The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-30

Washington, April 29.-The Wade
court of inquiry today concluded its
work in connection with the delegations
Of General Miles concerning the beef
supplied to the army during the war
with Spain. The report was signed at
2:30 p. m. by every member of the
board ,and soon afterward the mem
bers of the court left the Lemon build
ing, where all the meetings in this city
have been held. Colonel Davis the re-
corder of the court, carried the official
copy of the findings to the war depart
ment and, in the absence of Secretary
Alger, delivered it to Acting Secretary
Meiklejohn. Mr.. Meiklejohn Immediate
ly sealed the document in an envelope
and forwarded it to the White House,
whence it was dispatched to the presi-
dent in New York
The report is of about 10000 words
and goes fully into the questions which
have been raised in connection with the
army beef. The text has not been made
public, and viii not until after the
president shall have read it, 1t will
then rest with him to say when the re-
port shall be given to the public.
The verdict, however, is known to be
that the charges which General Miles
made before the war investigation COM
mittee are not sustained in reference to
the refrigerated beef, although his con-
tention that the canned roast beef was
not a suitable continuous ration is adj
mitted.
Criticism For Miles.
There is direct criticism of General
Miles for failing to promptly bring to
the attention of the war department
the reports made to him concerning bad
beef, and several individuals" are cen
sured for failing to observe the pro-
prieties of their positions as command
ing officers in this and other respects.
The forecast of the report as made by
the Associated Press on the 18th inst.
was an accurate one. AS was then
stated, the court takes the position that
the testimony is conclusive and that
both the refrigerated beef and the can
ned beef We're in good condition when
delivered to the government, and con-
tinued so until issued to the troops, eX-
cept in especial instances, when the
deterioration was due to accidental
conditions in the transportation or to
the influences of the tropical climate.
The report admits the liability of re-
frigerated beef to taint quickly after
removal of the ice chests.
The court finds the charges of "em-
balming" the fresh beef to have been
unsubstantiated by testimony and says
no chemicals were used to preserve it.
1t also finds that it would have been
impracticable to secure beef on the hoof
for the Cuban campaign. The finding is
likewise in opposition to the assertion
on the part of General Miles that the
use of beef was an experiment.
Meat Wholesome and Nutritious.
Much attention is given to the
charges concerning the canned roast
beef, and it is stated that the testimony
proves it to have been wholesome and
nutritious where used in moderation
and under favorable circumstances.
The position is taken that too much of
this article of food was supplied to the
men, and that under the circumstances
it was unDalatable and found unde-
sirable as a continuous ration. The fact
is set forth that the canned roast beef
had not been used to any appreciabie
extent before the beginning of this war,
and it is, therefore, regarded as prac-
tically untried ration.
In view of this fact, the commissarv
general of subsistence is roundly criti-
cised for the purchase of the meat in
such extensive quantities. AS to tie
character of the meat for wholesome
fessors AtWater and Chittenden are
quoted at length, sustaining the claims
in this respect. The instructions of the
president are followed closely in order,
and all the points indicated by him as
being those upon which he desired tnat
inquiry should be made are covered.
Accordingly, the court finds that the
meat was not t'doctored:" that it was
the beef of commerce; that there was
no more neglect than was incidental to
the hurried preparation for the war;
that the inspection, while generally ac-
cording to regulations, was not always
up to the requirements, and that the
sickness of the troops was not to any
great degree occasioned by the use of
either the canned or the refrigerated
beef
On the other hand, it is explained
that General Miles himself did notzre-
port during the war that the beef.
either refrigerated or canned was unfit
IS a ration. Other officers who gave
heir testimony before the court were
found also to have neglected what the
court conceives to have been their duty
n this respect, and all are blamed for
his failure. But the court does not
.hink further proceedings necessary.