The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-22
The Regiment tn BE Reviewed ny tho
President on May q. and spend n
Few Hours i'm sight-secinE.
JOHN SHERMAN MUCH BETTER
WAN AND THIN. But ABLE TO VISIT
THE WHITE HOUSE.
Concession to Porto Ricnns-The Fer
sian Mission Declined by Ex-Gov-
ernor Lord. of Oregon.

WASHINGTON, April 2l.-The Wade
court of inquiry devoted to-day's session to-
reviewing testimony and tonight held an
other session for the purpose OF reading re-
ports, letters. depositions and other papers
bearing on the beef investigation. The most
interesting matter developed was President
Mckinley's instructions TO the court of in
quiry which were delivered To the members
OF the court on Feb - last. These instruc-
tions were read by Colonel Davis. in order
TO make them part OF the record and are
as follows:
The character and quality Of the meat,
refrigerated and canned, furnished TO the
army; how purchased; how shipped to the
soldiers; if good, when shipped; what the
of its deterioration. il any?
If the meat was doctored, did the COM
missary general or any Of his officers have
any knowledge Of il or means OF knowi-
edge?
Was it the meat OF commerce?
WAS it inspected by the government in
spectors as provided by law?
WAS il an authorized ration in the army?
"If good when purchased. what made it
bad?
Was it anybody's neglect or fault. and if
so, whose?
When unfit for use If you should find.
was the fact made known 10 the War De-
partment; when and by whom2
IF. after leaving the depot commissary.
il was not cared for and properly preserved,
whose fault?
WAS it a suitable ration for the cam
paigns in Cuba and Porto Rico?
Was there anything better that was
practicableg
Would IT have been prudent for our
IN I'm
Santiago and Porto Rico without the pre-
served meats, either refrigerated or canned,
with which they were supplied?
Gould the army with any certainty rely
On the cattle on the hoof on these islands7
Did the commanding officers IN Santiago
or Porto Rico or the major general COM
mandng report during the war that either
the refrigerated or canned beef was an UNFIT
ration?
when were these reports first made and
by whom?
'If the allegations of the major general
commanding are established, want the
court to find the cause and fix the respon-
sibility for the fact. that TIE guilty may
be properly punished.
did the cattle in Porto Rico make a
wholesome ration?'
IF the packers Of the country are guilty
it must be known.
If the officers of the commissary Depart
ment are guilty it must be known.
If any officer OF the army is guilty it
must be known"
Both Major Lee and Colonel Davis sub
mitted a number of reports and mass or
correspondence. Among the documents read
by Colonel Davis letter from the
Washington attorneys Of Messrs. Armour
Ttrpa aff he
tract for beef had been let. asking for a
reconsideration OF the subject in the inter-
est of their clients and an Endorsement by
General Eagan as commissary general OPP
posing the request. IN their letter the at
torneys represented that the Armours con-
trolled the Powell process for the treatment
OF meat and that this fact gave them such
an advantage in the preservation or fresh
beef as TO justify the war department in
disregarding the difference I'm price and
awarding them the contract In his ind0rse-
ment General Eagan referred TO the letter
Of the attorneys as a special pleading
and said there was no reason in this plea
why the subject should be reopened- The
tests made by Armour * Co. are not only
tests that have been made, he said. and
there is no doubt whatever I'm my mind but
that the beef can be furnished as required"
This document was introduced by Colonel
Davis to show that General Eagan had not
been influenced by the representations con-
cerning the Powell process.
Major Lee submitted deposition by j. 5.
Armstrong, president Of the Armstrong
Packing Company. of Dallas. Tex. which
among other things set forth the substancs
of a conversation with General Eagan. Mr..
Armstrong was one OF the bidders for beef
In block and said that while he here
In Washington he discussed with Gen.
eral Eagan the question OF beef being
kept for seYenty-tw0 hours after be-
ing taken from the refrigerator. Mr.. Arm
strong said he expressed the opinion that
il was impossible, 10 which General Eagan
replied that Swift * CO. and Armour both
had knowledge OF a process by which beef
could be kept for that length OF time.
HOLSTERS TO BE REVIEWED.