The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-02-15
THE MEAT NATTER
TO BE SlFTED
Court to Deal With State.
ments Instead of Charges
Against Miles.

Waship gton. Feb. 9-The president
has appointed court of Inquiry to
examine into the carbges touching the
meat furnished the American army
during the war with Spain aud other
matters involved in the charges made
by Gen. Miles against the sdministra-
tion Of the war affairs.
The court will consist of Maj Gen.
James F. Wade, U. S v; Brig. Gen.
Geo. B. Davis. y. s V; Col George
L. Gillespie, corps Of engineers, U. S.
A; Liess. Col George B Davis,
deputy judge advocate general. The
order for the court of inquiry. which
was issued by the secretary of war,
says:
1.-The court is hereby directed to
Investigate certain allegations of the
major general commanding the army
10 respect to the un6sness for issue of
certain articles Of goods furnished by the
subsistence department to the troops IN
the field during the recent operations in
| Cuba and Puerto Rico. 10 addition to
its ioding Of fact, the conrt will submit
an opinion upon the merits of the case,
together With such recommendations as
TO further proceedings as may seem to
be warra n.ed by the facts developed In
the course of the inquiry"
The court will convene in this city on
the 18th inst
Gen. Miles. wben seen, had nothing
to say respecting the appointment of
the court. He has been accumuiasiog
large amount Of evidence aioug the
liuessof the ioquiry. but he has not
chosen aoy council and part Of bis
evidence has been already transmitted
to the war investigating commission.
This court Of inquiry. 1t is said by
persons versed 10 military Jurisprudence
will be unique IN that it will be directed
in it's Investigations against state of
affairs and not against person. for
although Gen Miles is named as the
author of certain allegations 10 the
formal orders. it is these allegations and
not Gen. Miles that is to the subject of
the iuquary. The only regulation iE
the army manual bearing Oh cousss of
inquiry provides that they may be
appointed TO Inquire into any allegation
against, or the conduct of an aficer Or
an enlisted man, but nothing is said
about 40 inquiry into a state of things.
Il is to be assumed. Of course. that the
president has thoroughly satisfied him
self as to the legality Of this order
before issuing it, The court has DO
power to compel the testimony Of
civilian witnesses.
The court, should it find that Gen.
Miles charges are not sufficiently
established, may express an opinion as
to what course should be pursued
toward him
Inaemuch as the court of inquiry will
have to take up the whole subject of the
meats furnished to the army ano ascer-
sain the exact state of this meat as it
left the packers hands as we'll as look
Into the preliminary operations of
slaughteriug, packing aud cana'ag and
refrigeratiug, good deal of sime pro-
bsbly will be consumed in the inquiry.
Il may be necessary also to call person
ally before the court all of the officers
cited in criticism of the meat BY Gen.
Miles, numbering between so and 10,
in which case good deal of expense
will be incurred and sill more time
consumed. The administration takes
the position that these charges against
The character of the meat supply shall
be thoroughly sifted, and, if wrong has
been done, that it shall be corrected.