Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-02-13

chickamauga and Porto Rico he foun
the fresh beef to he apparently pre-
served with secret chemicals. He say
that at Ponce the beef he examines
was also Of the same character bein,
apparently preserved by injection 0
chemicals For months as II appear
(, DIR. DAILY concealed the knowledge o
| the commission Of crime affcctin,
men under his charge whom, as al
officer and a physician. he was bount
| tosprotect.
"Immedjately upon hearing the tes
| tir1ony OF DIR. DAILY. on the Goth OF
January. kilograms were sent to all is.
suing commissares In Cuba, Porto
Rico and at the various home camps
occupied by the troops asking tha,
samples Of refrigerated beef be at once
taken. placed in glass jars. sealed and
forwarded to the commission for
analysis. The result Of the analysis
has been reported to us in 20 cases and
in no specimen examined has either
boric or salicylic acid or other delccti-
Gus chemicals been found. In view OF
the facts above set forth the commits
sion Is Of the opinion that no refriger-
ated beef furnished by contractors and
issued to the troops during the war
with Spain was subject to or treated
with any chemicals by the contractors
or those in their employ.
Canned Meats-In considering gucs-
tlons concerning canned meats ii is not
the duty of the commission to inquire
into the character. kind or condition
of all the canned meats that may be III
use in this country. Our specific duty
Is 10 give an opinion as to the quality
Of those furnished the soldiers during
the recent war with Spain, There has
been neither allegation nor proof be-
fore US that boric or salicylic or any
other acid has been used in the canned
meats furnished to the troops. but such
meats have nevertheless been greatly
critized. and they have for that reason
been tested by us and have been analy-
zed under our direction and We have
taken a great deal of testimony as TO
the mode Of their preparation. The
canned meat is ordinarily taken from
the foreuuarters of beeves."
The commission reports shows that
a number OF officers testified that the
canned beef was unplatable. 1t is also
ELECTED that in a tropical country.
where IL is subject TO intense heat the
meat presents a repulsive appearance
at first Furthermore it transpires
that occasionally an inferior article Is
found. But the records Of the army
prove that canned beef has been for
many years and endorsed by the ad-
jutant generals department The work
of the signal corps is highly commend
ed.
Pay Department. Brig. Gen. T. H.
Stanton in charge-So far as the COM
mission can ascertain, all the officers OF
the pay department have performed
their duties promptly and efficiently.
The Engineer Department and
Corps of Engineers, Brig. Gen. John NJ.
Wilson, chief of engineers, L. s. A.. in
chargc-The testimony of commanding
officers OF campaigns, troops and
camps has been in high praise of the
services of the corps of engineers.
Ordinance Department. Brig. Gen.
d. w. Flagler. chief of ordnance, L. S.
A., in charge-The testimony before
the committee shows that the ordnance
department was untiring in its work.
both before and during the war and
that every effort was made by its ofii-
GERS to properly arm and equip the
troops.
Medical Department. Brig. Gen.
George NJ. Sternberg in charge.-This
important part Of the report is dwelt
uron al great length by the commits
sion Some of their more important
findings are as follows: That at the
,l,N Ia
partment was, in men and materials.
altogether unprepared to meet the ne
of the army called out; that
as result of the action through gen
Grafton Cf contracted and contracting
meti,ds OF administration it was inn
possible for The department to operate
largely. freely ard withou. undue re-
gard to cost:
That in the absence of a special
corps Of inspectors and apparent in
frequency of inspections by chief SUR
ccons. and of official reports of the
state of things in camps and hospitals. |
there was not such Investigation of the |
s. anitary conditions of the armey as the |
frs. duty imposed upon the depart !
.ncnt by the regulations:
That the nursing force during the |
months of May. June and July. WAS
neither ample nor sufficient. exceptions |
for which may be made in the lack of /
proper volunteer hospital corps, due to |
he failure of Congress to authorize its |
establishment and to the non-recoSni |
,ion in the beginning of the value of |
women nurses and the extent to which |
.ht.r services could be secured;
THAT. powcrless as the department |
vas to have supplies transferred from |
point to point. except through the in |!
.ermediation of the Quartermasters !
department. it was seriously crippled |
in Pts efforts to fulfil the regulation 1
luty of furnishing all medical hospital |
supplies:
That shortcomings in administra- |
ion and operation may justly be at |
-libuted in a large measure to the hur- |
y and confusion incident TO the as
;embling of an army of unframed off, |
,els and men. ten times larger than be- |
fore. for which no preparations in ad |
vance had been or could be made be- |
cause of existing rules and regulations: |
That, Notwithstanding all the mani
fest errors of omission rather than |
q vast deal of good work |