The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-03-27
At the Best 1t Was unpalatable,
at the Worst It Was
Uneatahlc.
Two Unpublished Reports to the
War Department Will Be
Incorporated.

NEW 1oRk. MarCN |.-IoNeTIloI
Roosevelt was before the our of in
Quiry for half an hour and gave testi-
mony in regard to the meat issued to
the troops as travel ~rations. In his tes-
timony the governor unhesitatingly
condemned the canned roast beef as an
unfit ration"
2 What did the meat look like" asked
Colonel Davis.
When the cans We're opened, there
was a covering of slime. 1t was unat-
tractive. The meat was stringy and it
did not agree with the men who ate it,"
Gould You not eat it when served
onions or potatoes"
Il think at that time l could have
eaten my hat if l could have had onions
and potatoes. The men would have
eaten anything with fresh vegetables.
They stewed the meat with manages
and ate it. Some Of the men seemed
to eat the meat without difficulty or
distress. but it was not suitable for
sick or half sick men,.
Repeated His Story.
Governor Roosevelt told at length of
his attempt to get supplies in Cuba. He
repeated the statement he made to the
army investigation commission as to his
attempt to organize "a transportation
train to bring supplies to his men from
Siboney.
When did you begin receiving re-
frigerator beef" asked Colonel Davis.
About July p, when ashore about a
month"
Were the supplies regular"
Some times. We received them
about noon"
What was their condition when you
received them"
Their condition as a rule was good.
The outside sometimes was bad, but i,
seemed awfully good to us"
"What was the proportion that wa:
bad:''
Il can't exactly say, but l doubt il
there We're more than two or three is.
sues when the larger portion were bad.
Had You reason to believe the re-
frigerator beef vas treated with chem
lcals before YOU received it,
Gave Men Diarrhea.
Il never thought about it until l re-
turned home. The meat seemed good
to us. We ate it and enjoyed it. 1t did
undoubtedly give the men diarrhea."
Did you hear any complaint:'
Well, l heard that some of the off.
.c ,.- a nd ,,a,, %lx,I 49, ---
thing wrong with the meat, but | have
known meat if kept a few days on q
hunting trip, TO have a like effect. None
Of Us were in very good health and i,
took less to upset lis than it would a,
another time.
Did You attribute their i'll health to
the rations: asked Colonel Davis.
ITO a certain extent. | . o>e. YES.
When We left Cuba less than 20 pc,
cent Of the brigade was fit for active
service.
Governor Roosevelt told of some re.
ports he had submitted to the war de.
partment which had not yet been pub
llshed. These We're ordered made part
Of the record. They included, he said,
the statements Of two captains, four
i~leutenants, a surgeon and Captain
Brown Of the regular service.
His Opinion of Canned Roast Beef.
will you tell us" asked Major Lee,
what in your opinion is the value of
the canned roast beef issued at Cuba
and elsewhere. as an army ration"
II wish to say unhesitatingly that it
wa utterly unfit and unwholesome for
troops. My experience proves beyond a
shadow of doubt or question, that at its
best the canned roast beef was unpala-
table, and at its worst, it was UNBEATABLE
and unwholesome."
No n had any further questions to
ask the governor and the hearing was
closed. The court adjourned to Gov
errors island.