The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-14
Latter All Positive that No Acids Are
Used in Preparing Any Kind Of
Meat for the Market.
TWO GRADES OF CANNED BEEF
BUT SCARCELY ANY DIFFERENCE IN
THE QUALITY, 1T Is SAID.
Complaints Due to the Fact that No
Hot weather Affected the Meat.

CHICAGO. March 1s.-Rapid progress was
made to-day by the army court Of inquiry
investigating the beef controversy. Nearly
q dozen witnesses were examined three OF
them being inspectors of the government Bu-
reau OF Animal Industry, and the rest OF
them employees In various capacities at sew
eral Chicago packing houses. Colonel Da-
Wis, recorder OF the court, stated tonight
that he was unable to Approximate the
length OF time it would take TO exhaust the
list OF Chicago witnesses but IL seems likely
that two er three days will be required and
possibly the entire week before the menu
bers OF the court can leave for Kansas City.
Edward Tillman, who is treasurer and one
OF the directors of the Libby, Mcneil S
Libby Packing Company, was the first wit
ness called to-day. Referring TO the grade
OF stock reported in the newspapers as
Gamers he said II understand that it
refers to cheap grade OF cattle, but so far :
as the packing houses are concerned, H. -is
misnomer, and does not signify any
thing" Witness said this class of beef for
canning weighed about a thousand pounds,
live weight. Generally, the forequarters are
used for canning.
Major Lee asked: "It is not a matter OF
fact that you can what might be termed the
NO, sir; 1t is matter OF fact that we
can the best part Of the forequarters-the
chuck"
rs it not fact that chucks were sold to
the troops at Watertown. n. Y. and other
points for cents pound?'
CHUCK BEEF IS CHOICE
IF they were, somebody must have been
very anxious to dispose of them. The mar
ket price would be about cents. The chuck
Is not by any means the worst part of the
carcass; we look on IL as one OF the choicest
parts. In fact, the forequarter of the carcass
is the only part eaten by an orthodox Jew"
Major Lee-Then the price would depend
on the number Of Jews in the community?
No. sir: not at ALL"
Major Lee-How many different grades OF
canned beef do you prepare?
Mr.. Tiiden-Two grades OF roast beef one
grade Of corned beef.
You sold considerable OF this lower grade
to the government, did you not?"
"A very small amount We sold about
two million and a half pounds OF canned
roast beef 10 the government in ALL"
Colonel Gillespie-Where was that second
grade beef delivered?
L think it was delivered at Camp Alger.
The difference in price between the two
Il
DIR. George Little an assistant inspector
of the Bureau Of Animal Industry. who had
been on duty at various packing houses in
the stock yards, testified that about one in
five hundred cattle was condemned. II the
animal is to be entirely condemned the In
spector follows it to the rendering tank ana
sees IL put in He made no inspection OF the
tank itself nor did he inspect the refuse
when IL came out. In the case Of bruises
the bruised portions are cut of and con-
demned. Meat withdrawn from the tank
would not be suitable for food.
Have you any knowledge Of anything
withdrawn from the tanks?"
mo. sir"
Amy reason for suspecting it?''
mo, SIR
Have you ever had any occasion TO be-
lieve or suspect that chemicals were used
for the preservation OF beef?'
mo, SIR
Have you any jurisdiction as to chemi-
cals?"
mo. SIR"
ACIDS MIGHT BE USED.
IF beef were rubbed down with cloths
containing boracic acid 1t would not be q
matter within your jurisdiction"
mo, SIR
how the meat was cut up prior to putting
1t into the rendering tank, saying Il would
be possible for a small quarter to be put in
whole.
Are COWS that have recently given birth
to calves condemned?"
'Yes, within a certain length or time"
What is the limit?"
Mine days after delivery, or up to within
a month prior to delivery.
Major Lee-Then cow carrying a calf
seven months would go in and not be con-
demned?
YES"
Are not COWS habitually used in the can
ming establishment"
THE larger portion OF Gamers are cows
Colonel Davis-What is the purpose OF
your inspection?
ITO guard against diseased meats"
"You consider COW seven months with
a calf just as good and wholesome as one
that is not with calf seven months?"
'An things being considered, yes"
In reply TO Major Lee the witness stated
that some OF the houses kill cattle the same
day they arrive, while others held them for
two days.
DR. o. r. Dyson, who has been an IN
spector at the yards since 1888, was next
called. lie said his duties were TO look
after the other inspectors and see that they
do their duty. He had twenty-five or thirty
men TO look after, and had reported only
two in year for negligence One came
late and the other was intoxicated. An
interval" he said. might lapse between
the going on and the coming of Of an in
spector, but We are supposed TO be very
strict in regard to that"
~F'rom your observation would It be pos