Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-01-13

gross he refused this improper course
,,r,ass no had evidence that II was au-
thorixed as It should have been by the
secretary OF war. For It can pe readiiy
saen that II this sort OF ex parVe exam
inat,on is made and ex parte reports
are solicited, no mans reputation 's
safe. every mans character may De
mt in jeopardy; designing people
wight ruin Christ, even, II ne were
here, today. but believing fhat II was =
trap to produce just such reiusal az
Col. Smith made replied to Col. sm,tn
saving: You will not Sand on reguia-
tions. hut you will allcw meats ana
every article Of subsistence stores 10 D."
inspected by Guild and II necessary 70
he inspected 20 times day. Furnish
coDy of this dispatch TO every comn's-
sary in Cuba for their guidance IN SIM
liar cases.
II have no right" Gen. Eagan ex-
plained. ito send that dispatch, but
took if upon myself to send out TINS
authority fearing a refusal would pc
interpreted by the world as showing
that the department was AFRAID OF any
When i informed the
secretary of war and he learned tnat
the inspector general. doubtless at the
instigation of the senior major gener-
al of the army, was inauguratins
system of inspection not authorized by
proper authority he Informed me ne
would not have approved of my course,
although he thought perhaps ! was
right.
inspector General Breckenridge has
recently addressed letters direct To
officers of my department. calling for
reports to him about the various arti-
cles and food furnished during the pas,
year to the army. He does this with
out the authority of the secretary of
war. In effect we have in these TWO
officers OF the army-Gen. Miles and
Gen. Breckinridge-who take upon
themselves to investigate matters per-
tanning solely and exclusively to the
secretary of war; to call for ex parte
and to do this directly and
the knowledge of the secre-
tary of war or the adjutant general o!
the army.
Gen. Breckenridge has also address
ed, | am credbly informed. similar
letter direct To the surgeon general.
and my department are being tried,
not with sworn testimony nor oppor-
tunity To confront the witness. still
ments made because they refer To
things consumed. things not in exist
ence. Every one Is given free license
to comment as he pleases because the
evidence in the case Is out OF exist =
ence."
Gen. Eagan said it appeared from
the seeking of this report that the sub
ordinates were inspecting their su-
periors. He referred To the reports
from officers submitted by Gen. Miles
as irresponsible statements and sald
''One of these officers goes outside II
tell you about competition for con.
tracts and what was used in canning
both things without his possib,.
If Gen. Miles had inform
ed himself as much about the army ra.
ton as he pretends to have informed
himself about refrigerated beef. which
he falsely calls 'embalmed beef then
he should have been enabled to inform
you that this very canned beef we are
speaking about has been part of the
army ration since Feb. s. 1883. Whether
Gen. Miles is ignorant of this do not
pretend to say. but he takes it upon
himself when asked who fixed il as
A part OF the army ration. 10 say, You
will have to ask some one here in
The implication shows
how reliable his statements are
Gen. Eagan stated that Gen. Miles
chief commissary. selected by him over
experienced officers, had public sub
sistence funds in his possession. but
could not use them for lack of a check
book. though Col. Sharpe. chief com
on Gen. Brooke's staff fla1
sense enough to provide himself with
a check book.
He questioned the right of Gen.
Miles to divert the customs funds tn
the purchase of beef when the sub
sistence department had over $4,000
available. Having traversed Gen.
Miles statements" he said. "having
shown him to You as a liar, and dem
onstrated the animus that pervades
this whole matter. ! now go back To
his statement that, in his judgment.
the food was one of the chief causes Of
sickness and distress among the
troops.
ITO say. to imply, to assert. to insn-
uate that sickness was caused for
such reason in Porto Rico is to make
an assertion wholly untrue. devoid OF
any facts, and can only be prompted
by base motive
Questioning Gen. Miles course in sub
mittng briefs of reports from regimental
Gen. Eagan said this course
was unprecedented in the history of the
army. not within his province. nor con-
by law and regulation and
there would be just as much justice in
the President or secretary of war send
ing out a circular letter inviting criti-
cisms on the conduct of Gen. Miles dur
ing this war
Gen. Eagan said the first intimation OF
'hemical treatment he had had was in
Gen. Miles statement. and it seemed to
him 1.-The raving nonsense Of a mailman"
His own tEagans) conduct and work had
been looked into. and he saw no reason
why Gen. Miles conduct and work
should not be looked into He said: TT
s high time and proper that this COM
mittee should examine into the truth and
falsehoOd of his statements and examine
ntO his conduct of the war"
Further. he said. Gen. Miles legally had
10 control of the purse. as he assumed to
have in Porto Rico. nor did the law au-
thorize him to set aside food furnished
lnder the law, but 1t did determine how
o hold accountable the party furnishing
improper food. He charged that if Chief