Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-05-09
Says Packers Are Not Guilty.

Says Packers Are Not Guilty.
An instruction of the Presidents to
the court was, IF the packers of the.
country are guilty it must be known"
Replying to this direction the court saws.
hostillties in April, 1898, the packers of
canned beef were engaged in the manufac-
ture of an article of standard quality, well
known to the trade and the Subsistence de-
partment, under the name of canned roast
beef. The methods of packing then in use
were the same as those habitually en-
article OF commerce, and the court does
not find that they underwent any change
during the progress of the war. The large
purchases for the use of the military forces
during the months of May and June 1898,
were made, not at the solicitation of the
packers or III consequence of efforts put
1orth by them for that purpose. but by the
order and upon the initiative of the commits
sary -general of subsistence, such purchases
being made in every case by officers Of his
department In the usual manner
Replying specifically to other questions
set out by the President the court says:
That the refrigerated beef furnished the
army was mot doctored or treated with
any other agency than cold air.
That barring some defects in methods of
inspecting the beef its delivery to the
subsistence department, the deterioration of
the meat in shipment was due to the fault
OF no one
Evidence of the Chemists.
Summing up the results of the investi-
cations of the chemists employed by the
court the court says:
The contents of all the cases. which con-
sisted of boiled rather than roast beef were
found to be in good state of preservation
in every case. No trace of preservatiye
acids was found in any of the cans.
There is no testimony to the effect that
any of the canned fresh beef supplied to the
subsistence department since April %, 1898
has been chemically treated or subjected to
the action of preservatiyes of any kind, save
as small quantities of common salt have
been added as seasoning to the product of
certain packers.
Several pages of the report are devoted
70 the consideration of the allegation
made by Gen. Miles that the refrigerated
beef was treated with preSeryativeS, but
the statement is made upon the threshold
of this question that but little testi-
mony was submitted by him in support of
this contention" The inference drawn
by the court from the absence of such
testimony is adverse to the existence Of
the practice alleged to prevail by the ma
Jor-general commanding.
The Powell Process.
Referring to this and to another Incl
dent, the court says:
The testimony shows that the beef treated
by the Powell process, which was declared
by DR.. Daily to contain boric and Salicylic
acids was, in fact, treated by fumigation
and the materials employed contained
neither DOric nor salicylic acid.
\ chapter of the report is devoted to
the consideration of the cause of the sick
ness in the army in the Santiago cam
paign. but 1.-The court finds it impossible
to conclude that either the canned fresh
beef or refrigerated beef appeared to any
appreciate extent as causes of intestinal
disease"
Speaking of the ration as whole the
court says:
AS to tl.e effects of the food supply hav
ing regard to both sufficiency and quality,
it seems to be clearly established that the
army ration as supplied, without modifca-
ton, to the troops serving in the West In
dies was by means well adapted for use
in tropical climate.
The report closes with the following
statement:
The court. with a deep sense OF the re-
sponsiblites devoving upon 1t, has labored
zaalously to bring out the truth and believes
that it has fully covered all the matters re-
ferred to 1t for investigation. That the
calling of more witnesses from the large
number suggested by the Encouragement
commanding, including ali those who have
taken part in the operations or the war,
would only have resulted in additional testl-
mony on the same lines as those pursued,
without throwing further light upon the
questions involved. Several witnesses who
were duly subpoenaed to appear before the
court did not obey the summons. Some OF
these were called at the instance or the
maior-general commanding, others at the
instance of the court. Having knowledge
of the fact that the statutes did not MAKE
it possible to punish witnesses who refuse
TO testify before Il court-martial or court
of inquiry the court took no steps 10 com-
pei their attendance.
The document is signed by j. T. Wade,
major general United States volunteers,
president; George E. Davis, lieutenant
colonel deputy judge-advocate general,
recorder.
The foregoing report having been sub
mitted with the proceedings to the Presl-
dent. the following are the orders there
on:
Executive Mansion. Washington, D.. G.,
Nav g. 1S99.-The finds of the court OF in
quiry approved.
The court Of inquiry, of which Maj. Gen.
James f. Wade. United States volunteers,
is president, is hereby dissolved. BY order
II. c.. CORBIN, Adjutant-General-
Miles Makes No Comment.
Gen. Miles. when asked last night
whether he had any comment to make upon
the beef report replied that he had read
it. but / have nothing to say" he add
ed, "either about the report, the method
of testimony or the conclusions reached"
'sDoes that mean that so far as you are
concerned you will let the matter rest
where the report leaves it?' asked the
reporter. ;, -
Miles.
cpEAT EAr;ENNhc 0E MEYTrO