army he
continued, do not seem to be content or
satisfied that with perfect propriety and
Within the law and as contemplated by
regulations. samples Of everything fur
nished the army now In existence can be
obtained. examined. analysed and every
statement for or against the food furnished
at liberty to object to this method Of pro-
cedure for the reason that my objection
however well founded, however we'll bnsed
on law and regulations, l feared, would be
given to the world as an evidence that I
and my department feared an inspection
and this, too, when and while and the
whole department courted It. but we did
not court eX parte reports at the instigation
OF people well known to be hostile parties,
/ whose actions already and whose state
ments here before your commission show
hut too plainly what animus Is behind II
all. " a
! Referring to Inspector General Rreckin-
ridges investigation, General Egan pointed
out various reports OF officers that have
been published and quoted telegram he
received on January 1 from Lieutenant
Colonel A. l.. Smith, depot commissasy at
Havana. as follows:
4 "Commissary General, Washington
Guild. inspector Seventh corps, ordered
by Breckenridge to inspect and report or
all meat and requests samples, Will,
I without further Instructions. decline to
recognize Breckinridges authority bu,
viii personally show all stores desired I'M
officially. Smith,
Colonel Smith is an old experienced Of
hc.r.' said General Egnn, and not know
Ing there was anything like Il game In
progress, no stood upon the regulations
, and strict military point OF view and prop
! erly refused this improper course unles'
, he had evidence that It was authorized. as
: he should have been, by tho secretary o
/ war. For it can be readily seen that II this
= sort OF ex parte examinations are m,d'
9 and OK parte reports solicited. no mans
reputation Ia safe. every mans character
may be put in jeopardy, designing people
might ruin Christ even II He were here
today But as ! believed this course not
only improper by the regulations. beiey-
n
just such refusal as Colonel Smith made
replied TO Colonel Smith the same day
} saying: You will not stand on SOS. army
regulations, but you will allow meats aud
every article OF subsistence stores to he
Inspected by Guild. and II necessary to be
inspected twenty times week. Inform
Guild OF this dispatch. Furnish copy OF thit
dispatch to every commissary in Cuba fol
their guidance and in compliance in similar
, eases
u had no right" General EgGn OK.
planned ito send that dispatch, but tool
lit upon myself to send out this authority
: fearing refusal would be interpreted b,
the world at large that the department
was afraid OF any kind OF In
, yestigation When found tho sec
rotary OF war the following day and h
, understood that the inspector general
doubtless at the instigation OF the sonto
. major general Of the army, was inaugural
, ling n system OF inspection not contemplate
. BY the regulations nor authorised by prope
= authority he promptly informed mo h
: would not have approved my course nj
! though he thought perhaps WAS right,
''Inspector General breckenridge has re
a Gently addressed letters direct TO officers Q
r my department calling for reports to hr
about the various articles OF food furuishe
during the past year to the army He doe
I this without the authority OF the sccretnr
4 OF war, In effect. we have In this countr
a two officers OF the army--Gencrnl Mile
and General BreckinrIdge-wh take upo
n themselves to Investigate matters pertain
: ing solely and exclusively to the secretar
al of war; TO call for OK parte reports ant
d to do this directly, not through the ad
r jutnnt general Of the army, but direct, an,
n without the knowledge Of the secretary o
1 war and the adjutant general of the army
3 Your commission will readily see at ono
n how far tho thing has gone and 10 wha
II / extremes these men 10 to establish an,
. make case. General Breckinridge hA
y aiec addressed, am credibiy Informed,
y similar letter directed to tho surgeon gen
y eral I, and my department. who arc con
! cerned In this matter, are being tried. no
y with sworn evidence, nor with cpportunit,
I, To confront the witnesses, still loss the op
Il pcrtunity to refute any statements made
q because they refer 10 things done to thing
= consumed. to things not In existence an,
q | therefore every one Is given free han,
~ f~ao tn AZ a ~,