New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-22
WANTED THE WHOLE TRUTH.
PRESIDENT MKINLEY'S INSTRUCTIONS
TO THE BEEF COURT.
THE MEMBERS WERE ORDERED TO FIX
RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE GUILTY

RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE GUILTY
MIGHT BE PROPERLY PUNISHED.
Washington, April 21.--The Beef Court OF In
quiry devoted to-days session to reviewing testi-
mony and to night held another session for the
purpose of reading reports. letters. depostions
and other papers bearing on the investigation.
The most interesting matter developed was Pres
ident McKney's instructions to the court which
were delivered to the members on February 20
These instructions were read by Colonel Davis
in order to make them a part OF the record and
as follows:
The character and quality OF the meat re-
frigerated and canned, furnished to the Army:
how purchased how shipped to the soldiers II
good when shipped; what the cause OF its dete-
rioration. II any.
II the meat was doctored did the Commissary-
General or any of his officers have any knowl-
edge of IL or means of knowledge?
Was ii the meat OF commerce?
Was 1t inspected by the Government inspec-
tors, as provided by law?
Was II an authorized ration In the Army?
If good when purchased, what made it bad?
Was it anybodys neglect or fault, and If so
whose?
When unfit for USE If you should so find, was
the fact made known to the War Department.
when and by whom?
If, after leaving the depot commissary 1t was
not cared for and properly preserved whose
fault?
Was 1t a suitable ration for the campaigns
in Cuba and Porto Rico?
Was there anything better that was practica-
Nle?
Would 1t have been prudent for our troops
TO have made the expeditions to Santiago and
Porto Rico without the preserved meats, either
refrigerated canned, with which they were
supplied?
Could the Army with any certainty rely upon
the cattle on the hoof on those islands?
Did the commanding officers In Santiago or
H. .fosA Ca.A l;xor
report during the war that either the refriger-
ated or canned beef unfit ration?
When these reports first made, and by
whom?
If the allegations of the Major General COM
manding are established. l want the court to
find the cause and fix the responsibility for the
fact that the guilty may be properly punished
Did the cattle in Porto Rico make a wholesome
ration?
If the packers of the country are guilty. it
must he known.
II the officers Of the Commissary Department
are guilty II must be known.
If any officer of the Army is guilty it must
be known.
EAGAN AND THE POWELL PROCESS.
Both Major Lee and Colonel Davis submitted
a number of reports and mass Of correspond
ence Among the documents read by Colonel
Davis was a letter from the Washington attor-
news of Armour & Co.. dated June 15 1898. after
the contract for beef had been let. asking for
reconsideration of the subject in the interest or
their clients and an Endorsement by General
Eagan as Commissary-General opposing the re-
quest In their letters the attorneys represent
cd that the Armours controlled the Powell proc
ess for the treatment Of meat. and that this
fact gave them such an advantage In tne preser-
walton Of fresh beef as to justify the war De-
partment in disregarding the difference IN price
and awarding the contract 10 them. IN MS M
dorsement General Eagan referred to the ietter
of the attorneys as special pleading. ana SAID
there was no reason In the plea why the supJect
should be reopened. The tests made Dy Ar
rnour e. Co. are not the only tests tnat nave
been made" he said "and there is no DOUBT
whatever in my mind that the beef can De
furnished as required" This document was IN.
troduced by Colonel Davis to show that Gehera'
Eagan had not been Influenced by the represent
tations concerning the Powell process ,
Major Lee submitted deposition by D.. ..
Armstrong, president of the Armstrong fach,ns
Company, of Dallas, Tex, which, among o.iel %
things set forth the substance Of conversation
with General Eagan Mr.. Armstrong was one
of the bidders for beef on the block, ana sai9
that while he was in Washington he dlscusseu
with General Eagan the question or beer pelhe
kent for seventy two hours after being TAKEN
from the refrigerator. Mr.. Armstrong sad ne
EXPRESSED the opinion that that was impossipie'
TO which General Eagan replied that swift q
co. and Armour both had knowledge or proc
ess bv which beef could be kept for that length
NJ time