The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-04
BOARD OF SURVEY MEETS
Investigation of Army Beef
Begun Yesterday.
GEN. MILES ALSO ACTIVE
While other officials Pcruse Docu-
Secure Confirmation of His State
rnents-su Over "EmbaImcd" Meats
The Board FormuIaIes n Plan.

The first meeting of the board of survey
appointed last week by Secretary Alger to
investigate The loss of certain cargo of
canned and refrigerated beef, furnished
the Government by Swift & Co., of Chicago,
and sent to Porto Rico, to be fed to
American soldiers, was held yesterday in
the building at the corner of Seventh and
L Streets northwest, occupied by the pay
masters Office of the War Department.
Nothing was done during the day except
to map out a plan of procedure. There is
great mass of documentary evidence
which the board will have to dispose of
before it begins to take verbal testimony.
The board consists of Col. James NJ.
Moore. assistant quartermaster, chairman;
Col. Bates. assistant surgeon general; Col.
Francis Guenther, Fourth United States
Artillery. and Capt. L. C. Sherrer, assist
amt adjutant general. recorder. Col.
Charles p. Alden, assistant surgeon gen.
eraI was originally chairman of the board,
but owing to the departure yesterday for
Cuba of Surgeon General Sternberg he was
compelled to take charge of the office and
Colonel Bates took his place on the board,
Colonel Moore, as the senior officer, becom
ing chairman.
The board of survey was appointed as a
result Of the controversy which arose be-
tween Mai. Gen. Nelson A Miles and Com
missary General Eagan, after the formers
testimony before the Alger Relief Commits
sion, during which he said that the beef
sent to the troops in Porto Rico was re-
ported to him as smelling like 'embalmed
bodies. General Eagan Immediately pro-
tested against the evidence given by
General Miles and has been active ever
since in trying to refute it. As a result Of
his activity the board of survey was ap-
pointed
The board is charged with the task of
ascertaining the responsibility for the loss
of 300 COO pounds of beef condemned and
jettisoned as unfit for food; whether or not
due effort was made to feed it to the SOL
diers; what its condition was when ii was
received in Porto Rico; whether or not
there was evidence of any chemicals hav-
ing been used in its preparation and
whether or not the Government should
pay Swift & Co. for the loss. The meet
ings are to be held behind closed doors.
In pursuance of his plan OF vindication.
General Eagan, before the appointment of
the board, sent instructions to Lieut.. Col.
o. NJ. Smith. purchasing commissary of
the army, stationed in Chicago, TO aseer-
tain from each of the beef packing firms
in that city, which furnished meats to the
Government during the war, the exact con-
ditions of the meat which they provided.
The questions asked the beef packers were
-as follows:
State The extent Of the timed roast beef in
tustfy.
How long has this article been in use; where
used and by whomg
i ii largely used in this country; if 50,
by whom sold and the class Of people who
generally purchase it
Ii ii has been sold 10 foreign countries,
about how much and who uses ity
DO all packers make soups from the water
after cooking the timed roast beef2
Whether not the timed roast beef is
cooked much the timed corned beefg
Are any chemicals used in the processing OF
the timed roast beef2
Have any of the packers used, and if 50,
why. any scraps in putting up tins meat, and
where did they get the scraps; why these
scraps II scraps are usedg
Whether in the course Of processing or pack
ing .liis timed roast meat taiiow IS afterward
poured in. whether it IS the fat that pro
perly belongs TO and IS part OF the meat2
Do any Of the packers at any time use any
chemicals whatsoever with the refrigerated beef
If So. why.
Has any packer who has furnished reirigerat-
ed becf to the subsistence department ever, or
aurvhe-r, or to any extent, used any chemi-
csa~ OF any kind whatsoever in the treatment Of
refrigerated beef
Whether any chemicals whatsoever touch the
meat itseli2
has the meat ever been treated by any chem
ical process?
The replies TO thii circular letter from
Swift & Co, Libby. HcNeill & Libby, and
Nelson Morris g. Co were practically the
same as the reply published in The Times
of last Saturday from Armour & Co. All
three firms denied that any scraps were
used; that chemicals were used. or that or
that any OF the allegations made against
the meat furnished by them were true.
The Alger Relief Commission has also
settled down to an investigation of the
beef controversy, and in addition to that
third beef investigation is being made
under the direction of General Miles, who
has forwarded all the papers in his pos
session TO the inspector general of the
army. Inspector General Breckenridge
turned the documents and reports over to
Colonel Darlington. of his staff, and tele-
graphic instructions were also sent to all
the inspectors general to obtain all the in
formation they could about the quality of
the beef furnished the army and the evil
deuce showing il to have been chemically
treated by the packers
Each investigation is independent of the
other and so far no united inquiry has
been begun. General Miles has not fur
nished the Alger Relief Commission with
the information he sent to the inspector
general and the latter has not sent the
board of survey any reports furnished him
by General Miles regarding the beef on
the Manitoba, which was thrown over
board.
THAT FMpAIMTD REEF