The times., 1899-04-29
THE BEEF COURTS REPORT.
Signatures AmHed TO the Completed
Document Yesterday.

Document Yesterday.
The Beef Court OF Enquiry completed
its report yesterday afternoon. The doc
ument was signed at ten minutes after
o'clock. The first member Of the Court
70 sign was General Wade the president.
1he second member TO affix his signature
was General Davis, and the last name af-
hxed was that OF Colonel Gillespie
Inc report will be presented to the Ad-
,utant General OF the Army this morn
Ing. who will Immediately hand il TO the
Secretary of War. who. In turn will nre-
sent 1t to the President. The Court held
Its final session last night
According 10 competent authority. the
report hnds that the refrigerated beef sup
piled to the Army during the war with
Spain was not chemically treated and that
the canned roast beef although nutritious.
and under favorable conditions wholesome,
was not adapted for use as the meat COM
ponent OF the travel ration for the use of
troops campaigning in the tropics
fhe order under which the Beef Court
was created Is as follows:
War Department. February 0. lses
IN accordance with the instructions OF the Presi-
dent on February 3. lsg9, Court OF Enquiry To
consist Of the following named officers is hereby
appeihttu 10 meet in this city on February Is
iS@; Detail for the court-Naj Gen. James p.
Wade, L. 5. v; Brig. Gen. George b. Davis L.
= v; Col. George l.. Gillespie Corps OF En-
eineers, u. &. A.. Lieut.. Col George b. Davis
deputy judge advocate general U. $. A., recorder
The Court is hereby directed TO investigate GER
tam allegations Of the Major General Commanding
the Army. in respect 10 the unhtness for issue %
certain articles Of food furnished By the Sub
sistence Department 10 the troops in the Reid
during the recent operations in Cuba and Porto
Rico.
In addition to the findings of fact, the Court
viii submit opinion upon the merits Of the
her viii Il
further proceedings may seem to be warranted
by the facts developed in the course OF the en-
qiiry.
The officers named will renair to this city for
the purpose herein Indicated. and upon the adj
iournment of the Court will return to their
proper stations The travel enioined is necessary
TO the public service. r. A. ALGER
Secretary Of War
By order Of the Secretary Of War.
H. C. CORBiN. Adiutant General.
On Monday. February 20. the day on
which the Court met. the members visited
the Executive Mansion. and the President
after formal greetings and after remind
ing the Court of the duty imposed upon
1t. read as follows:
You will investigate the character and qnalitv
OF the meat. refrigerated and canned. furnished
TO the Amy; how purchased. how shipped to
the soldiers; II good when shipped what the
cause OF deterioration, if any
If the meat was doctofed, did the Commi-ssry
IL
ledge OF IT or means of knowiedgeg
Was II the meat Of commerce?
Was il inspected by the Government inspectors
as provided by iswY
Was it an authorized ration in the army?
" good when purchased what made il bad?
Was it anybodys neglect or fault and if 80
whose?
When unfit for use. IT you Should 50 fnd. wa.
the fact made known 10 the War Department;
when and by whom!
Ii after leaving the depot eommisssfy. 1t was
fault2
Was it suitable ration for the campaign in
Cuba and Porto Rico?
Was there anything better that was practicable?
Would i have been prudent for our troops TO
have made the expeditions to Santiago and
Porto Rico without the preserved meats either
refrigerated or canned, with which they we're
supplied2
Could the army with any certainty RELY upon
cattle on the hoof on these islands?
Did the commisssry officers in Santiago or
Porto Rico the Major General Commanding
report during the that either the refrigerated
or canned beef was an unfit rafion2
When were these reports first made and by
whom?
If the allegations Of the Major General Conf
handing established want the Court 10 find
fact. that the guilty may be properly punished
Did the cattle in Porto Rico make a whole
some ration?
If the packers OF this country are guilty it must
be known.
ii the officers of the Commissary Department
are guilty it must be known
II any officer of the Army is guilty it must be
known.
The Court during the progress Of its en-
Quiry visited the beef-packing cities OF
the West and has examined several hun
dred witnesses