Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-13


troops. The testimony, with some excep-
tons, showed that the refrigerated beef is-
sued was pure. sound and wholesome
"On the 21St day of December last, Major
General Nelson a. Miles, upon the written
request of the president of this commission.
before it. He refused bss to be sworn
who affirmed. stating that he would make
his statements without being sworn, and
ceeded. and for the first time in the history
of this. investigation the allegation was
made that refrigerated beef issued to the
troops had been chemically treated.
General Miles said:
There were sent to Porto Rico 337 tons
OF what is known as so-caled refrigerated
| beef which you might call embalmed
cation from DR.. w II. DAILY. major and
chief surgeon. United States volunteers, on
his staff. bearing date of September z, 1898,
wherein DR.. DAILY stated that:
In the several inspections I made in
Tampa: Jacksonville. chickamauga and
apparently preserved with secret chemicals
which destroy its natural flavor and which
| | also believe to be detrimental to the
| heaith of the troops.
Although DR.. DAILY swears that he in
formed General Miles about the 1st of Au-
bes Ne tina. the It
| does not appear that the general informed
you Of the war department that an officer
Stdll ildu lIlS uiScOkeTy, HOT
does It appear that he at the time ordered
any OF the officers in command to probe to
| .ne bottom an allegation: which. if true.
the United States army. 1t appears from
the report Of DR.. DAILY. which he handed to
tban Ienerai Miles October 2 last that he
beef furnished to the troops was 'appar-
emily chemically treated
charge was made. October ~. ii, having
Mes made to him in August @
missary general. tn the belief or or sue Suspicion it5l
entertained entertained by, him that refrigerated meat.
to the troops. in failure to do which there
Gas s, derellction IL Of duty; 1t is true that on
der shod 70 t. he slad had directed that an
relative to meats issued, but the order
Specitcally mentions canned fresh roast
ports received in answer to this that were
printed ;ra a. in l. abstract by the general at the
In1se,on Ilme OF his, his appearance before the COM
In his report DR.. Daily does not make the
aeadT a dmPGrtant ST. statement that he had al
though he suggests that such an analysis
should be made. He does state that in the
several iniSIpectons made by him at Tampa,
ne found the fresh beef to. be apparently
preserved with secret chemicals He said
also of the same character, being appar-
emily preserved by injected chemicals;
for months, as 1t appears, DIR. DAILY
concealed the commission of a crime af-
fecting men under his charge, whom, as an
onoiert ofilser and physician he was bound to
The report then, after quoting from the
regulatLons Of the agricultural department,
Prescribing the manner in which inspec-
tons are made (and no packing house in
the country is allowed to do business with
out governmental inspection), after detail
and showing the PRACTICAL impossibiiitS m @ Of
| puttlng impure meat upon the market
goes on to say:
THE commission has not confined ttsel.
70 merely verbal or written proof. I'm
medasely sEy upon .Ha hearing the testimony o.
were sent to. all issuing commissaries in
Cuba. Porto Rico and at the various home
camps occupied by troops, asking thai
taken, placed in glass jars. securely sealed
and forwarded to. the commission. These
from the outside and one pound weight
from the inside of a quarter. In response
to this request many samples have beer
of the agricultural and interior depart
ments for careful chemical examination
The result of analysis has been reporteC
to us in twenty-nlne cases. and as Viii be
seen by the reports appended, In no speci
men examined has either boric or salicylit
acid or other deleteriouS chemicals beer
found.
I'm view Of the facts above set forth ths
commission is Of the opinion that no re
and issued to- the troops during the wal
with Spain was subjected to or treatet
with any chemicals by the contractors OF
those in their employ"
|, Canned Meats.
I'm considering questions concernins
canned meats 1t Is not the duty of tn,
commission to inquire into the character
kind or condition of all the canned meat
, that may be in use In this country Gu
specific duty is to give an opinion as t,
the quality of those furnished the soldier.
, during the recent war with Spain. Their
,, has been neither allegation nor proof be
fore us that boric or salicylic or an.
other acid has been used in the canned
: meats furnished to the troops, but sucl
cised and they have. for that reason. beer
tested by us and have been analyzed unde
our direction and We have taken a grea
deal of testimony as to the mode Of thei
preparation. The canned meat is ordinar
ily taken from the fore quarters Of beeves.
The agricultural Department. official re
. packing houses, as required under the in
J spection regulations. is Incorporated.
| The commission's report shows that !
beef was unpalatable. 1t is also elicite,
that in a tropical country. where it i
subjected to intense heat, the meat pre-
sents a repulsive appearance at first. Fur
: thermore. 1t transpires that OCCASIONAL.
an inferior article is found. But the rec
Srds Of the army prove that canned bee
: tober 10. 1897, the following official state
ment was issued:
t War Dept. Adtutant Generals Office,
, Mr;W. Clarke Marshall. Produce Exchange
Chicago.
sir:-I have the honor to asknowiedg
. 18th ult.. to the secretary of war, givin
information regarding the proper food t
be taken to the sufferers in ALASKA. an