The evening times., 1899-01-24
"CounseI for the Gamers"

Some of the people who have followed
the course of the bad beef scandal have
been amazed at the obvious policy of the
Alger Relief Commission and at the closing
of the case without taking the evidence
that is at hand of the truth of General
Miles charges. 1t is to be noted that the
reports of the regimental commanders and
company officers in Porto Rico are not in
possession of the Commission. and no at
tempt has been made to obtain them. So
clear is the purpose of the Algerian white
washers that leading Republican news
paper. the New York Tribune is forced
to say this morning:
The character of the examination OF Professor
Clarke and Surgeon Daily before the War investi-
CATION Commission makes it not unreasonable to
remind some Of the members OF that body that
their function is to discover truth aud not TO
as counsel for the American canning industry.
No doubt patriotic citizens would rejoice to know
that all beef-packers honest, and no
injurious chemicals TO preserve their products,
but the Commission not appointed by the
President to give testimonials 10 contractors.
When members undertake TO badger witnesses and
ask questions evidently intended 10 discredit or
diminish the significance OF testimony concerning
the finding OF deleterious substances in meat
they offer an insult 10 the President of the
United States 10y nullifying his call to witnesses
TO tell what they know without fear. For an in
yestigator to become advocate is for him to
impeach the good faith of the President in start
ing the inquiry.
From the first the Alger Relief Com
mission has defed public opinion and
shown its contempt for the honest express
sions of newspapers that have had no in
| terested motives and no other aim than to
have the truth revealed. The members
began their bulldozing tactics with the
| first witnesses who were unfavorable to
the War Department and repulsed all
public spirited citizens who volunteered
to present testimony that was essential
| TO an honest inquiry. They virtually
threatened a committee organized in New
York TO enlist the services. as witnesses,
| of many volunteer officers and men who
were about to be sent TO their distant
| homes, and thus prevented persons who
knew vital facts from making their state
ments. This has been continued until no
/ intelligent observer has the least doubt
/ that the Commissioners consider them
selves the attorneys of Secretary Alger.
When General Miles made his first asser-
tions about the beef and expressed sur
prise that this Investigating body had ig-
nored the business, one Of the leading
members was indignant-not over the
heinous crime of endangering the lives of
! our soldiers by the issue of tainted ms at.
but over General Miles disregard of the
interests of the meat companies. He an
nouneed that the Commission would re-
fute the charges In the interest of Ameri-
| can meat. To do this it has listened to
the testimony of General Eagan's subor-
dinates who say they never saw any bad
| beef, but has failed to invite the evidence
of the officers whose reports have been
published. D., q xEa
The Commission announced that it had
closed the case before the voluntary state
ments of Captain Bean Captain Warbur-
ton, and others were received-statements
which it could have had at any time. but
did not want. That Of Captain Warbur-
ton, sent~in yesterday, sustains in every
| particular the facts as given by Captain
| Bean and his men. 1t is doubtful if they
| will be included in the records. Whether
they are or not, it is plain that