The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-16
THE ARMY beef INVESTIGATION.


The country has naturally wondered why
Il should be necessary for the beef inquiry
court to go West and spend days inspect
ing the great packeries in a matter simply
involving the question whether certain
beef furnished the army was unit for use
II was not a question where the beef came
from nor by what method prepared. but
simply whether 1t was rotten. or unnutri-
ticus. or otherwise unit as a food.
The reason for this visit to the big pack
cries and stock yards is gradually being
disclosed. however. The board Of Inquiry
was not so much intended to fix cuipabilty
upon the war department for furnishing
disease breeding meat to the army az to
yindieate, II possible. the great stockyard
and packing Interests which have been put
under a cloud by the serious charges made
against the meat supplied under army con
tracts. The chlcaso News gives the Ink
ling Of What Is eSpeeted OF this army board
when II says cditorlally
This bret inquiry has assumed very large
Proportions. us result VII prob ipy hay
40 lmtS rIapi btaiins upon tle fl,uIe 0i ole
Of the ~ eatss. itaabtr1es of rhe c1untry. 'rde
thcaku iO0its engaged IN ths meat ttnds d .
a bullnes9 OF lcinctnlng ike t5gJ,tviUJl Il
year. ne ptoductitl OF tne raw ma erials
OF this trade ~ mere important to the aarl-
cultural interests oil tns u5dntry than tie
Whole whcat cicp. Tho question OF the prices
turns Very largely upon the export tra1e. A
great turplus OF meats Is prodnc 4 hare All
the demand for that surplus FOR export LARGE
~ Axes the price tor the whole product
Agricultural intcrests In EUROPE very nat
uraiy regard American meats with much
Jealousy. Everything TO tho disadynataSt Of
d he kad
ahtcad ard made tie basis OF demands for
piohioitory LEGISLATION rno inaustry hs
es es a put On ltiaI =. 10 the eyes Of the word
which the trial Is beiug held Its report
must DO framed IN the ligAt OF that fact as
Wen IS with regard to the specific charges
! hought before II.
The public AT large Will be rejoiced, Of
course, al any honest official report that
will benont this great industry. hut Il
would be criminal to subordinate the "spe-
ciic charges brought before the board 10
the interests OF the few big Arms that
control the stockyards In Chicago, Kansas
City and Omaha This Nation can not at
ford in it's comparative youth and vigor TO
initiate deeaying France and cover up gov
eminent delinquences for the good of the
State or the honor OF tho army" or the
profit OF any large commercial interest We
are still possessed OF sufficient vitality TO
reform abuses, but they can not be re-
formed unless mercilessiy exposed,
II is not improbable, indeed II is almost
certain. that some OF the big paekeries,
under rush orders, and without tho fear of
a close inspection. worked off the most OBJ
teetionable kind of meat products upon the
army, while rlling their usual commercial
orders In the usual way. ana especially
those orders from abroad where the in.
speciicn was known to be rigid The tes-
tlmons begins to give this color to the
subject Of inquiry and the army board VIII
surprise a large portion OF the American
public IL II fails to report that such an.
pears TO have been the case. and that The
contractors aud commisssry department,
were equally guilty in the premises.
NO good citizen desires TO see the beet
industry receive black eye, SO to speak
but no such citizen wants to see a publ,
outrage and maifeasance In Office covered
up in the interest OF the beef combine.
we shall expect fearless and honest re.
port from the army court until we sec Il
the contrary The public can not be de.
ceived and mere whitewash would neithe,
benefit the war department nor the pack.
cry interests.