The times., 1899-01-06
FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 1899,
Why Three Inquiries:

Why Three Inquiries:
Can the Secretary of War or the PreSi-
dent suggest any good reason why an in
vcstigation into the beef scandal by the
inspector general of the army is not SUI
hcieut. or why General Breckinridge's re-
port should rot be accepted as covering
the entire ground and forming the basis Of
whatever prosecutions his conclusions
seem TO warrant? On what ground can
Secretary Alger Justify the assignment Of
subordinate staff officers TO the work OF
making an inquiry into the charges pre-
scented by General Niles. when it is known
that General Breckinridge has the matter
in hand? Why should the President allow
his commission. appointed AT the instance
OF Secretary Alger for specific purpose.
40 continue its expensive and useless ex-
istence, under pretense OF collecting in
formation about a subject which belongs
to the inspector generals department,
where it is already in process Of eXamina-
tion2 Il is manifestly absurd for three dis
tinci inquiries 20 be inaugurated in the al
legged interest Of the Government, and the
public has every warrant for suspecting
be trusted or else that his conclusions are
10 be feared by Secretary Alger and the
President. There is 10 known cause to
doubt the honesty. thoroughness and cour-
age OF General Breckinridge. He is known
10 be devoted to his duty and to be relent-
less in running down eyeIs hint of fraud
within his sphere OF action. That he will
,gf-5,--g-- 4r-,sF, t1.a
feed the army with unwholesome meat as
far as 1t is possible. and viii make his re-
port without fear or favor. nobody knows
better than the Secretary OF War
Does the latter. then have an interest in
securing a report thar can be used to dis
credit the finding Of the inspector general
Enough evidence has been made public 10
establish, beyond all doubt, that persistent
efforts were made TO induce The soldiers TO
use rotten beef after it had been rejected
by the commanding general By whom ?
II is affirmed that this particular article
was added to the regular ration by Sacre-
tary Alger; that its price was about eleven
cents pound ard thar il was canned six
years before; and that Commisslry General
Eagan has denied that il was ever pur-
chased or distributed by the commissary
bureau. II the ration did not 90 through
the commissary in regular form Secretary
Alger alone could have assumed authority
10 issue it. Il is further stated that the
message Of General Niles requesting tina,
no more canned beef be sent 70 Porto Rico
was never referred 70 General Eagan by
Secretary Alser, and mat therefore an
other cargo Of nearly three hundred thous-
and pounds was forwarded.
The fact that three distinct inyestiga-
tions Of the same subject are going on can
not but create suspicion and lead to infer
ences from the statements as 10 the part
the Secretary OF War has taken in the af-
fair The most positive affirmation +.
made as 10 the ase Of the meat, the cans
showing, it is said. The date Of putting up
That the company should have on hand for
six years many thousands Of pounds oi
good meat, exactly such rs hotels and q
majority Of families Use, q is hard to be-
Iieye. II is more reasonable 10 infer that
its quality was such IS 10 make it impos-
sible TO sell il Until the war came. when If
was disposed OF al = good price to the Gov
ernment for the army, though not. if Cen
eral Eagsn is correctly quoted. through ths
usual channel. If, was good. why should
IT not be bought outright and issued
through the eomnissary2
Since there are 10 BE- three inyestiga-
tions y hy not four We shall get the ex-
act truth from the Inspector general as fai
as be cen go-and he ear 20 further thar
the stan board or the Alger Relief Com
mission. but a Congressional committee
might be able 10 push the inquiry as to III,
responsibility for she meat contract oI
purchase hey ofd She limits of Genera
BreclSinridge. There IS no longer an,
question as TO The character Of the mea
ana its effects on ihe men who ate OF It
We have the indaIitaBIe testimony OF ,
score Of reeimeHtal commanders. regulai
army officers Of long experience, who coul,
have 10 object ~ misrepresenting tht
truth; and we have the report or the chic
surgeon. Major Daly. who conducted
thorough examination on his own account
All thar is needed is TO determine the cir
cumstances and the authority under which
it was imposed on the Government. tha
steps may be taheB 70 punish the culprits
both sellers and officials.