The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-02-10
FOR A COURT Of INQUIRY.
The President Takes Cognizance of
Gen. Miles Charges Relating
to Army Beef.
NO DEFINITE DECISION YET REACHED.
rhs president May Proceed 10y Naming
AN Inspection Board To Look Into the
Matter. on the Result Of which other
and More Positive Action Night be
Taken Later On.

Washington. Feb THE purpose of
the president 10 terminate the unsatis-
factory state of affairs that has existed
I for some time as the result OF the
numerous charges and countcrchargcs
and interviews respecting the conirac
tor of the army beef 10y instituting a
formal inquiry into these matters anh
endca,oring ia place The responsible
~ where il belongs. Was made known
Yesterday. The inquiry viii not be un-
dcrtakcn before the commission 20 in
,cstieatc the conduct Of the war has
made its report TO the president.
The scope OF the Prop, sd Inquiry.
The scopeof The new Enquiry has not
been defined. but il certainly will en-
brace 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 go that degree will
uc on trial himself in preliminary
manner. Should the charges be found
we'll established heavy responsible
~ would be placed upon the packers
'lA' l'iHRHN tOnNtl4l'd III illf iutsii lli-
spection and perhaps others; should
they fall unsupported. Gen. Miles may
be obliged 10 answer to a court-mar-
tial for rejecting upon the character
of other officers.
Two Methods of investigation.
There are two methods hy when
such an Investigation may be con
Quoted according 10 established mill
iary usage: The first is by the APP
poiniuent Of the court Of inquiry. ami
The second by disappointment Of wha
is known Ak an officers or inspection
board. ~ the iormcr ease il would i.
n,S,.'.r. y to name some officer who
to he the subject Of the investigation
In the latter The board is charged sim
ply to inquire into the state OF facts
or alleged facts. without reference to
TO any particular person. and to place,
the responsibility. If possible. for an,
thing Of which complaint is made.
May Serve Basis for a Court Martha.
Their finding may serve as the basin
for a couri-mariial quite as eiTcctuall,
as the findings of court of inquiry.
and has some advantages in that II
does not begin with the presumption
OF a court OF inquiry Were "A court Of
inquiry j. ordered il is snid. there is
conveyed a distinct reflection upon IN.
officer named. Because or this. when
the navy department requested the
war department to order court OF in
quiry 70 investigate the circumstances
attending the killing Of d number Of
Spanish prisoners on board The Harry
ard. the latter instead ordered an in
spcction board. considering that the
ordering % the court Of inquiry might
be looked upon Us "a prcdccision against
our troops.
Frequently Ordered 10 FIX Responsibility.
such officers boards are frequently
ordered to tiN responsibility for the
loss or damage OF stores. aud several
of them have been appointed during
the war 20 look into The loss Of meats.
notably in the ease OF that shipped 10
Porto Rico and returned 10 Montauk
Point Like court Of inquiry. these
boards return statements of facts de-
vclopcd by them upon which The SUI
rcrior authorities act.
II 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 AMI
the attorney general. and the matter
has been discussed IN the cabinet nj
some length. But. as stated before. no
action II TO be- taken on this plan until
the report Of the war Investigation
committee is submitted.
r"ait.,".y Declined "a Talk.
Up 10 the close yesterday Gen. Miles
positively declined 10 discuss ia any
aanucr the events of the day so FAR
as they related 10 himself, o.. to dis.
cus~ amy statements contained in any
Of the interviews attributed 10 him.
II may bc said OF these interviews
that while il is conceivable they might
figure. they would not do So ~ ncccs.
sity. for the matters 10 Do frst looked
into arc those connected with the char
attcr Of he army beef