The record-union., 1899-04-09

WASHINGTON, April S.-The army
court OF inquiry into the beef sl1nnlied
10 the army decided to-day to adhere
10 ITS decision not to call the list of
witnesses submitted by General Miles.
Inc reading of the official reports were
concluded.
Alexander Powell the owner of the
oeef-preserving process of which so
much has been said, was heard at the
forenoon session. He gave many de-
tails concerning his invention. and
stated that he made an agreement with
Armour & Co. to have them use the
process in case they could secure the
government contract. He stated. how
ever, that Swift & Co. had not had
the use of it.
General Shafter will probably testify
early next week, and the outlook is for
the closing Of testimony by Saturday
next.
John Rusch of Englewood, N. J., cook
FOR the second New Jersey Regiment,
opened the testimony in the inquiry to-
day He was called at the instance of
Lieutenant Colonel Currie of that regi-
ment, who recently testified regarding
the character of the beef supplied at
Jacksonville, stating that his informa-
ton came from Rusch The latter de-
clared to-day that it was common talk
among the soldiers that all the meat
sent South was embalmed. The story
became prevalent, and the men refused
to eat the meat, which he testified was
rotten, often Shiny in appearance, and
there were frequent complaints that it
made the men sick" After frying it
tasted like straw, and had a peculiar
smell as if decayed.
Alexander B. Powell of New York.
the proprietor of the Powell beef pre-
serving process followed Rusch on the
stand. Mr.. Powell stated that he had
been a dealer in meats in New York
Tor the past twenty-five years. He ex-
planned at some length that he was the
sole owner of the Powell process for
preserving fresh meats without the use
of ice; that the formula was secret,
and that it was not patented because SO
eminently simple.
He declared emphatically that neither
boracic or salycillic acid was used in
the process, nor, indeed sis there any
Injection or immersion in chemicals.
The process is supplied by fumigaticn.
There would be no smell except that of
sulphur for half-hour or so after the
application. Nor would any taste be
noticeable.
Mr.. Powell gave the particulars of
his treatment of a car of Armour's
beef which was sent to camp in the
spring of 1898 When he heard that
the contract was to be given by the
Government he had reached the con-
clusion that the Government ought to
have the use of the process and he
had written to the President and Cen
eral Eagan, asking when he should
apply to have the process used Cen
eral Eagan replied saying the depart
ment was not engaged in purchasing
any process, but that it could only deal
with those who would supply the meat
and guarantee that it should keep.
The reading of reports of officers was
proceeded with by Major Lee
Lieutenant Colonel Bisbee of the First
Infantry forwarded the reports of his
company officers, saying that he con-
Cured in their expressions of opinion
Lieutenant Campbell King said that
all the beef that had come under his
observation was bad.
Lieutenant D. G. Berry said that it
had no permanent i'll effects, but that
it promoted slight nausea
Lieutenant Kilbourne said that the
beef was unpalatable.
Lieutenant McCue said that the men
were enabled to subsist upon it, but
that was all.
After brief executive session the
court took a recess until o'clock.
Colonel Davis announced at the be-
ginning of the forenoon session that
the court had decided to adhere to it's
former decision to summon only such
of the additional witnesses suggested
by General Smith as could give testi-
mony upon points not already covered
by the inquiry