The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-04
MILES WILL BE UNDER FIRE.
MAY HE CALLED ON TO PROVE
CHARGES ABOUT MEAT.

President Mckinley Has Decided
There Must lie an investigation to
End the Horrible Uncertainty.
win Take Place After the COmmis-
siOn's Report Is In-In the Mean
time, Gen. Miles Will Retain His
Command.
Washington, Feb. 3.-The purpose of the
President to terminate the unsatisfactory
state of affairs that has existed for some
time as the result Of the numerous charges
and counter-charges and interviews re-
specting the character of the army beef,
by nstituting a formal inquiry into these
matters and endeavorng TO place the re-
sponsibilily where 1t belongs was made
known to-day.
This Inquiry will not be undertaken be-
fore the commission to investigate the con
duct OF the war has made its report to the
President
The scope Of this new inquiry has NOT yet
been defined, but It certainly will embrace
the allegations made by Gen 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 he viii be on trial himself
Should the charges be found well estab-
lished a heavy responsibility would he
! placed upon the packers and persons con-
cened Ia the meat inspection, and perhaps
others; should they fall unsupported Gen.
Miles may be obliged to answer to court
martial for rejecting upon the character
of other officers.
Methods of Investigation.
There are two methods by which such
an investigation may be conducted, ac-
! oording 90 established military usage. The
first is by the appointment of a court Of
! inquiry. and the second by the appoint
ment of what is known as an officers or
! inspection board. In the former case, il
would be necessary to name some officer
who is to be the subject of the investiga-
ton. In the latter the board is charged
simply to inquire into a state Of facts, or
alleged facts, without reference to any
particular person, and to place response
bllity. if possible, for anything of which
! complaint is made Their finding may
serve as the basis for a courtmartial quite
as effectpally as the findings of a court
Of inquiry and has some advantages in
that IL does not begin with the presump-
ton of a court Of inquiry. Where a court
of inquiry is ordered, it is said there is
conveyed distinct reflection upon the Of
| ficer named.
It Is not possible al present to learn in
which direction the President leans, but
he has been in conference on the subject
with the Secretary of War, and the At
torney General and the matter was dis
cussed in the cabinet to-day to some ex-
tent.
Miles Not Suspended.
1t was agreed that Gen Miles should
rot be suspended from his office as com
mander-in-chief of the army pending the
| investigation, as IL was not intended that
even by any inference he should be pre-
judged of any wrong-doing in this connec-
| ton.
Up 20 the close of the day Gen. Miles
! positively declined to discuss in any man.
ner the events of the day so far as they
relate to himself, or to discuss any state
ments contained in any OF the interviews
attributed to him. IL may be said of these
| tbNSi views Niidl Wiiie II IS conceivable they
might figure in the Inquiry, they would
not do so of necessity for the matters "a
be first looked into are those connected
with the character of the army beef.
1t is suggested that IL will be a matter
of difficulty to secure the personnel for
even court Of inquiry, with its limited
membership, without employing some OF
the officers who have already taken sorne
part in the controversy between Gen. Miles
fg Ia
the scarcity Of available officers of sum
cient rank 10 warrant their assignment
70 this duty.