Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-30
beef COURT REPORTS
Forecast Already Given in These
Columns Accurate,
MILES IS NOT SUSTAINED.
He is, on the Other Hand, Directly
Criticised.
UNsCBSTANTIATED
Finding Also Against Assertion
That Use OF Refrigerated Beef Was
an Experiment-Canne Reef Not n
Suitable Continuous Ration.
REMAINING, CONGRATULATED.
Suitable Continuous Ration.

WASHINGTON, April 29.-The Wade
court Of inquiry to-day concluded its work
in connection with the allegations of Cen
eral Miles concerning the beef supplied
20 the army during the war with Spain.
The report was signed At 2:3O Z. NJ. by
afterward the members of the court left
the Lemon building, where all the meet
ings in the city have been held. Colonel
Davis, the recorder OF the court, carried
the official copy of the findings to the
War Department, and in the absence Of
Secretary Ager delivered it to Acting
Secretary Meiklejohn. Mr.. MeilIejohn
Immediately sealed the document in an
envelope and forwarded it to the White
House, whence it was dispatched forth
with to the President, in New York.
The report is Of about 10000 words, ana
goes fully into the questions which have
been raised in connection With the army
beef. The text was not made public, and
will not be until after the President shall
have read It. 1t will then ,est with him
TO say when the report shall be given To
the public.
THE VERDICT.
The verdict. however. is known to be
that the allegations which General Miles
made before the War Investigating Com
mission are not sustained with reference
to the refrigerated beef although his
that the canned roast beef
was not a suitable continuous ration IS
admitted. There is direct criticism of
General Miles for failing TO promptly
bring the attention of the War Depart
ment to reports made to him concerning
bad beef, land several individuals" are
for failing to observe the pro-
)rieties Of their position as commanding |
officers I'm this and other respects.
The forecast Of the report as made by |
the Associated Press on the 18th instant, |
was an accurate one. AS was then |
stated the court takes the position that |
The testimony is conclusive that |
both the refrigerated beef and the canned |
beef were in good condition when de-
iyered TO the government. and continued |
80 till issued to the troops, except in
special instances, when the deterioration
VAS due 10 accidental conditions in trans
)Ortation, or the Influences of the tropical
Innate. The report admits the liability
If refrigerated beef TO faint quickly after
em0yal from ice-chests.
NO CHEMICALS USED.
The court finds the charges Of "em-
aiming" the fresh beef to have been |
by the testimony, and
avs no chemicals were used TO preserve
/. II also finds that it would have been
to secure beef on the hoof
or the Cuban campaign. The finding is
kewise in opposition TO the assertion
n the part Of General Miles that the
Sc of the beef was an experiment.
Much attention was given 10 the charges
egarding the canned roast beef. and It
stated that the testimony proved II 10
ave been wholesome and nutritious.
here used in moderation and under
lvorable circumstances. The position
taken that too much of this article
food was supplied 20 the men. and
lat under the circumstances It was un
llatable and found undesirable. The
Jet is set forth that the canned roast !,
.ef had not been used TO any appreci- ,
Die extent before the beginning of this !
ar. and il is therefore regarded as a
'actically untried ration. ,
EAGAN CRITICISED. +
IN view of this fact the commissary-
neral OF subsistence is roundly criti- /
,ed for the purchase Of the mcat in a
Oh extensive quantities. As TO the +
aracter Of the meat for wh0lesomeuess h
d nutrition, the reports Of Professors /
water and Chittenden are quo,ed at | G
18th, sustaining the claims In this re- b
rct. j.
The Instructions Of the President are
lowed closely I'm order and All the | G
nts indicated by him as being those s,
on which he desired that the inquiry | fl
)uld be made are covered. a
Accordingly, the court finds that the
II was not doctored that it was the
Z OF commerce; that there was 10
re neglect than was incident 10 the
~rled preparation for the war; That the
pection. while generally according TO
,ulations. was not always up 10 the
uirements. and that the sickness of ~
troops was not TO any great degree -
asioned by the use Of either the can -
or the refrigerated beef. "
MILES AND OTHERS BLAMED. -
n the other hand, IL is found that Gen 81
: Miles himself did not report during dC
war that the beef. either refrigerated m
canned was unfit az a ration. other IN
GERS who gave their testimony before ri
court are found also 10 have neglect m
what the court conceives 10 have been "a
ir duty in this respect. and all are n,
ned for this failure. But the court II,
6 not think further proceedings reces- r.,