The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-27
The MEAT INQUIRY.
Governor Roosevelt Gives Some
Emphatic Evidence
IN REGARD TO CANNED BEEF
At its Best, It was Unpalatable and
Unwholcsomc = Designated by the
Commander of tho Rough Riders as
Utterly Unfit for the use OF Troops.
Investigation Nearing tho End.

StNiht &htkSii su.|Sols hGO-
dore Roosevelt, colonel OF the Rough
Riders. appeared before the court of in
QuIry yesterday. and told what he knew
es the result Of actual experience about
the quality of beef that was sent to SOL
dlcrs in the field under contracts made
By the war department. This court OF
inquiry has been sitting In Washington.
Chicago, Omaha, Kansas City and other
places. but the session OF yesterday was
the first that has been held in New
York.
There was nothing sensational in the
statement Of Governor Roosevelt. Talk
ing Us Il soldier. and not as. u politician,
he recited without embellishment the
simple facts which were within his
knowledge. Yet the court of inquiry
has not had before it One witness who
has done more to sustain the charges
OF General Miles. that the canned roast
beef sent out to the soldiers of the
army Of the United States was abso-
lutely unfit for consumption.
Colonel Roosevelt appeared before the
board at II o'clock. Major General
Wade. president Of the board, an
nounced that Colonel Roosevelt would
be the only witness examined on Man.
haitian Island for. the present; that
some witnesses would be heard on Gov
errors Island, and that the court OF
inquiry would then return to Washing
ton. and that no further testimony
might be taken here.
Does this mean?" he was asked,
that the court Of inquiry has taken all
the testimony that it deems necessary,
4l~~S l. 1t sx% 80 I, .afgs
the New York regiments, that went to
the war, is TO be dispensed with?"
I'VE will not call any OF the officers
OF the volunteer regiments now" he re-
piled. Whether We will come back
and examine them later I cannot say"
Col. Roosevelt was effusirely greeted
BY the army officers. The taking of
his testimony was an exceedingly sim
pie matter He told his story in his
characteristic, straightforward manner,
and was Interrupted by very few ques-
tons.
When was the first complaint you
hard OF the rations?" asked Colonel Da-
Wis.
May I answer that in my own way?"
asked the governor.
Certainly"
We'll. it was aboard ship at Tampa.
I saw man throwing away can of
so-caled roast beef. asked what
was the matter. and he said he could
not eat Il. l thought no more OF the
matter until | heard that complaints
were being made on all sides. Then I
made inqu!ries. and was told that the
roast beef was only part OF the regular
rdtions. and that only the volunteers
were complaining. spoke to Colonel
Wood about it. and he said 1t was the
regular ration. I ate mouthful or
Two myself but did not like it: could
not eat It."
what did the meat look llke?" asked
Colonel Davis. f'f
When the cans were opened there
was covering of slime. 1t was unat-
tractive. The meat was strinSy, and
Il did not agree with the men who
ate It,"
Could you not eat it when served
with onions and potatoes?"
Il think at that time I could have
eaten my nat il l could have had onions
and potatoes. The men would have
eaten anything with fresh vegetables
They stewed the meat with mangos and
ate 1t. Some OF the men seemed to
eat the meat without difficulty or dis
tress, but 1t was not suitable for sick
or half sick men," e.
when did you begin receiving re-
frigerated beef?" asked Colonel Davis.
About July %, when ashore about u
month"
What was the condition of supplies
when you received them?"
Their condition. as rule. was good.
The outside was somewhat bad, but 1t
seemed awfully good to u.s."
bad?"
Il can't exactly say, bat doubt II
there were more than two or three is
sues when the proportion was bad"
Had you reason to believe that the
refrigerated beef was treated with
chemicals before you received it,"
Il never though about 1t until I re-
turned home. The meat seemed good
TO US. We ate 1t. and enjoyed 1t. 1t
did undoubtedly give the men diar-
rhoea.'
What was issued to the men on
their voyage home as travel ration?"
The canned roast beef"
10 what extent was 1t acceptable?"
1t was utterly and hopelessly unac-
~ceptable."
Governor Roosevelt said he had sub
mitted reports regarding the rations
sHtOuou tHe TeSuIlF army cNInNelS IN
July and again on September 10. These
reports were omitted from the pub
!ished records OF the war department.
but would be printed. he said. in the
next report.
hajor Lee applied to the court to or
der copy OF Governor Roosevelts re-
port to be made part of the minueS
OF the procdeeings. General Wade ruled
IN compliance with the notion
Eugene Alexander. OF the quarter
masters department. who was on Cen
eraf kent's staff In Cuba, was the first
witness at the Governors Island scs-
sion. He said the cans OF roast beef,
when opened. presented Selatinous,
%hitish mass with some hbrous looking
meat beneath. which looked as IL 1t had
been boiled.
Was the meat good to eat?" asked
Colonel Davis.
The majority OF the contents of the
cans saw could not be eaten. The
men refused to cat It," replied the wit
ness.
Ar. Alexander said the greater part OF
me refrigerated beef appeared very
fair.
The men complained they could eat
only very small portion OF each can OF
roast beef, II any at all" continued the
witness. Under the conditions that
surrounded US, 1t was OF no use to COM
plain. 1t could not be bettered. Per.
Een3 six or eight ounces of the con-