The times., 1899-03-22
Miles, Charges Sustained.

Today it is expected that the Court of
Enquiry will complete its work in Chicago
and the West. II returns to Washington
not because there is any lack of new wit
nesses in Chicago, but because the evil
dence is all of kind and there is no use
in hearing repetitions of the one story of
bad beef. Although every opportunity has
been given TO the packers, there has been
no attempt TO impeach the credibility of
the many officers and soldiers who have
supported the charges of General Miles or
TO refute their statements. The situation
is virtually the same as when the Court
went west-the specific assertions of trust
worthy persons that bad beef was served
to the army and the denials of commissary
agents that any bad beef passed through
their hands. There was one new feature
the statement of Sergeant Mason, of the
regulars. acting commissary sergeant, that
the refrigerated beef was chemically treat
ed -
1t is said that Colonel Davis has admitted
that General Miles charges have been sus-
tanned and that the Court can make but
one finding This has been apparent to
all who have followed the proceedings of
the Court in spite of the whitewashing re-
port Of the Alger Relief Commission. The
fact that the President found it expedient to
cause the present investigation is proof
that the finding of the Alger Relief Com
mission was too obviously partial to be ac-
cepted by the country. II did not show
the least sense in its methods and its
could NOT rnnceaI THAR cnnternpt
of the popular intelligence. When General
Miles made his statement, some of the
Commissioners frankly affirmed that it was
their duty to defend the packers. They re-
fused to call Witnesses who could sup
port the charges and openly expressed their
purpose to assail the personal character of
Dr. DAILY. They invented the explanation
that he and others had mistaken for COM
missary beef some that had been taken to
Florida by unauthorized person to show
the effect of chemical treatment. Absurd
as this was, it was the sole basis of the
prediction of one of the members that the
present Court would cause General Miles
to be dismissed from the army. There is
no more humiliating chapter in the history
of Government Investigations" than the
| record of the Alger Relief Commission.
Its findings were so openly and brazenly
mendacious and corrupt that even to save
his Administration from the effects of a
second report sustaining the charges Presi-
dent Mckinley dared not allow the scandal
to rest with the verdict of Ayers person
ally-eondueted Dodge and DENLY Board
Since there can be no doubt as to the
verdict of the Court of Enquiry even before
the examination OF Thomas F. Dolan and
others, the question as to the punishment
of the packers and the War Department Of
fcials who are involved in the horrible
business must concern the law agents of
the Government and the people. The crime
| is one that cannot be condoned. The in
| fiuenees that afTacssd the Alger Relief Com
mission cannot be allowed to parslyze the
arm OF authority. Though they were ten
times richer than they are. there could
! be no escape of the guilty packers without
scandal that would revolutionize the
politics OF the country. Having instituted
! the present investigation in good faith be.
! cause of the unwarranted whitewashing
report of the Alger Relief Commission, the
President is not likely to ignore the stern
duty its results will impose on him.