Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1899-05-13
THE BEEF INQUIRY REPORT.
BINDINGS of the Court as Approved
py the President Made Public
by Executive Order

'hgs' Acting Secretary of War Meikle-
lchn yesterday made public the report
ana findings of the military court ap-
pointed to investigate the charges
made by Maj.-Gen. Miles, commanding
the army, that the beef supplied to the
army during the war with Spain was
unht for the use of the troops.
Important Features of the Report.
Tie most important features of the
report are: The finding that the gem
erals allegations that the refrigerated
beef was treated with chemicals were
not established; that his allegations
concerning the canned fresh or canned
roast beef were sustained as TO its un-
suitability for food as used on trans
ports and as long-continued field ra-
ton; censure of Gen. Miles for "error"
in falling TO promptly notify the sec
rotary of war when he first formed the
opinion that the food was unfit; cen-
SurL OF the commissary general
Chen Gen. Eagan) for the too extern
sl'c purchases of the cal~led beef as
an ,mtried ration; censurc of Col.
Minus oi Gen. Miles stan; the finding
'hat the packers were not at fault aud
that the meats supplied to the army
were OF the same quality as those sup
plled to the trade generally, and the
recommendation that no further pro-
ceedlngs VIII be taken in the premises.
The Ration as Whole.
Speaking of the ration as whole
the court says:
"As to the effects of the food supply.
having regard to both Suilicicncy and
quah'y, II seems to be clearly eStab-
i'Shed that the ration as supplied,
WI'hou' mod'fcahon, to the troops
serving IN the west indies, was by nc
means adapted Tor use in tropical
climates. lhlS, III the opinion of the
Oh the ra''oh should nave manifested
l'scl' by MS failure to keep the troops
Whlch snbsiSted upon 1t, in the best
possible condition for service in hot
CLIMATES. rms. IN the oplon OF the
court, is fully established in evidence
me lnsufllclency OF the food supply in
Cuba and the irreguIarlty attending
It's distribution, due primarily &c
a marked deficiency i'll transportation
facilities and conditions of weather
and the roads, appeared, to some eN'
tent, as causes OF disease among the
troops, who were thus insuilicientIy
ana irreglllarly supslsted.'
The report closes with the following
statement:
The Closing statement.
"The court, with deep sense of the
responsibilities devolving upon itself
has abored zcaously to bring out iii,
truth, and believes that it has fully
covered all the matters referred to il
Tor investigations; that the calling OF
more witnesses from the large number
s,,yprs4ed by the ma ior general com
manding, including all those who have
taken part in the operations of war
would only have resulted in additiona
testimony on the same lines as those
pursued. without throwing further
light upon the question involved. Sew
eral witnesses who were duly sub
poenaed to appear before the court die
not obey the summons. Some of these
were called at the instance of the ma
jor general commanding: others at thC
instance of the court. Having knowI
edge of the fact that the statutes die
not make II possible 10 puhish WIZ
resses who refuse to testify before &
court martial or court of inquiry, the