Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-21

to lowest bidders. The New orh statloh -
served by several contractors.
General Beaver-''f 1t is hermeucally
sealed, does change of climate make any
difference"
Witness-''Not IL Theoretically sealed and
properly packed. 1t might be hermeticaily
sealed but not properly packed
General Beaver-"How long will 1t keep
when opened? '
WitneSS-"Qufte q NUMBER OF hours, L
General Beaver-'If a can is sealed. how
Is it possible for it to become so bad IN
quality az to be unfit TO eat?
Witness-'If there was a hole in the can
and rle air got inside ii would cause de-
cav. Or again, If in the hold OF the snip
water got in among the cans causing .he
tin to rust and crack. The odor arising
from the decayed cans would cling 10 the
whole lot
Good for the Navy.
Gen. Beaver-"From your knowledge
personal and offlcial-would you regard this
beef as a good emergency ration for the
ARMY
witness Chesitating)-"Well, would not
like to saw. I don't pretend to know any
thing about the needs of the army.
would say 1t is good for the navy.
Gen Reaver-"As an emergency ration
Witness-"If it was good beef-well stored
yes"
Gen. Beaver-'In your experience in the
navy have you had any serious complaints
as to the use OF canned roast DeSl.
WitneSs-"No. sir"
Gen. Beaver-"How long has it been
used?"
witness-'I can't say. As long as have
been in the navy
Gen. Beaver-'What kind of fresh peer Is
used in the navy?"
Witness-'I don't know as to that. 1t
does not come under my department.
Col Denby-'Id like to ask you if this
canned roast beef is palatabIe or not?'
Wftnes-'Yes, sir OF course ii depends
on the quality of the beef. The meat itself
is thoroughly palatable-if 1t is the best
That is the kind We endeav0r to get. But
there is 4 great deal that is not paiatable.
Gen Beaver then held up a can marked
Libby. Mcneil & Libby, Prime Roast
Beef and another which he said was the
Armour brand. He asked the witness with
regard to the method of opening the cans,
and a practical demonstration was given.
The Libby can was first opened and the
contents dumped out upon side table
The commission gathered around and
watched Mr.. Hicks pick the meat to pieces.
They declared it smelIsd as if it was good
The other can went through the same pro-
cess. Then it was suggested that they
taste the meat, and each commissioner
nipped off place. which he ate. All de-
clared it had flavor and good quality. Then
the examination was resumed.
Gen. Beaver-"Paymaster the cans which
You have opened We're purchased by us
in the open market at random from various
dealers Now state what you think of the
contents OF these cans as to quality"
Witness-"They are perfectly good"
The testimony was concluded by a de-
scription of the usual method of rafrigerat-
ing ships. with which the witness said he
was familiar.
Quoted From Daily.
General Beaver-"As to saIicylic acid,
what is its taste?''
Prof. Ciarke-'I don't know the taste"
General Beaver-"That is, you can't tell
what effect it would have?-'
General Beaver then read to the witness
the followinog extract from Major Days
report to General Miles:
When detailed to take charge of the
transport Panama for conveying conva-
Ieseents TO the United States, l obtained
1000 pounds of fresh beef from the COM
miSsary at Ponce.
1T looked well, but had an odor similar
to a dead human body after being injected
with preseryatives, and it tasted when first
cooked like decomposed boric acid while
after standing day for further inspection
II became So bitter. naUseous and unpalat-
able as to be quite impossible for use. l
was therefore obliged. owing to its condi-
ton and the just complaints of the sick
about it. and the disgustngly sickening
odor it emitted when being cooked. and its
mawkish. fiat taste when served. and the
safety of my patients-2J3 conyaIescent
soldiers on board-to organize a board of
survey, condemn and throw 500 pounds
all We had. overheard"
The Effect.
Gen Beaver (coTtinuins)-"Now, if there
is no taste that is perceptible in these acids
would the use of them in any quantity i'm
part to meat any such taste as is de-
scribed?"
Prot Clarke-'I should say not"
Gen. Beaver Qaying down the report)-
''Then we have disposed of that
Prof Clarke was thanked and excused.
Paymaster Hicks Testifes
Paymas:er Thos. H. Hicks, U. S. N, as
sistant storekeeper at the New York navy
yard, preceded Prof. Clarke on the witness
stand. eli is q black haired, darkroom
plexioned young man, looking much like
a foreigner, and has a brisk business like
way or talking and acting.
Yesterdays Late Testimony.
At the afternoon session yesterday DR..
Daily underwent a rather severe cross-ex-
animation, especially on the subject of the
date on which he had reported as to his
suspicious in regard to the beef and why
he had not reported sooner.
DR.. Daily said ne had never discussed with
any officer the subject of bad beef. Instead
OF commenting on such matters he had
rather attempted to allay discomfort with
the meat. While at Chickamauga he had
found meat which appeared to have been
treated as indicated in his report
If the government was supplied with
chemically prepared beef, he was asked,
did he not think that the government had
been fraudulently dealt with
Dr. Daily replied that in his judgment
when such beef had been supplied by con-
tractors il had not been with fraudulent in
tent. The persons supplying the beef prob
ably considered the preparations used no
more harmful than salt. He had not ar
rived at the conclusions he did until after
tests Instead of weakening his position,
each test made him less willing to recant
any statements he had made.
DR.. Daiy was questioned closely in regard
to The examination of an extract of beef
which he said he had made and which. he
said. resulted in a disclosure of the char
acteristics Of bOrax and salicylic acid. He
stated that the kettle from which the ex-
tract was taken was perfectly clean and
the fluid was transferred to a perfectly
clean glass bottle. The beef used in making
the extract was of the ''refrigerated'' va
riety.
An Unmi~tnkabIe Odor.
At Jacksonville he had inspected meat
which. while of good appearance. had IAN
unnistakable odor." The cooks there said
that much seasoning was required to over
come the unpalatableness of the cooked
meat
The weather in Cuba and Porto Rico was
always warm, said DIR. Daily In answer to
another line of interrogatory. This how
ever. did not mean that similar means