Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-04-29
T'HE COURT OF INQUIRY
In the Beef Scandal Nearing the
End Of It's Work.
THE ARGUMENT OF MAJOR LEI

Disclaims That Ito Acts as the Coun-
sol OF General Miles IN Il Technical
Sensc-Beileves That a Great Fraud
and Il Crime Has Been Committed.
Washington, April 25.-The Wade
court of inquiry appointed to inyestl-
gate the allegations made by Major
General Miles in his testimony before
the war investigating commission con-
corning the meat furnished the army
during the late war with Spain held
its last open session yesterday, and is
now engaged upon the preparation OF
its report. The court has been in SEES
its report.
Yesterday the court decided not to
accept report made by Lieutenant
Colonel Darlington, of4sthe inspector
generals Office This report had been
transmitted to General Miles through
Inspector General Breckenridge. The
report of General Darlington covers
about so typewriter pages. and goes
eXhaustively into the reports made by
officers and men, without drawing any
general conclusion.
At the afternoon session Major Lee,
who had been Major General Miles
representative before the board, sum-
med up for his side of the case. Re
corder Davis read brief reports from
General Breckenridge. the inspector
general, and also from two OF his
subordinates. Major Philip Reade and
Lieutenant Colonel Darlington, as to
sc = hot, ;nEi,-iInD1 Iynrl, and
observations General Breckenridge
condemned the canred beef ration, and,
speaking generally. said that While the
army ration fulfilled alone the sclen-
tific requirement OF food values, its
component parts should be changed to
meet the new conditions of service. As
the ration was fixed by law. this was
a matter for congress 10 remedy. He
also suggested that articles required
by sick and convclescent soldiers
should be added. Major Reade's re-
port was mainly devoted TO the lack
of certain camp equipment among cer-
tain regiments. and that of Colonel
Darlington 20 the result of his per-
sonal inspection of the various camps
OF the country.
The court then decided that if any
OF the depcsiticns for which General
Miles had called should be received
prior TO the completion OF the report OF
The board they should he admitted as
evidence subject to the boards limita-
tons.
Major Lee then summed up the case.
disclaimirg at the outset that he was
setting as counsel for Major General
Miles in a technical sense. and adding
that lie had been there simply to pre-
sent and elicit evidence. He read his
argument from carefully prepared
manuscript. and was given careful at
tention by the three members of the
court and the recorder. no one else
being present except the representa-
tives of the press. He declared that
the evidence showed conclusively that
the beef furnished the troops in Flor
ida. Cuba and Porto Rico had been
chemically treated to insure its keep
ing the specified contract time. that it
was perfectly practicable to have land
ed beef cattle with the armies at ali
points, and proceeded:
There was no necessity for de-
parture from the army travel ration.
which has been found perfectly salts
factory. Instead of supplying the
troops during this war, as other ar
mics have been supplied, with whole
some food fct which there was an in
eXhaustible supply in the country,
there was gathered up all Of the can
ned food possible, much of which had
been stored for years in the ware
houses of the Baltimore and Ohio rail
road in other places and in foreign
storehouses. and falsely labeled prime
roast beef when there was not an
ounce of roast beef and, We believe,
not an ounce of prime beef contained
in the cans.
1--WE believe that great fraud has
been perpetrated upon the government
and a great crime committed upon its
soldiers, and as to the party or parties
who had committed this offense, and
whether the evidence should be refer
red to the judicial officers of the gov
eminent, in order that justice shall be
done. are matters that we leave to the
consideration of your honorable court"
Major Lees statement consumed
about an hour, and when he concluded
with the statement that the members
of the board must decide whether the
great fraud and great crime which he
believed had been committed should
be carried before the courts, Recorder
Davis arose and said simply: Il sub
nit the case to the board without ar
pumnnt -