New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-04
BEEF SCANDAL TO BE PROBED
THE PRESIDENT WILL ORDER A COURT
OF INQUIRY.
CONDUCT OF GENERAL MILES AND ALL
OTHER OFFICERS CONNECTED WITH
THE SCANDAL TO BE THOR
OTGHLY INVESTIGATED.

THE SCANDAL TO BE THOR
OUGHLY INVESTIGATED.
rnT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNEl
Washington Feb. 3-The President has finally
determined to order n military court Of inquiry
for the purpose OF ascertanng the whole truth
regarding the Army beef scandal. in close ac-
cord with the line Of procedure urged by The
Tribune The investigation is not 10 he con-
fined. had been already recommended in some
quarters. simply 10 the conduct Of General Miles,
but is to cover that Of all other officers Of the
Army and the War Department who have been
moro or less associated with the scandal This
course met with the hearty approval Of the
members Of the Cabinet at their meeting with
the President to-day.
COURSE APPROVED BY THE CABINET.
Considering the fact that until to-day more
than OF them had favored attempt 70
hush up the scandal by relieving General Miles
from active duty, there singular una
nimity in commencing the Presidents decision.
as soon as he announced It. to institute such
proceedings as would most effectually determine
the truth or falsty Of the numerous official
reports from Regular officers of the Army re-
Garding the meat components Of the ration
which was supplied to troops under the
erals contracts stipulating that the beef should
keep in the torrid heat Of the tropics at least
sevcnty-two hours
The court. according ITO present expectations,
will hardly be ordered before the middle Of next
week. 1t will be a Presidential court Of the
highest authority, and will possess the widest
possible scope Of investigation. 1t will not be
aimed az General Miles, although testimony
may he adduced before It with view to fur
nish material on which to base charges against
him.
a member OF the Cabinet who from the first
has desired the beef scandal thoroughly probed
said tonight that the court is to take up the
beef contracts where the War Investigating
Commission left off and proceed 70 exhaust the
subject. The Commission too limited in
its powers to do the subject Justice and, be-
sides there was no denying the unfortunate fact
that II was not the best possible tribunal for
such an inquiry as is essential to the case.
pecially as many Army officers we'll as
others appeared to have prejudice against
the Commission and its methods.
MILES TO BE THE FIRST WITNESS.
II is expected that General Miles will be the
first witness summoned before the court, and
after having every opportunity to tell what he
knows Of the beef matter ne may be questioned
rs to his own conduct and as TO the authen-
ticity Of interviews attributed 10 him severely
critcising the authorities Of the War Depart
nent. It Is the impression that he will be able
to demonstrate that he has carefully avoided
exceeding military proprieties, but in any event
the main subject Of the canned roast beef and
the chemically preserved refrigerated beef will
be followed TO the end
General Miles positively declined to discuss
In ma he &c ~ he da far
they related to him. or 10 discuss any state
ments contained IN any OF the interviews at
trtbuted 10 him.
POWERS OF COURTS OF INQUIRY
The Articles of War; forming part of the Re-
vlsed Statutes of the United States which re-
late to courts Of inquiry and which pecul-
iarly interesting the present time.
follows:
Article CXV-A court Of inquiry TO examine
into the nature OF any transaction OF or accusa-
ton or lmputation against any officer or soldier
may be ordered by the President or by any
commanding officer. but courts Of inquiry
may be perverted to dlshOnOra5lc purposes. and
may Doe employed In The hands OF weak and
envlous commandants as engines for the de-
structon of military merit. they shall never be
ordered by any commanding officer except upon
a demand by the officer o. soldier whose con-
duct Is 10 be inquired into
Article CXVI-A court Of inquiry shall consist
Of one or more officers, not exceeding three. and
IL recorder 10 reduce the proceedings and evil
dence 10 writing.
Article CNVIII--A court OF inquiry and the
corder thereof shall have the same power to
summon and examine witnesses as is given 10
courts martial and judge-adyocates thereof.
Such witnesses shall take the same oath which
is taken by witnesses before courts martial. and
the party accused shall be permitted TO examine
and cross-examine them, 10 fully investi-
gate the circumstances In question
Article CXIX-A court of inquiry shall not
give an opinion on the merits Of the in
quired into unless specially ordered 10 do so.
Article CNNI-rhe proceedings Of a court Of
inquiry may be admitted as evidence by court
martial I'm cases not capital nor extending to
the dismissal Of an officer: Provided. that the
circumstances are such that oral testimony can
not be obtained.