The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-31
PUTRlD, SPOTTED
BEEF REJECTED IN
LARGE QUANTITIES
Commissary CAMPER Swears
Armours' Agent Said Meat
Was Chemically Treated.

Major C. Webb, who was General Lawton's
inspector general gave testimony concerning
the meat issued in the Santiago campaign, re-
ferring especially to the canned roast beef
1t was not food" he said 1t was non
nutritive, stringy, hbrous and had not me
taste. 1t looked like the fag-ends OF peer
steak. 1t opening your mouth and lettlns
the moon shine into it 1t was not satisIylng,
something We did not want and could not give
away even to the Cuban troops, who preferred
hard bread"
Major Webb said that he had tried to eat
the beef occasionally when very hungry, out
never received any satisfaction from 1t, eX-
cepting after vegetables were procurable. when
II was used hash to some advantage.
You do not. then, regard 1t as suitable
ration for the army" ..,.
weighty thing to carry and 1t is waste Oh
Major webb said that he had found . the re.
frigerator beef generally good; though some
Of It became putrid in the hot climate. He had
never heard of embalmed beef until he re-
Colonel c. A. woodruff purchasing officer for
the Commissary Department at New YORK
was recalled. He said he had rejected some
tenders OF canned roast beef. but he did not
remember the names of the bidders IN any
Colonel woodruff stated that in one instance
canned beef which had been shipped TO Liver
pool. England. was brought back TO this coun-
try and sold for the use of the army. This
purchase amounted to $50, 600 pounds. The beef.
as he understood it, had been stored in Ar
rnours warehouse in Liverpool and had been
sent abroad with the view OF selling II TO the
British Government.
representatives of various firms engaged in
canning beef, all saying that the beef sold
to the army of hrst-class quality ana OF
the same quality the beer shipped 10 Ior-
efgn countries and sold to the Navy Depart
ruent in large quantities The witness said he
heard many complaints concerning TINS peer
from officers returning from Cuba, but that
one or two of them spoke favorably OF lt; lie
also said that a considerable quantity or the
beef sent to Cuba had been returned 10 New
York and that he had tested it and found II 10
be in excellent condition and palatable food.
In conclusion Colonel Woodruff asked permits
sion to make a remark the senior officer OF
it succeeded or not, the Subsistence Depart
ment was animated by desire 10 90 all IL
could for the benefit of the line of the army
Mr. MorehOuse, ArmourS agent at tampa,
was then recalled. He said there had been two
Instances in which the entire proher of meat
had been rejected at Lakeland and on three or
four other occasions a portion OF the consign-
rnent had been refused. He recalled visit
to Lakeland early in August, when one con
signment was rejected, and 70 his surprise ne
found the beef lying the platform. He had
then had a conversation with Captain Car
michael but he did not remember that there
was any other person present except Lieuten-
ant Dixon He did not remember to have then
seen or to have ever met Lieutenant Camper.
who had testified that MorehOuse had said
that the meat had been treated to a chemical
process for preservation. No questions had
been addressed TO him concerning the chemi-
cal preservation of the meat. He had never
used any expression TO any one to indicate
that chemicals had been used.
Cross-examined. Morehouse said he believed
his memory TO the reflections would he more
reliable with the exception to dates than the
memorandum OF a commlssary officer OF the
army.