The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-08
Tie General Who shade Uafoanded Charges.

for cooking other than was practical With
the individual kit carried. For such ex-
tenstve use. or any use exceeding one day
In five, the court finds this beef unsuita-
BILE.
Refrigerated Deef All Right.
Of the court. a suitable ration for troops
when 1t can be issued to them In good con-
dition.'
AZ 70 whether anything better than the
beef was available for q ration. the opinion
is:
''First--That on the transports the reli-
ance on canned fresh and canned corned
beef was wise. but that the canned fresh
beef was less desirable than the corned.
''Sscond-That while bacon is not regard
ed as suitable constant food in campaign
for troops serving in the tropics combined
with the vegetables that were available I.
would have been more suitable and At than
the unknown ana unfamiliar canned roast
beef. eaten direct from the can.
''Third-ThAt the use Of refrigerated beef
on shore, after the troops had secured con-
veniAnt harhors and landing factlitloa yas
wise and desirable. That the court believes
that there was no better food available or
practicable
lmpracttcable 70 Lana Beef Cattle.
The opinion Is expressed that 1t would
have been impracticable to land beef cat
tie on the hoof in Cuba. the remark Of the
court on this point being:
THE commanding general OF the expe-
d!tion characterizes as absurd such
proposition. and many OF his commanding
officers whose opinions are given In the
testimony coincided with him in the i'm
practicability or inexpediency OF such
project The court concurs In the opinion
OF those men. whose experience In active
military service dated from 1851"
The Packers Exeaeratea.
An instruction OF the president to the
court was; III the packers OF the coun-
try arc guilty IL must be known
Replying to this direction. the court
says:
'"The court finds that at tho outbreak
OF hosttlites In April. l9oS that the pack
ers OF canned beef were engaged In the
manufacture OF an article OF standard
quality. well known to the trade and the
subsistence department. under the name
Of canned roast beef The methods Of
packing then In Use were the same
those hah'tually employed IN the prepara-
tlon of the meat rs an article Of com
merce, 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 ard June, 1aas. were
made. not at the solicitation Of the pack
ers in consequence 81 efforts put forth
by them for that purpose, but by the order
and upon the initiative OF the comnissary
general Of subsistence. such purchases be-
ing made IN every case by officers OF his
department. In the usual manner"
Defective Cans Replaced.
On other points connected with the
packers the court says:
Although the subject Of the reaatust-
ment OF accounts between the United
States and the contractors was not re-
ferred TO the court. II appears from ,estf-
r,ony that whenever any cans have been
found to be defective. subsequently, to
their original delivery 10 the subsistence
department. such cans have been replaced
I'm every Instance
Meat Wa. Not Doctored.
Replying specifically 10 other questions
set Oh, by the president. the court says:
That the canned beef was described as
fresh because II was not sasted. but that
the meat was not cid or stale.
THAT the refrigerated beef furnished
.ha army was rot 'sce.ored or treated
with any agency 6fHfr man cold ar
That the meat purchased for the army
was the meat os commerce: that both
ktnss-refrtserated and c1nned-w@-e sgch
as were we'll known in both hersspheres
a. commercial articles. cs which there II.
and has beer. very large consumption,
rot only by the trade generally. but 81
the United States navy ard by the armies
ard savfes Of Europe.
No Reports of Unntnesa-
THAT nc reports o' nnftrse or Gusuisa-
hiifty az the beef ~nt from the Eas:ed
States were f8rSsriet ~ The war depart
.ssnt by sny gsnsrai essieer servirx In Gu
ba er Porto Rlco while the FED operations
were in progress. nor we're any such re-
ports received mnti! more than one month
after hex;llities ceased.
Thai. barring some dszecsx "a methods
OF inspecting sae bess on IL delivery 30 the
sshs.stznee department. the deterioration
or TIE nsea. In shipnsns was due 10 :aa
fssis es no o1e.
Cea. Nfies' CharGea-
Tf.e charges Of Gen Niles. as made in
newspaper interviews. as vsss ~ those
Caustr.snA ea Para TkrAG