The times., 1899-01-25
MIR. ALGER TO TESTIFY.
VIII Appear Before His Relief Com
mission To-day.


Secretary Alger will appear before the
A1ger Relief Commission today.
dramatic spectacle is expected
The Secretary will 1t is expected. give
testimony regarding the general conduct of
the operations of the army as directed by
the War Department in the recent conflict
with Spain. 1t is thought probable that ne
will also have something to say concern
ing the "embalmed and canned beef
scandal, and will be permitted to make his
defence in statement form in his own way
and without suggestion from the Commits
sion. which has strained every nerve to
yindicate him and his department.
The Alger Relief Commission. sitting in
executive session, yesterday decided to in
vite Secretary Alger to appear before it,
Some questions may possibly be asked
the Secretary of War regarding the antici-
patton of war by the department, and what
preliminary preparation was made. Cen
eral Corbins statement on this point was
that the War Department expected that
war would be averted and that no active
preparation was made until the formal
declaration of war by Congress. 1t is on
this point that it is expected that the Sec
retary may desire to offer some explana
tion.
The work of preparing the report con-
sumes much of the time OF the Commits
sion.
The Commission opened a can of roast
beef yesterday and pronounced it good.
though the Commissioners could not deter
mine by the taste whether the meat had
been roasted or corned. 1t was alleged
that this sample had been part of a
consignment to the troops in Porto Rico
The can bOTp this endorsement
This can was received from Gen. Y. \. Miles
1t taken from express package opened in
my presence in the office OF General Miles. c.
Mills, Recorder.
Major Rufus NJ Townsend, of the Com
mi5sary Department, was examined by the
Commission yesterday, and declared that
the canned and refrigerated meats issued
to the troops were of good quality. He
| admitted that there were such things as
''bulged'' cans. and that the contents of
these were unfit for use as food. He main
| tanned. however. that 'bulged' cans or
| ''swellers" were the exception rather than
| the rule.
Some correspondence of contradictory
| character was given out by the Commits
| sion yesterday afternoon for publication.
| A letter from DIR. E. p. Murdock OF Chi
cago. was given to the press. DIR. Muir
| dock few days ago was requested to ap-
pear before the Commission. His reply
! follows:
Chicago Jan. 81, 1880
| Gen. Crenvillc Dodge:
! Dear Sir: Answering your telegram. / beg. i
| possible. to be excused first, | am not at th.
! time able to travel: having scarcely recuyeret
/ from the grip. Second. my examinations o
! canned beef were made here. and | only know
| from hearsay that it the same as that sent t,
/ Porto Rico and Cuba. Third. my letter to Genera
| Miles was confidential. and based these exsmi
nations made at INV option: hut thcy weTt
correct as to result. but not closely enough con
| nected with supplies furnished the army to b,
| evidence. The manner of preserving, however. die
| show boric acid. nitrate of potash. and some sIi
! cylic acid. This. however. being from Ill,
| rations sent to the front under my know ledge
| would only be- laughed at when offered in eyi
! dencc
| Hoping this explanation will excuse me an,
! wishing to obey orders when able, did il
/ lS64-6j | am, very truly yours.
E.P. MURDOCH
The following letter from Alfred E
| Hunt. OF Pittsburg. late captain of Light
Battery b. Pennsylvania Volunteers was
also given TO the press.
Pittsbur= Pa. L. : A. Ian 10 Isao
Capt and Assistant Adjr- ten T. &. Scherer. DE
pot Quartermastsr's Gtice, Washington. u. G.
Sir: When my command returned from Port'
Rico We had nine cases Of canned roast heri. eacl
| case containing rso dozen cans. which had no
! been used. These cans Of roast beef still il
| our possession. have taken one al these can
al Armour s roast beef TO the Pitt-liurg feStinl
! Laboratory. Lid. ~ Water street, Pittsburg
| Pa. and have had it there subjected 80 ceni, a
analysis; and they have made IN, following re-
| port, signed by Mr. james %. Handy. their che
chemist:
The beef was marked Prime Roast Beef. Man
! ufactured hy the Armour Canning CO Chi,Igo
H.. and contained nitrate OF potash. -1li
| cylic acid no boraoic acid. bor.N; salt. II Pc
cent. Appearance, pink. firuus with ycllorisll
! white granular slet. Odur. fresh. Taste, fresh
pleasant. and palItable.
| Very respectfully Your "belicnt servant.
ALFRED T. lit vt.
| Late Captain OF Artillery. Commanding Iieh
Battery b. Pennsylvania Volunteers l. : A.
1t is said in army circles that there /!
being practiced system of intimidatin:
witness who would appear before the Alge
Relief Commission and testify that tht
meat furnished by contractors was not o
the kind for which the Government paid
II is alleged that an investigation conduct
ed honestly would show that there is con
spiracy to ostracize every officer of tn
army who would testify against the bee
ring.
COLONIAL FISCAL POLICY.