The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-30
CANNED ROAST BEEF FAULTY
NOT SUITABLE FOR CONTINUOUS USE
By THE SOLDIERS.
Four Treasury Warrants OF 81. .0O0,oo
Each Ora I'm Favor Of spain to
Pay for the Philippines.


WASHINGTON, April %. = The wads
court of inquiry to-day concluded It's work
In connection with The allegations of General
Miles concerning the beef supplied to the
army during the war with Spain. Tile report
was signed AZ 2:ao p. m. by every member
Of the board and soon afterward tie MEM
bers of the court left the building whers
all the meetings in this city have been held
Colonel Davis the recorder of the court.
carried the official copy OF the fnaings 10
the War Department. and in the absence OF
Secretary Alger delivered 1t to sctirs Secre-
tary Meikeljohn. Mr.. Meikejohn immedi-
ately sealed the document in snvelope
and forwarded IL 10 the White House,
whence it was dispatched forthwith 10 the
President in New York. The report con-
tains about $1,000 words and goes fzlly into
the questions which have been raised in
connection with the army beef. The text
has not been made public, and will not be
until after the President has read IT. Ii will
then rest with him TO say when the report
shall be given to the public The verdict.
however, is known to be that the charges
which General Miles made before the war
investigation commission are not sustained
in reference to the refrigerated llesf. AL
though his contention that the canned rosse
beef was not suitable continuous alton ls
admitted. There is direct criticism OF Gen.
eral Miles for falling to promptly srip7u1
the attention Of thu War Departing
reports made TO him concerning bid beef.
and several individuals are ceas'lred for
failing to observe the proprettes pf their
positions as commanding officers in this and
other respects.
The forecast OF the report. as made by the
Associated Press on the 18th inst, was an
accurate one. AS was then stated. the court
takes the position that the Testimony is
conclusive that both the refrigerated beef
and the canned beef were In good condition
when delivered to the government and con-
tinued so until issued TO the troops except
In especial instances where the deterioration
was due to accidental conditions In trans
portation or to the Influences OF the tropical
climate. The report admits the la oility of
refrigerated beef to taint quickly sitter re-
moval from the ice chests. The court finds
the charges of "embalming" the fresh beef
to have been unsubstantiated by tie testi-
mony, and says no chemicals were used TO
preserve it. 1t also finds that 1t would
have been impractcable to secure beef On
the hoof for the Cuban campaign The md
ing is likewise In opposition 10 the asser-
ton on the part of General Miles that tho
use OF the beef was an experiment.
Much attention is given to. the charges
concerning the canned roast beef and II Is
stated that the testimony proves II 70 have
been wholesome and nutritious where used
In moderation and under favorable circum-
stances The position is taken that too
much Of this article OF food was supplied To
the men and that under the circuu stances
il was unpalatable and found undesirabis
as a continuous ration. The fact is sec
forth that the canned roast beef had noo
been used to any appreciable extent before
the beginning Of this war. and IL is there's
fore regarded as a practically untried ration
In view OF this fact the commissary general
OF subsistence is roundly criticised for the
purchase OF the meat in such extensive
quantities AS to the character OF the meat
for whoesomeness and nutrition. the re-
ports of Professors Atwater and Chittenden
are quoted at length. sustaining the claims
I'm this respect.
The instructions OF the President are fol-
lowed closely in order and all the points in~
dicated by him as being those upon which
he desired that inquiry should be made sraN
covered. Accordingly the court fnos that
the meat was not -doctored;" that IL was
the beef OF commerce; that there was no
more neglect than was incident TO tie hur-
ried preparation for the war; that he in-
spection, while generally according 10 reg
ulations, was not always up to the require-
rents and that the sickness OF the troops
was not to any great degree occasioaed by
the use OF either the canned or the refri9-
rated beef.
on the other hand, Il is found that Gen.
Miles himself did not report during the war
that the beef, either refrigerated or canned.
was unfit as a ration. Other officers who
gave their testimony before the court were
found also to have neglected what the court
conceIyes to have been their duty In this
respect and all are blamed for this faiiSTe-
But the court does not think further pro-
ceedings necessary.
At the request OF the secretary OF state
the Treasury Department to-day drew four
diplomatic settlement warrants for sSoOSo
each I'm discharge OF the treaty obligations
OF the United States to Spain The warrants
directed the treasurer OF the United States
10 pay these several sums TO his Exeellency.
Jules Cambon, ambassador extraordinary
and plenipotentiary OF France. representa-
tive OF the government OF Spain. The war;
rants were signed by r. A Vanderlip. az
sistant secretary of the treasury: f. j.
Tracewel controller. by c. NJ Force. chiee
clerk, and by Ellis III. Roberts. treasurer.
who directed the assistant treasurer OF the
United States at New York 10 pay thsz4.
II was Mr. vanderlips intention &C. pcs-
sonally deliver the warrants 20 the secre-
tary OF state this afternoon and form oe
receipt had been prepared for NJ. Cambon's
signature but Mr.. Hay left his once ear