The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-04
He Proposes to Clear Up the Question
Of Army Beef.
MILESMAY Be COURT -MARTIALED
Should He Fail to Substantiate His
Charges He May Have 10 Answer
for reflections on Brother Off
GERS Characters - In the
Meantime lie Retains
Command.

WASHINGTON. Fen. 3.-The purpose of
tho President 10 terminate the unsatis-
factory state OF affairs that has existed
for some time, as the result Of the nu-
merous charges and countor-chsrses ana
interviews respecting the character Of the
army beef by insututins a formal IN
ouiry into these matters and endeayoring
10 place the responsibility where IL be-
longs. was made known to-day. This in
quiry will not be undertaken before the
commission to investigate tho conduct
of the war. which has made its report
TO the President
MAY COURT-MARTIAL MILES.
Tho scope OF this inquiry has not been
defined, but it viii certainly embrace
the allegations made by Genelal Miles
as 10 the character of the army supplies,
and will involve that officer 10 the extent
that DE must make these charges good.
and TO that degree Will DE on trial him
self m manner. Should the
charge, be found well-established a heavy
responsibility would he placed upon the
packers and persons concerned i'm the
meat expectation and others should they
Obliged 20 answer 90 n Courf-martial for
rejecting upon the character OF other
officers. There are two methods by which
such an investigation may be conducted,
according 20 established military usage.
The first Is by the appointment OF
court of inquiry. and the second BY the
appointment Of what is known as an Off
GERS or inspection board In the former
case &c would bc necessary 10 name some
officer who should Doe the subject Of in
vcstigation. In the latter the board Is
charged simply 90 inquire into state
of facts or alleged facts, without refer
ence to any particular person. and 10
place responsibility n possible for any
thing of which complaint is made. Their
findings may serve as The basis for d
c0urt-martial quite as cffectualy as the
findings of court Of inquiry, and has
some advantage I'm that it does not begin
with the presumption OF "a court OF in
qulry.
Where a court Of inquiry is ordered. It
is said, there is conveyed distinct re-
Election upon the officer named.
It IS not possible at present to learn
lu which direction the President leans,
but be has been in conference on the
subject with the Secretary Of War and
the Attorney General and the matter
was discussed in the Cabinet to-day 10
some extent.
WILL NOT PREF DGE
To was agreed that General Miles should
not be suspended from his Office As COM
mander of the army pending the invesu-
CATION. as 90 was not intended that even
by any inference should he be prejudged
Of any wrong doing in this connection.
I'p % the close of the day General
Miles positively declined 10 discuss In
any manner the events of the day. SO far
as they relate 10 himself, or 10 discuss
any statements contained I'm any Of the
interviews attributed TO him.
II may be said OF these interviews. that
while il Is conceivable they might figure
in the inquiry. they would not do so ot
necessity for the matters TO be first look
ed into are those connected with the
character of the army beef.
il is suggested that it Will be a matter
of difficulty 10 secure the personnel for
even court Of inquiry with its limited
membership. without employing some of
the officers who have already taken
some part I'm the controversy between
General Miles and General Eagan This
Is ON account Of tho scarcity Of available
officers of sufficient rank 10 warrant
tbefr aesic-nmcnt TO this duty