New-York tribune., 1899-07-15
ARMY BEEF IN THE TROPICS.
TROOPS IN CUBA AND PORTO RICO SUP
Piled FROM CHICAGO.
NO COMPLAINTS HEARD SINCE COLONEL
WESTON TOOK CHARGE OF THE
COMMIssARY DEPARTMENT.
fHr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.l ]

COMMIssARY DEPARTMENT.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNEI
Washington. July 1.-THE meat component OF 'he
ration issued the United States forces IN Ouoa
and Porto Rico is composed exclusively OF peer re-
frigerated at Chicago notwithstanding the impress
sion existing in many quarters that those is'ahus
are with fine cattle and that In the case Oh
Porto Rico prime beef is article OF export IL
Army officers to be believed. the excellence OF
West Indian animals for food is wholly innashdry'
and the latest criticisms Of the Commissary De-
partment are unwsrranted.
The disposition in some quarters TO crltlcise
everything in the War Department found an op-
no-tunitv for activity when II was learned that a
contract had been awarded recently 10 swift q Co.
to supply beef TO the American forces in CUBA ana
Porto Rico for the current fiscal year anu ''i'i'
they would supply Chicago killed beer e~clu9I'eiS
instead OF pstronizng the beef market oi ioi''
Rico and thereby encourage home Industry III the
new colonial possession. II Porto Rico were really
teeming with fat cattle which could he cheaply
procured IL seemed plausible 10 believe that me
old ring In the War Department was In colIusion
with the canned roast and embamed peer again
But fortunately. the Commissary Department OF
the Army is now dominated by Colonel John Wes-
ton. who chief commissary on Gehersl NiieS
stan last year, and not single complaint mas oeen
heard from any troops in the field since ne look
charge Of their food supplies
THE CONTRACT WITH SWIFT CO.
The facts in the latest Swift contract appear 10
be as follows: The Acting Commfssary "ehe'dI
two months ago caused advertisements 70 ne lsSueu
by the purchasing commissaries at San Juan ma
vana and Chicago. for furnishing fresh beer Oh
high quality the garrisons OF Porto Rlco anu
Cuba for the fiscal year ending June 80 1880 When
the bids were opened it was found that s"li' q
Co not only guaranteed better beef but at nuch
cheaper rates than other competitors. nearly all
OF whom were Americans. Several bids at high
figures were received Havana, not from CUBAN
citizens but from American spectators or con-
tractors and there was only one Porto Rican aspir-
ant for the contract for that island. All the prices
were excessive however. compared with tha' OF
Swift Co. 70 whom the contract was awarded
after some deliberation. The specifications relate
only to the quality Of the beef, and not 20 the
locality Of it's production. and II is provided thdt
the amount Of beef furnished be reduced oy
the Government any time or stopped atoget ei
There is nothing in the contract 10 80 49,.
co. from saving transportation @ OF p,e tne Wv even
purchasing cattle In CUBA or forIV ~, O,,ei,,v is
Texas or Florida. provided It's hieh qu"i'S i"
II was to the manifest advantage OF the con
tractors to the transportation OF me rT,IIs
Rican ports. but they have found II ulteI's I'm ,,i =
possible 10 obviste this expense Iney nav % 10 b
in reality tough and dvarfed animals. incapable
OF fattening and that Southern cattle taken taken -, 70
deteriorate rapidly in that climate. and become
worthless as food for American ablebodied sol
and imported cattle were killed and put in cold
storage for some OF the garrisons in both ISLANDS
as an experiment. but the soldiers would not eat
the beef declaring II unsuitable for food and De
manding the beef n which they were accustomed.
All the officers reported strongly against the ma
tive beef. though II was treated IN the pest
manner by the contractors. who were deeply IN
terested in having the experiment succeed.
Colonel Weston rays that he will be glad 10 give
the Porto Kican garrlsons native beef II they want
it, and he would welcome the opportunity TO supply
beef on the hoof 10 the soldiers in Cuba, II they
prefer II. But in neither island will the men take
H. They insist on the best and that appears 10
be the Chicago refrigerated article. In Colonel
Westor's opinion a soldier can be told by the kind
OF beef he and man is recognized by the
cattle he has been raised on. de Is satisned ne
can tell at sight whether soldier comes from a
locality abounding In fine cattle or Is native OF
a country where beef is poor and expensive. The
American soldier he believes, will lose his IN
dividuality and superiority II he does not get the
food to which he is accustomed. and II would be a
mistaken policy for the Government to give him
anything less than the best For that reason colo
storage houses have been established al each OF
the Cuban and Porto Rican garrison posts, the
best American food is issued. and every company
now enjoys one hundred pounds OF ice day.