The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-06
WANTS NUMEROUS WITNESSES
COURT NOT LIKELY TO COMPLY
WITH MILES REQUEST.

He Sent i'm n List of I31 witnesses,
But Said Every soldier Who Was
in che Field Might he Called on,
II Necessary-Dr. Currie Found
Chemicals in Some of the Meat.
other Witnesses Examined by the
Beef Court.
Washington, April 5.-The two principal
witnesses before the beef court of inquiry
to-day We're Prof Russell II. Chittenden
of Yale College and DR.. Samuel A. Cur
rie, who was lieutenant colonel of the
! Second New Jersey Regiment, which was
stationed at Jacksonville during the war.
Prof Chittenden is one of the chemists
selected by che government 70 analyze the
canned roast beef He presented his re-
| port showing that the beef generally was
| good No chemicals had been found by
him in the preparation and IL was gener-
| ally wholesome He. however, expressed
doubt as TO whether the heat of the tropi-
cal climate would not cause che fat i'm
the cans TO hqufy and thus render the
food displeasing to the sight.
Col. Davis stated that most of the cans
from which the samples were taken for
analysis had been exposed to the heat OF
tropical countries, some of the cans being
brought from Havana for the purpose of
the test
Found Acids Present.
Dr Currie testified that the refrigerated
! beef supplied al Jacksonville had on some
occasions made the men sick He had
made chemical analyses Of the beef which
! in one case showed the presence of sally
! ellie acid and in another OF borGc acid
! Dr. Currie said he had discovered some ten
! or twelve years ago by actual tests that
| Swift & Co used salycilic acid to preserve
| their meats. Two months ago he had made
a similar test OF beef furnished by Ar
mour & Co. at his own home In Engle-
wood. N. j., and had found that Il con-
| iained salycillc acid. The beef thus ex-
amined looked paler on the surface than
| other beef. lie thought beef could bo
| treated either by injection or immersion
| in the acid.
What use did you make OF the informa-
ton secured two months ago concerning
the Armour beef?' asked Col Gillespie
None at an" the witness replied.
rs there no law in New Jersey against
| the adulteration of food?'
mot that | know or You can do almost
| anything you wish 10 in New Jersey. They
! XIII and eat horses there"
Gen. Miles Request.
Mai Lee asked that some of the men
Oh the rifle range detail he summoned be-
fore the court but the court did not re-
spond to the request.
Mai Lee then read the reply of the
court to Gen. Miles request for the sum-
| monlng of 1871 witnesses named by him and
| Gen Miles reply asking that they be pac-
ed Ia the record. The letter 10 Gen. Niles
was written by Recorder Davis of the
| court of inquiry It was dated yesterday
| and read as follows.
Il beg 20 acknowledge the receipt of
your favor OF the third instant, enclosing
the final list Of witnesses.
II am directed to say that such Of the
persons named as appear. from the state
ment submitted TO be I'm possession OF
| facts not already covered by the testimo-
| ny of witnesses VIII be summoned to APP
pear with the least possible delay"
Might Hear the whole Army.
Gen. Miles reply was as follows:
| Referring to the list of witnesses, l3l In
| number. / would respectfully invite your
| attention to my letter of Feb. %, in which
| stated that / deemed 'the matter under
| investigation OF such vital import In rela-
tlon both to the health and to the honor
| Of the United States army that
respectfully request that
| company commanders and the enlisted
men OF their commands-even to include,
| II necessary every hOipltT VINO served lb
the fed during the war-be called upon
| to bear witness before your court (either
| by oral testimony or by answer 20 inter-
rogatons) as 60 the results of their own
| personal experience with the beef ration
issued to them
ut is my belief that at least 25 900 men.
| and undoubtedly a much greater number
| would confirm the testimony that has al
ready been given, that a portion OF the
food supplied the army was unwholesomo
| and unsuitable for use. /, therefore re-
! quest that the small number of witnesses
whose names have just been submitted
may be called upon to give their testimony
| before your court, and In regard to this
| being a final list as / stated In my let
| ters yesterday / SO consider It, although
such additional names may be added as
circumstances may develop the necessity
/ therefor"
VIII Not he Complied With.
The general understanding about tho
court Is that the request will not be COM
/ piled with
| Dr. Maus, chief surgeon of the Seventh
| Army Corps, Col. Huntington of the Ma
rine Corps and DR.. Raphael, Armours
New York agent, were also heard during
the day
| -s-e.-e---