The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-02-08
GEN. MILES MUST PROVE CHARGES.
INQUIRY WILL BE MADE.
The Decision May Result in the Court Martial Of
the General or the Punishment Of the
Beef Packers and inspectors,

The purpose of the president to ter
inmate the unsatisfactory state of af-
fairs that has existed for some time
as the result of numerous charges and
counter-charges and interviews re-
specting the character of the army
beef, by lnstituting formal inquiry
In these matters, and endeavoring to
place the responsibility where II be-
longs, was made known Il few days
ago.
This inquiry will not be undertaken
before the commission to investigate
the conduct of the war has made it's
report to the president. The scope of
this new inquiry has not been defined,
but II certainly will embrace the ale
cations made by Gen. Miles as to the
character of the army supplies, and
will involve that officer to the extent
that he must make these charges
good, and to that degree Will be on
trial himself In preliminary manner.
Should the charges be found well
established heavy responsibility
would be placed upon the packers and
persons concerned In the meat inspec-
tion, and perhaps others; should they
fall unsupported Gen. Miles may be
obliged to answer to a court-martial
for rejecting upon the character of
other officers.
There are two methods by which
such an investigation may be con-
Quoted according to established milf
tary usage. The first is by the appoint
ment of a court of inquiry, and the
second by the appointment of what Is
known as an officers or inspection
board. In the former case, II would
be necessary to name some officer who
is to be the subject of the investiga-
ton. In the latter the board Is
charged simply to inquire into state
of facts, or alleged facts. without
reference to any particular person,
and to place responsibility if possible
for anything of which complaint Is
made.
Their findings may serve as basis
for court-martial quite as effectually
as the findings OF a court of inquiry,
and has some advantages I'm that II
does not begin with the presumption
of a court of inquiry. Where n court
of inquiry Is ordered, II is said there
is conveyed n distinct reflection upon
the officer named.
Because of this, when the navy de-
partment requested the war depart
ment to order a court of inquiry to In
vestgate the circumstances attending
the killing Of number OF Spanish
prisoners on board the Harvard the
latter instead ordered an inspection
board, considering that the ordering
of the court of inquiry might be looked
upon as predecision against our
troops.
Such officers boards are frequently
ordered to fix responsibility for the
less or damage of stores, and several
| of them have been appointed during
| the war to look into the loss of meats.
| notably In the case of that shipped to
| Porto Rico and returned to Montauk
| point. Like a court of inquiry, these
boards return statements of facts de-
| veloped by them upon which the su-
| perior authorities can act.
| 1t is not possible at present to learn
| In which direction the president leans,
| but he has been In conference on the
| subject with the secretary of war and
attorney general, and the matter has
been discussed I'm the cabinet to some
| extent. AS before stated, however,
| no action Is to be taken on either plan
| until the report OF the war investiga-
| ting commission Is submitted.