Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-23
DAILY ON "EMBALM NED BEEF"
Author Of the Famous Charge Before "iles
Court of Inquiry.
GIVE ATTACKED PERSONS NOTICE OF TRIAL
Commissnry Eapan is to He Called
Today and IL IL Expected Will
Furnish Interesting Chap
ter on Beef.


WASHINGTON. Feb. 22.-Today's proceed
ings of the court investigating the beef
controversy developed little that was new.
TIE testimony, with the exception of that of
DR.. DAILY, surgeon on the staff of General
Miles during the war, and OF Colonel Wood
ruff. assistant commissary general, was gen.
orally in line with that OF yesterday. The
cannes roast beef was generally condemned
as unsatisfactory, while the refrigerated
beef was commended. the chief complaint be-
ing that 1t often decomposed en- route to
camp. The testimony of representatives Of
the subsistence department was begun, that
Of Colonel Woodruff, assistant commissary
general, being the most notable. He pur-
chased more than 500, 900 pounds of canned
beef aud told of-the method of purchase and
the reasons that prompted it. He took issue
with General Miles contention that beef on
the hoof was the usual source of fresh meet
supply to the army.
Another feature OF the day was the intro
ductlon of DR.. DAILY, who charged before the
War commission that refrigerated beef at
Chickamauga, Jacksonville, Tampa and in
Porto Rico had been treated chemically. He
was not examined, however. in regard TO
this Charge, Colonel Davis announcing that
the contractors who were attacked were en-
titled to be notified of the examination upon
this point and that they will be given ample
time in which to appear should they decide
to do so. The law requires this, he said.
Accordingly DR.. DAILY was excused after a
partial examination and will be recalled
later. The investigation will proceed tomor-
row, Wien General Eagan, former commits
sary general, is expected to appear and tell
the story of the beef supply as viewed by
his department.
When the court met this morn
ing Colonel Davis, the recorder, an
nounced that the examination of
witnesses so far summoned and re-
ported was about concluded. The court
should consider now, he thought, the ques-
tions of further summons and procedure
and at his suggestion the court went into
secret session.
Daily Is Called.
When the executive session concluded DR..
William H. Daily Of Pittsburg, who was
major and chief surgeon of volunteers dur
ing the war, and who testified before the
commission that he had discovered by chem
ical analysis boraxic and salycilic acid in re-
frigerated beef furnished the army, was in
troduced. His examination by the recorder
was conducted slowly and with great care,
l developing with minuteness all Of Dr.. Daly's
duties while attached to General Miles
staff. These besides those of an army surgeon
consisted in making special reports to Cen
eral Miles on camp sites, water supply and
the like. The recorder very carefully de-
veloped the fact that most OF these reports
were verbal or Geographic, therein differing
from the now famous meat report which
was the cause OF DR.. Daily being summoned
as a witness. Therein the examination diff
fered considerably from that of the previ-
GUS witness.
Colonel Davis addressed the court briefly
saying that it was only within twenty-foul
hours that he had been able personally tc
study this report of DR.. Daily, and he found
therein. certain allegations against certain
persons who had made contracts for supply
ing food material to the government. TIC
continue the examination Of the witness or
this subject in the absence of those per-
sons against whom his charges were di'
rected would be to deprive them Of rights
accorded them by law. He therefore sug
gested that the other parties interested Cthe
meat contradictory, should be given rea-
sonable notice of the proceedings and thai
the witness be excused subject to recall
when the examination could be continued
with the other interested parties present.
Prior to leaving the stand, however, DR.
DAILY was examined in regard to the Powell
experiment with beef preservatives a
Tampa, Colonel Davis pointing out thai
it was merely experimental and no con,
tractor was involved. DR.. DAILY said ]. I
Weston called his attention to a quarter
Of beef which was hanging on q transport
and which Colonel Weston said had beer
for sixty hours in the open, and he wa!
waiting to see what would eventuate.
DR.. DAILY did not recall anything of Col,
onel Weston's statement indicating the bee
was other than a part of the general sup
ply, or that it had been treated with
chemical as an experiment. He noticed tina
flies would not remain on the beef and tina
no larvae were deposited. He thought tina
strange, and that beef would not putrif,
in the Tampa air after sixty hours ex
posture. Witness finally cut a piece from
the beef and later cooked and ate it. Afte
riding horseback he became nauseated. IL
did not suspect preservatives on the beef
although his taste suggested an experience
he had with antelope some years befor,
while hunting. An analysis divulged tn
presence of boric and s~alycilic acids.
In regard to the Tampa experience DR.
DAILY said 1t did not arouse any suspicion
he did not look upon the incident as a gov
eminent experiment, and did not feel callel
! upon to report or take any official actor
VA ~ a. ave ~ 'ilhiS hptbHh thShi an
replying to Colonel Gillespie said he frs
considered his Tampa experience sufficient,
serious to present to the department whel
: he had experience with contract beef on tn
Panama. DR.. DAILY was then excused.
Lieutenant Cole, Sixth cavalry, who wa
: also aboard the Rio Grande, which CARRIE
: General Summers headquarters and the fou
! experiment quarters OF beef to Cuba, wa
much clearer in his recollection of the bee
, quarters than Captain Beckman. 1t was h
, said, from some firm OF meat packers,
and was sent expressly for experimental us
by the soldiers with the knowledge that |
was chemically prepared. The beet Taste,
only three days after which 1t decayed an
, was thrown overheard. Some of it wa
I cooked before IL spoiled.
q Witness saw the piece cooked but did no
, eat it. 1t looked well and the men VIII
, tasted 1t said 1T was all right" The Off
GERS discussed it freely but none of then
!, knew how the beef had been treated, tn
4 process being secret. The beef that spoile,
became very offensive and exuded darl
coagulated blood.
Lieutenant Cole said he ate SOM of tn