The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-07

department inspector. by General I,udlov's
order; INVESTIGATED the matter Sunday and
found enough rotten meat TO warrant ask
Ing for the appointment OF a board OF sur
vey- In this connection IL IS asserted that
Major MUllikans clerk, Benson. told Cap
tain Gaines that half the contents OF the
warehouse had been destroyed before Gem
eral Ludlow had time TO order a survey
board. and il is added that General Ludlow
received a communication from division
headquarters asking TO know by what right
the department inspector had been examin-
piled yesterday. quoting Bartlett's letter to
Chief Commissary Smith is reported TO have
IeceNed letter from the acting commits
sary general at Washington, directing him
70 destroy spoiled meat without action on
the part of the board OF survey. though no
such action Is the usual procedure. accord
ing 10 the regulations. Following Smiths
instructions, Benson says. 1900 cans Of
spoiled meat have been thrown into the bay.
smith, IL further appears instructed Gaines
ABOUT Feb. - that there was no need TO
ask Tor the appointment OF boards OF survey
IN the case OF tainted meat but 10 destroy
IL, as goods so disposed OF would be re-
placed, whereunon Gaines destroyed 40
cans. The packers are said TO be glad To
replace damaged meat with good meat.
smith has returned from Washington and
has gone TO Matanzas.
IL is claimed that the refrigerated meat
supplied by contract with a Chicago firm
10 the United States troops at Mariana
and Havana, Is in part unfit for food. For
instance, II Is pointed out, at o'clock this
from the refrigerated meat warehouse
near Marianao TO the Concha railroad sta
ton. There were about 1856 pounds of the
meat served TO the commissaries OF the
third battalion of the Second Engineers
covered with canvas. and was taken I'm less
than thirty minutes to La Punta TO be dis
tributed. But 1t is asserted from 10 TO -
per cent. OF the meat was spoiled and had
TO De trimmed off. The remainder was is
sued 10 the 26s men in the battalion. The
same Thing, II Is added. occurs every morn
Ing at all the camps supplied with this
meat. The contention OF the inspectors il
that the outside meat is spoiled before IL
leaves the refrigerated warehouse. and that
II Is not spoiled in transit. The inside meat
is good, but after the bad meat is trimmed
OIL there is not enough left for the regula-
ton ration OF twenty ounces to each man.
Inc standpoint of the men Is that they are
entitled TO twenty ounces of good meat. and.
as the outside meat is always bad. enough
should be supplied by the contractors to
allow of trimming. as the soldiers are now
the only consumers.
WASHINGTON. April 6-Acting Secre-
tary Meikeljohn, when shown the above dis
patch. stated that General Brooke will be
requested by cable tomorrow TO make
charges and complaints made and TO report
the facts to the department. Ii was eN-
planned tonight that if these cans are the
remnant OF the supplies sent into the tropics
since the Spanish war opened IL is not
strange that less than Der cent. of the
whole lot-that is. 400 out of $1,000 cans
should prove worthless. As To the state
nents relating to the condition of the meat
now being supplied to the troops. instruc-
tons will be issued Immediately. Acting
Secretary Meikeliohn said tonight. to
certain II the conditions reported exist. and
IL so. on whom the responsibility should be
placed. whether due to the failure of con-
tractors 10 furnish the canned meats I'm ac-
cordance with the terms ard conditions OF
the contract or due to carelessness in han
ding these supplies after they were received
from the contractors