The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-21
The Beef Court Viii Find the Generals
Charges to be Unfounded.
OFFICERS TO BE CRITICISED
For Waiting Until After the War to Prefer Charges Against the Oualt,
of Food Furnished the Soldiers-Important Diplomatic Changes
Announced--A Letter of Thanks From the Car of Russia.
The Samoan Commissioners Entertained by Secre.
tary Hay.Plenary Powers Conferred on
Them to Settle Affairs in Samoa.

Washington, April Ex-senator Cul-
berson, Of Texas, had an interview with
Secretary Alger at the war department
today, with a view to the re-establish-
ment Of the military department of
Texas. formerly included within the
geographical boundaries of that state.
Senator Culberson represents that the
people n interests Of the great state
of Texas require the re-establishment
Of the old military department Of Tex
as, with headquarters at San Antonio,
its former location.
The following important diplomatic
changes have been announced as the
\ Jesuit of the cabinet meeting today:
v w. W. Rockhill, now minister to
Greece, has resigned that post. Ar
thur Sherburn Hardy, of New Hamp-
shire, now minister to Persia, has
been promoted to succeed Mr.. Rockhill.
William P. Lord, ex-governor of Ore
gon. has been appointed minister to
Persia.
Hon. John N. Irwin. of Iowa, former
ly governor of Idaho, has been appoint
ed minister to Portugal, to succeed
AAA SiA%S AA0SA4N ~
Belgium, in place of Bellamy Storer,
who goes to Madrid.
Mr.. ROckhilPs resignation was purely
voluntary and was caused by personal
and domestic considerations. Mrs.
RoCkhill died while he was stationed
at Athens and he lost mis- desire TO re-
main. He is now On his way home
with his two children and the remains
of his wife.
Ex-Governor William p. Lord, of
Oregon, is a lawyer h has been quite
prominent in public Life. Years ago
he was elected governor, being the first
republican governor of the state in
eight years. He served four years, but
was not a candidate for reelection.
Mr.. Irving was born in Ohio. Tie was
Once appointed governor of Idaho ter
ritOry, but after serving six months
resigned, refusing to accep- the salary
for the time he was in office. He is a
prosperous merchant of koekuk, about
so years old, a fine classical scholar
.a1G has given a great deal of attention
to higher arts. He is a graduate of
Miami university and Of Dartmouth
college. Mr.. Hardy has been stationed
a. Techeran since January, 1897. He is
a rative of Massachusetts and a resi-
dent of Hanover, N. H. He graduated
from West Point, but resigned from he
army in 1869. He was professor of
mathematics in Dartmouth college. He
is the author of several novels and also
works on mathematics.
THE WADE COURT OF INQUIRY.
The Wade court of inquiry held three
sessions today, devoting the forenoon
to an executive meeting, the afternoon
to hearing testimony and the evening
to the reading of reports of army OIL
GERS. General Weston continued his
testimony, detailing the provision made
for Victualing the soldiers during the
war, and ~contending that beef on the
hoOf could not have been landed at ST.
bOny.
George l.. Taylor, the Philadelphia
ennis said he had detected the
presence of formal de hyde on the
meat while on his way to Porto Rico
last fall as an officer in the First VOL
unteer cavalry.
THE BEEF COURT DOWNS NILES.
The army cour of inquiry has be-
gun the framing of it's report. While a
few minor matters remain for m
ton, the are not such as to affect the
main issues. 1t is regarded as certain
that the court will find that General
Miles charges that embalmed or chem
ically prepared beef was sent to the
army have not been sustained. The
position of the court is believed to be
that the testimony is conclusive that
both the refrigerated beef and the can
ned beef were in good condition when
delivered to the government and con-
tinued so until issued to the troops,
except that portion damaged in transr
pOrtatiOn or affected by tropical condi-
tions, and to these causes of injury
and these conditions the chief causes
of trouble will be attributed. 1t will
be shown that the refrigerated beef af-
ter being taken from the ice in the
tropical climate spoils quickly unless
we'll cared for, and that the canned
l. beef, after being opened, because OF the
M ur0n hnnf hAnnmpc rnnIllCiVn in an
Y pearance and soon u~npalatalble. But
the court will hold, as the result of
chemical investigations by experts.
tina the n m beef is wholesome and
nutritious. Attention will be called to
the fact that it was used throughout
the war by our navy n is still used
by the fleet.
1t is believed that the court will crit
icise these officers who have testified
that they became aware that bad beef
was issued to the troops and who fail
ed TO report their observations until at
ter the war a closed.
THE CZAR'S EXPRESSIONS OF
GRATITUDE.
The secretary of state has made pub
lie the following note addressed to him
by his excellence, Count Gassini, the
Russian ambassador:
Russian Embassy,
Washington, April II.
Mr.. Secretary of State:
"Since the publication of the circular
of the 18th of August, last year, which
his excellencency, Count M~ouravieff
addressed to the representatives of the
foreign powers accredited at st. Peters
burg, numerous evidences of grateful
recognition have come from the United
States to his majesty, the emperor, my
august master, in the form of ad-
dresses, letters and kilograms.
His majesty, the emperor, is pleased
to see in the unanimity of the senti.
ments which attend the courteous &C.
quiescence of all the governments IT
taking part in the conference of The
Hague, an additional pledge for the
success Of efforts tending to the
growth of the fruitful principle of uni
versal peace in the mind and in the
public life of all nations.
Deeply affected by the expressions
which have reached him from the Unit,
, ed States and which prove how com
pletely the ideas of peace, upor
+ho lox,11o--oo-f ~ 4ha moral and ma.