The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-04

ton at our command. We repeat the dues-
tons for convenience, putting the reply
after each question.
"Question-State extent OF the timed roast
beef industry? Answer-Our business in this
article is very large, extending all over this
country and throughout England and to the
continent or Europe.
"Q.-How long has this article been in
use, where used and by who? Ave have
manufactured and sold the article in ques-
ton at least eighteen years or whereabouts,
selling 1t mainly to the wholesale grocery
houses and provision dealers. Timed roast
beef is and has been used by all classes of
people. We have for years furnished this
article, directly or indirectly, TO the British
government for the use of the navy, to the
French government and also to our govern
ment for the use of the navy, in the latter
case before, during and after the Spanish
war, and made our sales upon samples IN
spected and approved by the proper board
of inspectors.
'Q.IIs it largely used in this country? If
so, by whom sold and the class who gener-
ally buy it? A.-As generally answered IN
previous question we have sold 1t very eX-
tensively in this country for many years,
chiefly TO wholesale grocery and provision
houses throughout this country. We under
stood these people have in turn supplied the
retail grocers, ship chambers, exporters and
country merchants, so that 1t Is ana has
been used and consumed by all classes or
people In addition we have stated, large
quantities have been used by the American
navy.
tries about how much and who uses 1t?
A-Our principal sales of this product have
been 20 England, where we nave sent many
thousands of cases every year Tor a long
period of years, also to France. Our princi-
pal customers have been the governments
and wholesale grocery and provision houses,
and we are informed that this product IS
sold by the latter to retailers, who again
distribute 1t to all classes OF people, eS-
pecially those who need the food for long
sea voyages. and in other cases where pre-
served meats are required.
"Q.-Do all packers make soup from the
water after cooking the timed roast beef
or not? Ave make no soup from the
water after cooking the timed beef.
"Q.-Whether or not the timed roast
beef is cooked as much as the timed
corned beef? Ayes; it is even cooked in
q higher temperature
"Q.--Are any chemicals used in the MAX
ing of the timed roast beef? A.-No; none
whatever.
"Q.-Have any of the packers used. and
II so, why, any scraps in putting up this
meat. and where did they get the scraps?
Where are there scraps, if scraps are used?
Ave have never used and do not use
scraps in putting up this meat. We cut up
certain cuts of meat, parts of the carcesses,
and use such parts in the making of
timed roast beef.
"Q.-Whether, in the course of making or
packing this timed roast meat tallow is
afterwards poured in. whether it is the
fat that properly belongs to and is part OF
the meat? Ave never pour in tallow of
any kind at any time. We cut up with the
belongs to and is a part of the meat.
"Q.-Do any of the packers at any time
use any chemicals whatsoever with refrig
Grated beef; if so, why? Ave do not and
never used any chemicals whatsoever with
refrigerated beef and do not see why any
should be used.
"Q.-Whether any packer, who has fur
nished refrigerated beef to the subsistence
department ever, or anywhere, or to any
extent, used any chemicals of any kind
whatsoever in the treatment of refrigerated
beef? Ave certainly have not at any
time, or under any circumstances, used any
chemicals and do not believe any other
packers have.
"Q.-Whether any chemicals whatsoever
touch the meat itself? A.--No. We have
never used chemicals under any circum-
stances.
"Q.-Has the meat ever been treated by
any chemical process of any kind what
ever? A.-No. Never.
we trust the above answers are clear
and exhaustive enough for the purpose in
tended, and will be glad to furnish you any
further information in our power"
NO BOARD OF SURVEY.
Commissary General Eagan late in the
afternoon gave out for publication some ad-
ditional correspondence relative to criti-
cisms passed by General Miles on the quail
ity of the meat supplied to the army during
the war. First is a letter from Major Black,
who was General NIiles's chief commissary
officer during the Porto Rican campaign.
In view of the regulations forbidding the
destruction or condemnation Of any supplies
except on the finding Of a properly con-
stituted board Of survey, he was asked as
to the correctness of a statement attributed
to General Miles that 10000 pounds of
canned beef had been condemned in Porto
Rlco. His reply follows:
Replying to your communication Of Dec
81 relative to boards Of survey | have the
honor to state that L find no report of boards
OF survey on refrigerated beef or timed roast
beef among my papers,.
Following up the inquiry into the allega-
lions against the quality of the roast beef
furnished the army, General Eagan says he
directed special examination to be made
of all the meat the minute he heard the first
complaint. The first report to come to hand
was the following, from Capt. e. R. Hutch
ms, OF the purchasing and depot commissary,
dated Tampa, Fla, Dec 81:
Slr-It has just occurred to me that, with
the intensely unjust things that have been
said about the beef business connected with
the commissary generals department. it
might be gratifying to you TO remember
that, under your direction, [ examined
very large number of cans of beef. b6th
roast and corned representing hundreds of
thousands OF cans. and found none bad.
You will remember that L did this with a
great deal of care, and it occurred to me
that inasmuch as 1 went through the war
Of 1876, from beginning to end, and is
sued this kind of beef to both brigades that
L was connected with in this war, and haV-
Ing made this examination as referred to-
that it would be gratifying to you to know
somewhat extended experience better beef
in cans than you have furnished. l trust you
will pardon this seeming intrusion, but
refrain from testifying, from per-
sonal knowledge, as to the good quality Of
this beef"
The last of the letters relate to the issue
between General Miles and General Eagan
as to the authorship of a certain newspaper
criticism upon the army supplies and in
cludes General Eagan's letter and General
AIiless reply General Eagans letter fol-
lows:
"General-I inclose herewith an article
from the New York Journal, dated New
York, Friday, Dec. %, 1898, headed Miles
Makes Grave Charges Against the Admins
tration; Poisons Used in Beef Made the Sol
diers ILL., Tons of Bad Meat Sent to Troops
in Porto Rico, etc. In view of the grave
charges made in this purported interview
with Gen. Nelson A Miles, have the honor
to ask that this article be referred to Gen.
Miles to ascertain if the statements therein
made and attributed to him are correct, or
to what extent they are correct, and that
he may be directed to state in detail wheth-
err he is correctly quoted, and in what par
ticular he is correctly or incorrectly quot
ed"
The reply of General Miles marked sec
ond Endorsement" is dated Dec. Il. It fol-
lows:
Respectfully returned. have repeatedly
refused to be interviewed, or to comment
upon or discuss my testimony. When a
proof is furnished me and corrected or ex-
can obtain copy This subject has been
referred to the inspector general of the
army with directions to make thorough
and rigid investigation Of the whole mat
ter. and the commissary general will have
an opportunity of being heard"