The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-04

This has been a day of anxiety for
the administration. The President had
practically decided yesterday, as stated
in the Herald this morning, to relieve
General Miles, and in some we'll in
formed quarters it was anticipated an
order relieving that officer as COM
handing officer OF the army would be
issued Immediately after the Cabinet
meeting to-day.
A complication in the situation arose,
however, as a result of General Miles
denial of the interviews attributed to
him in New York. There is no reason
to believe, however, that General Miles
denial of the New York interview will
have any effect upon the purpose of the
administration to relieve him from his
present duties. The Presidents under
standing is that he gave out a type
written statement while in New York.
When l asked General Miles on this
point he declined to make any state
ment, but it was learned that the state
ment referred to set forth extracts
from reports of commanding officers,
expressing their opinion as to the char
aoter of beef and canned meats fur
nished to their regiments.
So far as General Miles is concerned
l am given to understand he would be
glad to have his case settled one way
or the other. A close personal friend of
the major general commanding said he
was heartily tired of the reports that
he was TO be court martialed or re-
lieved.
THE fact is" he continued, these
reports have been in circulation for
some seven or eight months. The gen.
eral can only think that they have been
put out by some one in authority in the
nature of feelers of the public pulse or
TO put ideas in the heads of his SUI
periors.'
The advisability of ordering a court
of inquiry was carefully considered by
the Cabinet, but no action will be taken
until the President has received the re-
port of the War Investigating Commit
tee. An opinion was read by Attorney
General Griggs, which had been pre-
pared at the request of the President,
showing the latter had full authority to
relieve General Miles if he desired to
take such action.
The scope of this new inquiry has
not been defined, but it certainly will
embrace the allegations by General
Miles as to the character of the army
supplies and will involve that officer
to the extent that he must make these
charges good, and to that degree will
be on trial himself in preliminary
manner Should the charges be found
would be placed upon the packers and
persons concerned in the meat inspec-
ton, and perhaps others; should they
fail unsupported, General Miles may be
obliged to answer to a court-martial for
rejecting upon the character of other
officers. There are two methods by
which such an investigation may be
conducted according to established mil
itary usage. The first is by the ap-
pointment of a court of inquiry and
the second by the appointment of what
is known as an officers or inspection
board In the former case it would be
necessary to name some officer who is
the subject of investigation. In the lat
ter the board is charged simply to in
quire into a state of facts, or alleged
facts, without re- -renee to any particu-
lar person and to place responsibility
if possible for anything upon. which
complaint is made. Their findings may
serve as the basis for a court-martial
quite as effectually as the findings of a
court of inquiry and has some advan-
tages in that it does not begin with the
presumption of a court of inquiry.
Where a court of inquiry is ordered it
is said there is conveyed distinct re-
Election upon the officer named.