The times., 1899-01-08
CIRCULATION STATEMENT.
SUNDAY. JANUARY S. 1899.
American Meats Abrond-The Pen
nIIN of .Igerisnr.

nIty of iigerism.
We have a fourth investigation of the
embalmed beef scandal. but ii is not Con-
gressional Speaker Reed has SO far re-
fused to allow House interest in the sub
ject to get beyond the Introduction of res
olutions which are quietly referred 10
committees with capaclous waste baskets.
The new inquiry is started by the Secre-
tary of Agriculture. who is deeply con-
cerned over the consequences of Secre-
1ary Ayers addition to the soldiers ra-
tion. he notes that the annual eXporta-
lion of meats from this country amounts
to about a hundred and twenty million
dollars and he fears that the whole of this
viii be cut of through European distrust
of cur product. He is the more disturbed
because it appeared likely that the restric-
tions against American meats in foreign
markets were about to be removed.
President Mckinley may eventually learn
that the mischief an incompetent Secre-
tary OF War may do is ircalculable. The
selection he made for that Office caused
surprise and challenged explanation even
in time OF peace. That Alger was allowed
to retain his place after the declaration
Of war was a source of wonder and grave
apprehension. After the exposure of the
scandals which involved epidemic typhoid
fever in the American camps of mobiliza-
ton. the disastrous defects of administra-
tion in the case of the Santiago expedition,
and the horrors of the returning transports,
his retirement was confidently expected.
For some reason that puzzles and battles
the curious be has been retained, with his
party influence apparently unimpaired. TO
impose on the larger reorganized regular
army the system that is primarily respon-
sible for the worst evils of the Spanish
war. Retaining all his official authority. he
is able TO magnify the effect OF the beef
scandal until it threatens TO produce the
result feared by the Secretary of Agricul-
ture.
In the ordinary course Of things, the dis
closures of General Miles would have led
to an investigation that would cause the
prosecution Of everybody involved in the
transaction. Probably 1t would have been
shown that the bad meat was exceptional
and peculisr-an attempt to utilize by some
new process scraps that are commonly
turned into soapgrease-and such as could
not be disposed OF in the usual ways 10
either foreign or domestic purchasers.
There would have been no reflection on
the meat prepared for export and for hotel
and family consumption in this country.
Bat. instead of one such inquiry and the
prosecutions that would properly follow,
We have four. OF these, one has no other
purpose than to establish the truth-that
of the Inspector General; another. that
of the Secretary Of Agriculture, is TO dis
cover whether the meat was properly in
spected. Secretary Alger has exercised
his official power, undeteTred by the Presi-
dent, TO appoint number Of his subordi-
nstes-Inen whose positions and promo
tions depend largely on his favor--to the
duty OF defending the War Department
There is cause to think it is their purpose
10 report that the meat added TO the
army ration by Secretary Alger. rejected
by the soldiers, and condemned by regi-
mental commanders, was, in fact, good anC
of the kind used in hotels and families
This is presumably the intention OF tn,
other board appointed at the request o
the Secretary OF War. Naturally, foreign
nations VIII become suspicious of al
our canned meats If that which is rated
as good by Secretary Alger's board is re-
fused by soldiers in the field.
Considering the interests involved, tn,
first duty Of the Government is to Civ,
all possible support to General Brecsin.
ridge, and TO pay no attention TO thos'
who are charged with defending the Wa
Department. If, as is probable. the In
spector General shows that the beef il
question was not the article in common
use. We may convince foreign nations tha
our system of inspection is not defective
and that there is nothing 10 fear from
meats that have the Endorsement OF Gov
ernment examiners. As the case nov
stands. this much is certain: Secretar,
Alger himself added the canned beef Il
the army ration; he persisted in sending
second large cargo to Porto Rico aftel
he had been informed by General Mile
that it was not wanted, as he could ge
fresh beef there at about half the price o
the canned article that every regimenta
commander inspected 1t after the mer
complained and found it to be offensiv,
and unwholesOme; that Major Daily, sur
geon in chief, inspected quantities al
Tampa, Jacksonville. and Chickamauga
and reported ii to be exactly as described
by the officers in Porto Rico. 1t is plail
enough that if the Alger boards affirm tha
the meat was OF the kind sold to hotels
and families and to foreign consumers, The
reputation of all American meats mus
suffer. The country is waiting for th,
President to realize how expensive hi:
friendship for his Secretary OF War Is.