Show GENERAL MILES MAY BE disciplined washington march 21 the news of gen miles statements yesterday before the military committee of the senate excited great interest at the war department part ment when it became known there late in the day there was a very general inquiry as to whether by passing the criticisms on vanous as reported in the press general miles had not exposed himself to disciplinary treatment the to this must be based on the exact amount of privilege which to testimony given before a committee of congress this question arose last week in the course of general testimony before the senate philippine committee when the general sought to escape an questions which would involve criticism by him of hie superior officer gen otis it appears that there was a variance of opinion in the committee it self as to how far gen was at liberty to violate anny rules and pro printies prie ties even in answering to committee questions and the question itself was left unsettled while gen miles did not expect when he gave his testimony that it would be made public in any form he is now that it shall be published by the committee making himself the arpad statement that which were given to the press as those made by himself before the committee were misrepresentations totally unwar ranted the omission by the president of bis usual ride this afternoon and alic fact that lie and secretary koot were in conference for four hours led to the supposition eliat they were discussing general miles testimony this however was an erroneous conclusion for they were talking about army organization arid the secretary was not aware of the testimony until lie returned to the war department late in the afternoon secretary koot exhibited little feel irig when his attention was called to alie proceedings before the committee lie remarked that he was sorry that cien miles opposed the bill he pointed out that under section 7 of which general miles complained the lieutenant general would have greatly enlarged powers in army management instead of being restricted in his functions as he supposed As to alie question whether general miles had fraid anything which would require action atthe hands of the department part ment or tha president the secretary firmly declined to express any opinion for the present at preferring to await n official copy of the committee hearing before reaching any decision |