The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-19
MAGGOTS IN THE BEEF
Testimony Taken by the Court
at Kansas City.
LA RAMBO ON THE STAND
He Testified That Many Cans We're Burst
in the Two Cars Returned From
the South-Maggots Crawl
ing on the Floor.

Kansas City, Mo-, March 1S.-The
army beef court of inquiry concluded
the taking of testimony in Kansas City
at o'clock this afternoon, when an adj
journment to meet in Fort Leaven-
worth, Kan, at 1880 o'clock in the even
ing, was taken
The court began it's session at its
headquarters in the Midland hotel at
10 o'clock in the morning Several wit
nesses were examined as to the condi-
ton Of the two cars of rejected Mobile
and Jacksonville meat, and returned to
the company's plant in this city in
June and July last. The witnesses, all
of whom We're employees in this city
of the Armour company, declared in
effect that the meat so returned from
the South was in fair condition and that
most of it had apparently not been in
spected at the camps before being re-
turned, and that after reaching here
and being reinspected by the company
it was replaced in stock. 1t was de-
clared that all meat furnished the
army during the Spanish war was dat
ed and prepared with the utmost care.
Frank S. Hastings, in charge of the salt
meat department., told of submitting
samples of bacon to the government
officials as an emergency ration, and
stating tina. but little of 1t was pur-
chased.
The court started for Leavenworth
at 4:30 o'clock in the afternoon. They
will leave there for Chicago on Sun
day evening. La Rambo, who formerly
worked in the canning department at
Armour's and who had previously tes-
titled that one time as high as 80 per
cent. CT the canned meat had been
rejected after being prepared by his
firm, was recalled in the morning. He
said while he was employed in that
department two car loads of s1o,ed
canned beef were returned from the
army. When the cars We're opened
many of the cans were found burst and
the maggOts were crawling every
where.
William Hickey, who worked in the
canning department., says a daily aver
age Of 50 cans of roast beef were re-
jected while the government order was
being prepared. The usual precautions
in its preparation were taken. The re-
jected meat was returned to the cook
room, renspected and the good repack
ed in new cases.
James Tablet had packed roast beef
in the canning department. Out of
about 800 cases handled in d day from
40 to 100 cans were rejected. He helped
unpack the meat returned from the
army. None of it was bad, except as
resulted from accidental injury to the
cans.
Henry M. Campbell, an employee of
the canning department, said that out
of about 5000 cases packed daily under
his supervision an average of about so
to rs cans We're rejected. OF two car
loads returned from the army but 70
to so cans were finally rejected after
reinspection at the plant. The rest was
put back in stock.
Gerald Miles, who worked in the la
bel room, and who helped unpack the
returned army beef gave practically
the same testimony as Messrs. Richey,
Talbot and Campbell as to it's condi-
ton and receipt from the South.
*. L. Antoine, foreman at the Ar
mour's canning department. who was
yesterday instructed to bring into court
the records of cans rejected during
May and June, 1898, was recalled HIS
records We're offered in evidence. One
for May II showed 900 cans of meat
of all kinds put up that day; 23S We're
rejected because of leaky cans or for
other minor causes. Antoine went on
to state that extreme precaution was
exercised in filing the government or
ders, Meat for the government was
shipped as soon as canned. The meat
furnished the government was put up
in two and six pound cans and all were
dated. He was uncertain as to eX
act dates on which the two car loads
returned from the army were received.