The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-03
Who Charge the General with Pro-
mitigating Scandals Rejecting on
the Honor of FeIIow-Omcers.
EAGHN CASE BEFORE M'KINLEY
DOCUMENTS SENT TO THE PRESIDENT
FOR FINAL REVIEW.
War Investigating Commission Wait
ing on Testimony Regarding the
Chemical Preparation of Beef.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.


WASHINGTON, Feb "A report is cur
rent in Washington that the President is
seriously considering the advisabiity of get
ting rid of General Miles by relieving him
of his command and placing him on waiting
ORDERS as was done by President Lincoln
in the case of General Mcclellan when that
officer seemed to have outlived his useful
ness and was in the way. The United
States being still legally in a state of war,
the President has authority to take this
step on his own motion and entirely on his
own responsibility. He could if he deemed
proper, dismiss him from the service without
explanation, but, of course, President Nc
Kinley in this case has no idea of resorting
to such extreme measures. The position is
taken by high administration officials that
General Miles is doing a very unmiltary and
demoralizing thing in promulgating scan
dals rejecting on the honor of his fellow
officers and upon reputable business men,
and not preferring these charges formally in
a way to enable the persons assailed to de-
fend themselves and disprove his accusa-
tions. BY his failure to take the initiative
in this respect he lays himself liable to the
charge that he is trying to shield himself
from responsibility, and that he is taking
a position which reflects on the credit of
ton. If the President should decide on this
step it would only be necessary for him to
issue formal order and if General Miles
does not like the assignment he can resign.
IL the move indicated is made it will prob
ably be within the next few days, certainly
before the exchange Of treaties between
Spain and the United States, which will
bring the war to a legal ending In this
connection the Associated Press reporter
says: 1T may definitely be stated that no
official action has been taken looking to a
court-martial, a court of inquiry or to the
sending of General Miles to the command
of a department"
The record of the court-martial in the case
of General Eagan is now in the hands of
the President for final review. To-day Mr..
Worthington, attorney for General Eagan,
filed with the judge advocate general the
additional or supplementary plea which he
was granted permission to lodge. 1t was an
elaboration of the points made by counsel
before the court-martial. A formidable ar
ray of authorities has been produced, par
ticularly in support of the contention that
General Eagan's conduct, though the facts
be admitted, was not legally in the line of
the charge Of conduct unbecoming an officer
and a gentleman. This paper was placed
Dy the Judge advocate general III Une nanQS
of the adjutant general and will be added
to the papers bearing on the case now in
the hands of the President.
The war investigating committee has not
yet received a response from James Farnan,
who was yesterday summoned from Chester,
Pa, to testify as to the chemical prepara-
ton of beef in Omaha last summer. In case
Farnan appears it is possible that the rami-
fications of his testimony may involve the
committee in another long series of hear
ings, but if he does not appear or his testi-
mony is not so important as it would appear
on his own statement there remain only the
experts of the Agricultural Department and
the army medical museum who are analyz-
ing the samples of meat secured by the
commission. 1t is understood that these
gentlemen will appear as witnesses before
the commission instead of submitting writ
ten statements. Their examination is not
expected to take long, and as the commits
sion's report is largely in type it may be
submitted to the President quite soon