The times., 1899-04-19
PROBABLE VERDICT
OF THE BEEF COURT
1t Will Find That Chemicals
We're Not Used.
Reasoning on Which the Report
Will Be Based.
DIR. DnIy's Testimony Discredited
and DIR. Currie's Evidence Hell.
10 Have Been Contrndictcd.

II the forecast OF the findings of the
Beef Court, given to The Times by persons
closely in the confidence of the Admins
tration, and, it should be added. interested
in the exculpation of Alger, Eagan. and
the War Department ring generally, be
correct then the country is to be
treated to an exhibition of official white
washing. and of bold and impudent de-
fiance Of evidence and fact. compared with
which the verdict of the contemplate
Alger Relief Commission was truthful and
yirtuous.
1t would appear from what follows that
the damning testimony of l47 army
officers is to be ignored: that the conclu-
siye proof of irregularity. inefficiency, and
corruption in connection with the army's
food supply is to be whistled down the wind,
and that the convincing evidence of Sur
geon Major Daily and Lieutenant Colonel
Currie as to the Decentralization of the
refrigerated beef ration is to be totally
discredited. According to our information,
no attention is to be paid TO the corre-
spondenre through which II has Teen sho Hn
that an emtalming process was the basis
of fresh beef contracts, nor to the uncon-
tradlcted allegation that contracts were
made on the request of Alger. Neither
does the Court, as the story comes TO this
paper, propose to find any fault with the
wholesale purchase OF filthy canned pulp
the residuum of the beef extract process,
without inspection and in violation of
Army regulations. All these things which,
in countries less Indifferent TO the poison
ing and killing of common soldiers for the
financial benefit of somebody, would SEND
a lot of rriscreants to the gaiieys, If not
TO the gallows We are told will be boldly
lodged. whitewashed or buried, by the
Army Court OF Enquiry. The event VIII
show whether or not the hopes Oh the
department ring and its outside connec-
tions are we'll founded. If they should
prove TO be otherwise that will be matter
for surprise and qualification on the part
of The Times its readers, and all decent
Americans. The story, then, as IL is pre-
sented 10 us by partisans OF Eagan, VINO
appear 10 have still the inside track at
the War Department in many matters,
makes one of the most disgraceful ana
scandalous chapters in the history oil this
Administration.
IL can be said in passing that General
Miles and his friends are not dismayed
The end is not yet. They will be heard
from again. The American people are not
all fools whatever Alger and few others
may think.
General Miles supporters. however. pre-
fer 10 await the official report of the Beef
Court before commenting upon it. Enough
is known, however. TO convince them that
they cannot hope to obtain fair treatment
at the hands of the Court.
II is probable that the Beef Court will
no, vindicate General Miles.
The Court. In the report which IL VIII
present to the Secretary OF War, viii prob
ably fsnd that the refrigerated beef fur
nished 10 the army by Swift. Armour. and
Nj. rrrfu 4 IN xra M M
ed. Il will find that canned roast beef was
not satisfactory as a meat component OF
the ration-not because this meat was es-
sentially unfit for food, and not because il
was innutririous, bat because the purpose
for which this article OF food was made
q part OF the ration was not strictly adher-
ed 20. Canned roast beef was intended to be
used as a meat component of the ener-
geney ration and not as q part Of the field
ration The meat proved unsatisfactory
because II was issued to certain commands
for too long period.
The Miles Interviews.
Or February / various interviews alleged
TO have been given by General Miles ap-
pcared throughout the United States.
General Miles was quoted as having said:
Never before in the history of our
wars has the army been refused fresh beef
ltiiNtItu vi ncOt luutl
Grant, and Sheridan cattle were delivered
at the front and were driven along with
the army. TO be slaughtered from day to
day at the points where fresh beef was
needed for food.
THE embalmed beef for our army in
The Spanish war. and said to be an expert
ment was never heard OF before in any
war or any country.
The ordinary beef sold for home con-
II.
when the packing house finds larger sup
ply on hand than can be kept.
But the beef sent to our soldiers was
loaded and saturated with chemicals. yari-
Gus acids. which made them sick. filled
the mems systems with poison. uniting
them for fighting or campaign work.
Those who were in camp relieved of the
hardships and exposures of marching under
the tropical sun suffered even more than
the men in the field.
Il have no interests to serve but the
army of the country. When / found that
il was chemicals In the bsef that had made
the soldiers sick. then ordered an investi
CATION and reports to be sent in. So wide
spread is the evil that all the reports are
not yet in They are coming every day.
They are overwhelmingly OF the same
character-all showing that the beef had
been embalmed and was otherwise unfit
for use by men or dogs.
Half million pounds OF this beef came
to Porto Rico in one ship. The beef was
SO bad that it would have caused pesti-