The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-21

| Washington, February 2o,--Thc Miles
court of inquiry today made u good start
in it's work. Calls OF ceremony on tho
president and the general commanding tae
army occupied a large part of tho forenoon
and Immediately thereafter General Miles
appeared 40 the first witness. He and
three other army officers summoned rs
witnesses were examined and disposed Of
before the court closed its session at
| o'clock.
| General Miles testimony of course, was
| the feature of the days proceedings. He
| appeared in fatigue uniform rather strik-
| inc in Its contrast with the display OF
scarfs, bullion aud buttons on tho full
dress uniforms OF the court. He submitted
| TO tho questioning OF Colonel Davis. lie"
corder OF the court, With cquauimlty eN-
cupt for nash OF mingled indignation
aud irony when he informed the recorder
that he was not compelled to report TO
tho oommissary general Of the army This
was in reply to u question as TO whether
or not he had reported TO the commssary
| department tho fact that the complaints
| had been made 10 him as 20 the quality OF
| meat being issued to the troops. An IN
stant Iatcr General Miles resumed his cool
| and carefully considered replies To the In
| oures OF tho court. AS indicated by let
| ter OF tho adjutaut general, read by the
recorder for tho information of the court,
tho scope of the inquiry was limited TO
IND allegations of General Miles before
Ire war commission as 10 the quality OF
the army beef "and he matter plrporiinS
10 have been furnished to the public press
by tho same official Tho tread OF 1'ies'
lions pul TO the other witnesses OF the
day Indicated thai SO long as they agreci
with General Miles as 10 the quality o. the
mea, furnished the troops in the held tho
only criticism Of their position tbe court
had TO make was why they had not taken
come official steps to have the matter rem
edied nj tho time. In every instance the
reply was that the circumstances In when
iho army was plaeed--in a sickly foreign
country with o large amount OF hgntins
and great scarcity of transportation on
hDnd--eyeluded the possibility OF any such
action. II was said aitcr tue 'oun. aa
iouruod that III. DAILY. whose priginai
sembalmed beef" report was the genesis
M Tho meat controversy. probably would
appear at tomorrow's session
Tho court of inquiry to examine INTO
the beef supply controversy met TO-DAY
preparatory 10 It's firs, formal session.
Brigndcr General c. W Davis and colonel
@. b. Davis. recorder and judge aaYoca'''
were irst to arrive. Major General James
n. Wade, president OF the court, canc
iater ana at 1896 the coust. 10 fuii dress
mniform proceeded TO the White HOUSE.
where ii paid It's respects 70 the prssiuent
and then to the war department wnere !.
ealled ,lpon Secretary Alger ana ma aj,or
General Miles The court returned ~ t-:ys
rom its visits of courtesy, Colonel pNs 49,,
announced a readiness TO nrocesd ann 'sau
The order conyening the court ana tne " 6
FnlIowing the reading OF the orcel;
which has been published already Coaonss
Davis read d letter from Adiutant GenerSs
corbin. IN response 10 . letter from W.
oral Wade. president OF the court, expHantt
Inc moro specifically the things the uous
was expected to investigate.
THE letter is rs follows: ..,x.,t
Major General Wade. U, y. n r''''ss''S s
rcurt Of inquiry. Washington. ~. s.
sir. / have The hrnor 20 aeknoMiceskk
reeeipi Of your letter Of INQUIRY 81 NJ
I'm instant. IN reply thereto am " ~
reeted by the secretary q war % w ~