Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-03-22
CANS WERE DEFECTIVE.
Several Packing House Employees
Tell the Military Board
What They Know.

Kansas City, Mo-, March 1S.-The
beef court of inquiry resumed the tax
ing of testimony today at its headquar-
ters in the Midland hotel. The court
will probably go to Fort Leavenworth,
Kas., this evening. L. A. Raabo, who
formerly worked in the canning depart
ment at Armour's, and who had previous
ly testified that at one time as high as
30 per cent of the canned meat had been
rejected after being prepared by his firm,
was recalled. He said that while he was
employed in that department two car
loads of spoiled canned beef were re-
turned from the army. When the cars
were opened many of the cans were
found burst and maggots were crawling
everywhere. About two cans out OF
each dozen were spoiled.
Mr.. Ritchie, who had worked in the
canning department, said that Z daily
average of 30 cans of roast beef were
rejected while the government order was
being prepared. The usual precautOn in
its preparation was taken. He helped
to pack the two carloads for the army;
some of the cans were burst, no great
amount of damage was apparent. The
rejected meat was sent to the cookroom,
reinspected and the good repacked in
new cases.
James Talbot had packed roast beef
IN the canning department. Out of about
300 cases handled in a day, from 40 to
100 cans were rejected, generally be-
cause of leaks. The average rejection
at the time of the filling of government
orders was about the same as at other
times. He also helped unpacl> the meat
returned from the army. None of it was
bad, except as resulted from accidental
injury TO the cans.
In reply to a question from Maj. Lee
witness stated it appeared to him that the
meat returned from the South had not
been inspected before being returned
that the boxes did not indicate any in
spection had taken place after the meat
had been shipped from the packing house
originally.
Henry \. Campbell, an employe OF the
canning department., said that out of
about 5000 cases packed daily under his
inspection, an average of 0O to 10 cans
were rejected. OF the two carloads re-
turned fronpthe army but 20 to 80 cans
were finally rejected after reinspection
at the plant. The rest was put back in
stock.
Gerald Miles. who worked in the label
room. and had helped unpack the re-
turned army beef, gave practically the
same testimony as Messrs. Richie, Tai
bot and Campbell, as to its condition on
receipt from the South. Replying to a
question directed by Maj. Lee, Miles said
that the labels on meat furnished the
government were dated.
A. j. Bowie of the packing depart
ment stated that out of $4,000 to 10000
cans of meat of all kinds there was a
daily average rejection of from 200 to
$50, mostly because of leaky cans. The
rejected meat was reinspected, the bad
going to the refuse tank and the rest
into stock.
The canned roast beef delivered to the
90 Witness said tod
May, 1898. In reply to a question by
Maj. Lee, witness stated that the cases
containing the meat returned from the
army did not bear the name of the Unit
ed States purchasing officer. The meat
was in fair condition and he believed it
had been improperly rejected.
5. |. Coates, packing-room employee,
testified that an average of 20 cans out
of 300 cases were rejected daily because
of defective cans.
II. L. Antoine. foreman at Armour's
canning department, who was yes
court the records of cans reject
ed during May and June, 1895,
was recalled. His records were offered
in evidence. One, for May II, read by
Recorder Davis. showed that of $500
cans of meat of all kinds put up that
day, 23S were rejected, because of leaky
cans, or for other minor causes.
Antoine went on to state that extreme
precaution was exercised in filling the
government order. The meat for the
government was shipped as soon as
canned. He said that it is frequently
the case that fine leaks in the cans do
not develop for three or four days Meat
furnished the government was put up in
two and six pound cans and all were
dated. He was uncertain as to the exact
dates on which the two carloads re-
turned from the army were received
The court requested him to produce doe
uments covering such dates, and a re-
cess was taken.
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