Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-01-19
War Investigating Com mis-.
sion Will Not Accept Gen.
Egan's Testimony.
WAR DEPARTMENT DIVIDED
to Punishment-The Pre- sident and
Cabinet Had tho Matter Under Con-
sideration - More Conflicting
Testimony Regarding Beef.

sideration - More Conflicting
Testimony Regarding Beef
Washington, Jan. 13.-Therc was no
abatement in the interest exhibited here
to-day in all the incidents connected with
tho bitter attack made yesterday by Com
missary General Egan upon Gen. Nelson
A. Miles AS might have been expected
matter Of this official consequence was
sure to attract the attention of the presi-
ucnt and in consequence a greater part of
the session of the cabinet to-day was CIV
ON to its consideration. The principals in
the case, Gems Miles and Egan contrib
utcd little during the day to tho contro-
Nersy but the war investigating commits
sion to-day acted promptly to redress the
anront put upon the board itself, as the
members regarded it contained in the cx-
cessiVc language used by Gen. Egan.
Their letter returning tho latters state
ment may not indicate positively whether
or no they would receive it as evidence
even though the objectionable language
was cXcised, nor did Gen. Egan himself
gNo amy sign of an intention on his part
TO avail himself of the offer made by the
board. His friends did not hesitate to IN
innate that he would expunge the objcc-
tionable language but he would say Moth
score must be obtained from the board
itself
The war department officials are not yet
clear as to what would be the effect of a
withdrawal or modification of the state
mcnt one element holds that officially
the record falling to show that any OBJ
Jectionable language had been used there
would he no legal oifense. Another takes
the view that while the amendment of
the statements would mitigate Gen.
E2an's oitense, it would rot wipe it out.
Another aspect of the case is the bringing
forward OF the plea of exemption which
guaranteed in the nam of the President
all OF the witnesses before the board from
the consequences of what they might saw
But again the officials were divided and
this was also true of the members of the
cabinet as to whether the exemption
could be claimed in this particular case.
Meanwhile Gen. Miles is apparently
waiting for the war department to act,
taking the position that it is incumbent
upon il and the war commission to pro-
tect the army from such attacks
In the excitement created by this Incl
dent the pending issue before the COM
mission, the quality of the army beef,
was well night lost sight of. There WERE
however two piquant additions to that
part of the proceedings. one consisting of
the testimony of Gen. Wood to the effect
had nado any connlaint nc 70 ,ba $500 'i,,,e
and tho other from Thoodoro poo.n,.oit
making a very severe comnlai,,t rao,,t
ing the beef.
The war investigating comm sson to-
cen. Epap for tho I,neI,ao, he ,,,ad VOC
terdav when he nnnearod tn ,ns,.,r
charges made npainst tho co,rrisso,.,,
branch of the army hv Maio,. CnnornI
Miles and returned tn him Tho caretu,Iv
prepared tvnew,itton statement which No
left with tho commission nfter rcndin., il
to that body With tic ratlIr,, We so,, -
Letter eNulainiup the reasons far mic 90
ton ana a COPY of the resolution
Following is the text of tho I.,te, .art
to Egan:
Sir:--We Observation-Disclosures van tho, Of
ter vour testimony was road ve.terdavtb,
following resolution was Observation-Disclosures,
passed. Moved that tho comnni.sio, va
ceive Gen. Egan's Testimony without com
mcnt that IL he printed at once INT MA
for Tho consi1eration of tho ,r,,ois,,io
Carried Having now considered ,ho an. g
lions involved. we have determined int
in MANY instances the vitunnrativo 1a,N
guage used nv Won was NOT s,,cb as If
ought to no addressed b, ,vi,nas. 10
this board. We think uersonnI altacks
md irrelevant statements cnntainod in
the nauers suhmitted should he oIi,ninot,d
before receiving il as testironv and we
reorest that Won revise the Iano,,nI,o -
Won choose to submit II for considerntion
I'VE herewith return vour naners
Army circles this morning mad scarcely,