New-York tribune., 1899-05-11
THE REPORT CRITICISED.
H r. PROBAsCO REGARDS GENERAL MILES'S
CHARGES AS PROVED.

H. r. PROBASCO REGARDS GENERAL MILES'S
CHARGES AS PROVED.
Cincinnati. May lO-"The Enquirer tomorrow
will print the following interview with II. r. Pro-
basco ex-United States District-Attorney here. a
relative of x-Senator Sherman and recently coun-
sci for General Miles:
when the court convened, having previously
served General Miles counsel In other matters,
was asked 10 go to Washington and confer with
him regarding the proceedings before the Court of
Inquiry 1t determined that. inasmuch rs
General Miles not in the attitude of one ac-
cused II would be ill-advised to introduce lawyer
and Major Lee selected by General Miles to aid
the court and the Recorder"
Did you take any active part before the court?
MY only connection with the con-
ferring with General Miles and Major Lee regard
ing the summoning of witnesses and the examina-
tion of the most important ones"
What is your opinion to the report Of the
Court of Inquiry"
Il have not read the full report. but have seen
the synopsis Of 1t. amused that three inte-
gent Army officers. sitting court for weeks and
examining several hundred witnesses. should have
rendered such an Illogical and uncertain decision.
The decision amounts 10 the court finding that the
beef-packers were saints sent to soldiers with
mama from heaven. and that General Miles was
careless because he did report the first vague
rumor which came to his ears that this food was
bad Every witness condemned in unstnted terms
the so-called canned roast beef unfit ration.
The chief clerk Of the Commissary Generals office
testified that canned roast beef In 1873 was an ex-
permental ration. and adversely reported on
after a short trial The was evidently so
we'll satisfied TO the proof Of the truth Of Gem
eral Mes's allegations to canned roast beef that
when shortly before the testimony closed they
were asked TO subpoena list of 1A additional wit
nesses, they declined TO subpoena all except 10 for
the reason that the 124 would give cumulative tes-
,fpony only against the canned roast beef"
AS TO "EMBALMED" BEEF
what about the 'embalmed beef?"
Before bids were Received by the Commissary-
General he was advised by expert cattle and beef
men that fresh beef would not hold up twenty-four
hours after delivered from the refrigerator In tho
climate that prevailed In Florida and the West
Indies and that the best course to pursue would be
the purchase OF beef on the block beef on the
hoof He told these that the parties who desired
TO furnish the fresh beef had process which they
said would enable them to deliver meat which
would keep sound and fresh for seventy-two hours
after delivery from the refrigerator The day after
the bids were opened attorneys In Washington ad-
dressed communication TO the Secretary OF War
making the argument that Notwithstanding their
clients bid was somewhat higher than the others
they ought to be awarded the contract because OF
their ability perform their contract by means OF
the Powell process for the preservation OF meat,
which they controlled. and which had been sat
isfactoriy tested under the auspices OF the GOV
eminent. This letter referred by the Secretary
OF War TO the Commissary- General for his consid-
Grafton, who returned II TO the Secretary with his
Endorsement. in which he said These tests are not
the only tests which have been made. leaving tho
plain inference that the other bidders also had
processes for the preservation OF meat which had
been tested.
This letter was returned by the Secretary oi
War DR.. Daly's testimony that he had found by
chemical analysis OF meat furnished the soldiers