The times., 1899-03-17
THE BEEF BOARD AT OMAHA.
Henrs More Unpleasant Testimony
and Leayes for Knusos City,


Omaha, Neb., March 16.-The investiga-
ton of the Army Board enquirins into the
conditions of the beef issued to the army
from Omaha packing houses was quickly
concluded today. and the Board left tonight
for Kansas City. The great feature of the
session here was expected to be the testi-
mony of DR.. Christian, Philadelphian.
who some time since made aftidavits to the
effect that last summer he witnessed the
treatment of army beef in the Omaha
packing houses with chemicals. II this
witness was summoned the fact was not
made known today. Certainly he did not
appear and the bulk of the testimony was
from soldiers who had been to Cuba and
who testified that the beef issued was bad.
The Board went through the packing plants
and found everything in excellent condi-
ton, and il there was chemically prepared
meat last summer for consumption the
packers had effectually made away with all
employees and apparatus engaged in the
business, for nothing of the kind was in
evidence. The Board went from the de-
pot early % this morning to the packing
houses. 1t, was at Swift's that DR.. Chris
tion located the chemical plant. Thomas
Adams, foreman of the department was
called and testified that the operation was
one having reference to the curing of
hams and was not used in beef at any
time. The liquid injected was saltpeter
and water, and its only purpose was to
cure the ham more quickly. The man
who shows the visitors through the house
was next called and stated that he had
shown DR.. Christian through on one of
his visits here. and that the operation as
witnessed by the Board was the same as
that witnessed by the doctor
Capt. S. W. Dunning. of the Sixteenth
Infantry. was the first witness called. He
sal that on the transport from Tampa to
Santiago canned roast beef was issued as
part of the rations. He heard no COM
plants, but heard the troops when the
transports were near each other
'joshing" about the meat. Making en-
quiries, he learned that the men did not
like the beef. After arrival at Santiago
the men complained that they could not
eat the meat, and did not like 1t. They
said it spoiled as soon as opened. Where
the contents of the can were not eaten at
once, it spoiled.
Capt. w. S. Beck, Acting Inspector Gem
eral of the Department of the Missouri
said the canned beef used on the voyage
to Cuba was a new ration to him. The
men said the beef nauseated them. They
used other things with it in an attempt to
improve it. Some of the meat was soft
and presented an unsightly appearance. He
beef had been treated chemically.
First Lieut.. Isaac Erwin, of the Six
teenth Infantry. said that on the latter
part of the voyage to Santiago some of his
men complained that they could not eat
canned beef because they were tired of 1t.
After landing in Cuba whenever they could
do SO the men traded their canned beef for
bacon. His company only received two or
three days rations of beef while on the
island. and was insufiicently supplied.
Sergeant Albert T. Kase of the Sixteenth
Infantry. testified that the men abandoned
the canned meat as ration on the voyage
to Cuba. Many of the men attributed their
sickness to the use of this beef From
landing till the refrigerator beef was is
sued the complaints continued and the beef
was not used If there was anything else to
take its place. He was of the opinion that
canned beef was unsuitable as a ration at
any time.
Sergeant John p. Deible, of the Sixteenth
Infantry, thought about one-fourth of the
refrigerator beef issued was bad. He said
it was A-RHur's prime roast beef that was
issued in Cuba. After this witness had
been excused the Board went into execu-
tive session to outline some work which it
will have to do on its return to Chicago.
and to prepare list of witnesses which it
will call at the next session in that city.