New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-09
BEEF COURTS FINDINGS.
SOME OF THE CONCLUSIONS REGARDED
AS UNFORTUNATE.
NATURE OF THE REPORT LONG AGO KNOWN
TO WAR DEPARTMENT BUREAUcRATs-
ONE MEMBERS wELL-KNowN
HOSTILITY TO GEN.
ERAT. MIf
ERAL MILES.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. !


pubhc here with that unquestloning faith
which report made under the peculiar c,rcum-
stances that this was should be. II is unfortu-
nate. to begin with. that the findings OF the
Court were substantially known I'm all weu-ln-
formed circles long before they were formu-
lated. pretty correct forecast indeed OF
what the report would be was made in the pub
lice prints within two weeks after the Court had
met Those In the confidence OF the War De-
partment bureaucracy discussed months ago
with cynical indifference and with a faith that
seemed deeply rooted the outcome long before
one-third OF the testimony had been heard. To
most people the result was foregone conclu-
sion This was decidedly unfortunate.
THE CRITICISM OF MAUs AND MILES.
More unfortunate than this, however, IL the
condemnation Of Colonel Maus. which ,s BIZ
many people considered indicative OF the spirit
which animated the Court Colonel Maus IA
severely criticised by the Court FOR failing to
draw the attention Of the proper authorities 10
the report made by DR.. DAILY AZ chlckamauga
Yet the same Court finds no word OF criticism
for Colonel o. NJ. Smith for failing 10 report tho
purchase by General Eagan OF part OF 2.759.272
pounds OF canned fresh beef without any in
spection whatever in the open market at prices
different lots in the most unaccountable man.
ner within the short period OF a few hours On
the contrary, while the testimony Of Colonel
Smith clearly showed that many OF these pur-
chases were made in Chicago by General pagan
without Colonel Smiths knowledge-at least
were not made known 10 him until after the
transaction had been closed-the Court finds
that they were being made in every case by
officers OF his 0he Commissary- Generars) De-
partment in the usual manner" This extraor-
dinary disposition. however. TO close its eyes to
the shortcomings OF Colonel Smith. is not shown
In the case OF Colonel Maus. The latter is an
aide-de-camp 20 General Miles, and was one Of
the many witnesses whom the General COM
mandng wished to have summoned and whom
the Court declined to summon. The criticism
OF Colonel Maus therefore administered by tho
Court so publicly and without affording the off,
Ger criticised an opportunity Of being heard. ls
by outsiders considered not to belong TO that
category of "propreties" the Observance OF
which. in the somewhat pompous words OF the
Court. should dignity high military command"
The court finds fault with General Miles for
not reporting sooner than he did the unsatisfac-
tory condition of the refrigerated beef on its ar
rival in Porto Rico. 1t is compelled, however.
to note the receipt Of a dispatch from General
Miles dated August 2. in which he requested
the discontinuance Of beef shipments as the ISL
and furnished an abundant beef supply As
matter Of fact General Miles had already sent
a dispatch containing a similar request on July
26 This latter dispatch however. the Depart
ment says was never received. Yet. though t
admits receiving the dispatch OF August 2. It
sent another cargo Of refrigerated beef three
days later, August 3. To the court this
seems the most natural thing in the world To
the outsider II looks as IL this beef which was
not wanted at Ponce. might just as well have
gone to Santiago Why it not sent there
instead Of to Porto Rico. no one has yet ex-
planned.
ARMY AND NAVY REGISTERS" VIEWS
What large and influential proportion OF the
Army really believes to have been proved by
the testimony offered appears In the current
issue of The Army and Navy Register" The
Register" is a weekly OF the highest standing.
which enjoys the reputation of accurately re-
fecting the opinion OF the two military branches
of the Government. Although an unofficial pub
cation. its character and reputation dispel any
doubt Of its great influence among the officers OF
the Army and Navy. to whom Its circulation Is
largely confined That II would print anything
which might be obnoxious or even mildly dis
tasteful to any considerable element OF the two
services would be not only astonishing but al
together unprecedented. THE Register" says:
The report OF the Wade Court OF Inquiry Is now
before the President. Many guesses have been
made to the result OF the inquiry. Most OF them
obviously prejudced. The following conclusions
can be safely drawn from the evidence before the
Court OF Inquiry and now part OF the record;
First-That chemicals had been used I'm attempted
sf Gr at a een N y % prior to
the Spanish war (see the testimony OF Dr. Hulde-
are manufactured in large quantities in this coun-
try. the chief customers or buyers thereof being s
Omaha and other packing centres (see testimony
Of w. A. Robinson. George J.. Taylor and others).
pended upon by the SUCCESSFUL bidder in fulfilling
Rs 6sS to TO ssp bee a 4 Sgrns nS
hours n tropical climate after i had been taken
sns atG4eys for
Third-All expert witnesses agree that refrtger-
hours in climate like that OF Florida, Porto Rico
or Cuba after being taken from the refrigerator.
FourthmThat Investigations of refrlgerated fresh
beef made at various times and places during the
spa nsh war showed that the practice OF treating
With chemicals preyailed 70 NYS ysry great ,su sssns
Fifth-The treatment OF meat with chemicals
'essed % beef at Armour's stoekyards in car biisa
'or Tampa. Fla lsee testimony Of Alexander d.
Sxth@That in the letting OF the contract for sup
,lyng fresh beef to the troops In camp and field II
'eventyptwo hours after leaving the ship or re-
rgerator. (see contract and correspondence. Com
nissary Department.
Seventh-That at the time OF making the award II
vas understood that the fresh beef Intended TO be
would necessarily have TO be processed or
.hemlcally treated In order TO preserve II after IL
ef, cold storage. (See letter or Dudley Michener
o Secretary OF War and Endorsement thereon by
he Commlssary-oieneral)
Eghth-That the contracts for supplying the
ARMY with fresh beef contemplated the use OF
Is confirmed by the admissions OF the
gent OF Armour & Co. at Lakeland, Fla, while
ngaged I'm the business Of his principal 70 wit.
,e saying that the beef had been treated with
hemicaI OF some description. the composition OF
,bich was unknown to him (See testimony OF Cap
ain Charles H. Castle. assistant surgeon: Lieuten-
M CAMPER acting brigade commissary. John
,ich company cook. and Sergeant Edward Mason,
roop A. LIST Cavalry, acting com.nissary sergeant
I Lakeland. Fa)
I or near jacksonville. Fla. was treated with
armful chemicals is shown by the illness OF eighty
1ur men out OF a total OF l0s who ate OF II. That
,ree chemical analyses OF this beef showed the