The record-union., 1899-03-15
Board Investigating Army Rations
Making Good Progress,
But There Are Yet Many Witnesses to Be
Examined at Chicago.
Colonel Smith, Government Pur-
chasing Agent at Chicago,
Testifies That the Stores OF
Canned Roast Beef Purchased
by Him During the Late War
Were All Under the Direct
Order Of General Eagan.

OTdeE or GeueTax 6aSa0s
CHICAGO, March 14.-Colonel o. NJ
Smith, purchasing agent of the Gov
eminent at Chicago since 1895, testified
to-day before the Government court ol
inquiry that the stores of canned roast
beef bought by him during the Span
ish war were all under the direct order
of General Eagan, the Commissary Cen
elal He also stated that some pur-
chases of canned beef were made with
out his knowledge by the Commissary
General.
Another of the days important VII
nesses was G. F. Swift, head OF the
packing house of Swift & Co.
-. Good progress was made by the court
to-day, but the end of the list OF wit
nesses to- be examined in Chicago is not
yet in sight.
TESTIMONY AT YESTERDAYS
HEARING.
CHICAGO, March 14.-In the army
beef investigation to-day Captain Z. r.
Aspinwan, Assistant Quartermaster
and acting commissary of volunteers
during the Spanish war, in command
of the transport Manitoba, testified tha'
he took on board at Newport News
1855 quarters of refrigerated beef. The
Manitoba left Newport News August
9th, and arrived off Ponce August 10Th.
She ran aground three miles out, ana
remained there three days and a hail.
"A representative of Swift & Co. was
on the ship in charge Of the beef as
refrigerator engineer.
Upon arriving at Ponce witness re-
ported to General Gilmore the stores
he had on board, telling him he had a
large consignment of refrigerated beef.
The Chief Engineer had expressed some
fear about the safety of the meat, OF
the pipes becoming clogged with sand
on account of the grounding OF the
ship, which might interfere with the
operation of the refrigerator plant
Witness reported about the meat to
General Gilmore General Gilmore
looked up smiling and said: You had
better throw it overheard; we have no
use for it; we can get all the beef we
want here
The witness continued: II said that
it was the best of beef, and I did not
care to take any such course as that
unless ordered to-"
You an order to that effect"
WAS any beef landed there?"
mot at that time
Witness stated that the ship went
from Ponce to Miowa. He reported to
Captain Davidson, the depot quarter
master and the depot commissary, who
said he would like to have some of the
beef for the troops. In the morning
lighter came alongside and an issue OF
fresh beef was made for the first time.
The beef was taken ashore. Witness
asked the commissary about it the next
day. The conmissary said that he was
delighted with the meat, but he said
that some had been taken fifteen miles
in the interior, and did not reach its
destination until o'clock in the after
noon, when 1t was spoiled.
But" the commissary said, that
was no fault of the beef. The beef
was used there from day to day until
the ship left on August 31st, when the
witEess was ordered to Ponce. In the
office of the depot quartermaster he
met Lieutenant Colonel Smith, who
said You have some fresh beef on
board, and / am here to assist you in
issuing it, We Immediately proceeded
to make arrangements SO that it could
be issued to the troops. We arranged
to open the boxes at o'clock in the
morning, SO that the troops would get
1t early, but by some mistake the first
issue was made at 5 o'clock in the af-
ternoon. The meat was taken ashore
and kept until the following morning
before being issued to the troops.
II made inquiries of different COM
manders.'' said the witness. about the
meat while remained there, and all
that talked with, with one exception,
We're pleased with the beef. Major
Birmingham, in command of the gen.
eraf hospital, said It was the best beef
he had had, but Colonel Foster of the
Sixth Illinois. whose regiment was sta
toned six or seven miles in the inte-
rior. said the beef when 1t reached his
command, about 2 o'clock in the after
noosi. the first days issue was spoiled.
But he did not consider that anything
Against the beef, as he said it was a
hong time after 1t had been taken out
Of the reff1gerators. He remained at
MfoWa until September Sth, and then
wes ordered to take some troops to
New York
The witness stated that he had APP
pxcximAte1y on board when he left
Newport News 100000 pound of meat,
* Which 5000 pounds had been issued.
~ Whose orders did you make the
Xo36x9 to New York?''
q feceived my orders from the de-
DQ< ~ orte<xne1fer.a =
~ = known to him that there was
o<ri 1c6zlled beef aboard and not
. ~ "a
yxn q a. eommissArys''
loN1 X - commandlns