The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-05-08


chemical preservatives, have not been
established. The court also finds that
SO much OF the allegations OF the major
general commanding in respect to the
canned roast beef. as relates to Its un-
suitability for food, Us actually used
on the transports, pnd as to its ex
tensive or long-contlnued uso US field
ration. are sustained. In the opinion of
the court none CT the other allegations
in relation to the canned fresh beef
are sustained. The evidence shows that
Colonel John r. Weston, assistant COM
missary general Of subsistence, recom-
mended the adoption Of the canned
roast beef as u component Of the field
ration, and to this extent no Is respon-
sihle." A
The report places the quantity OF the
canned roast beef purchased for tho war
by the commlssary department at GSi7,-
l74 pounds. including $4,000 pounds
which was brought from Liverpool and
other English ports. This amount Is
characterized as excessive and the COM
missary general General Eagan) Is Sc
verely criticised in several parts OF the
document on this score. One Of the
severest rebukes Is Rs follows:
Considering the little use that had
been made Of this beef In the regular
army the probability that tho volunteers
were entirely Ignorant of It, that Its uso
ms part OF the field ration had never
been sanctioned by the President or Sec
retary Of war, the court can but char
acterize the action of the commissary
general OF subsistence as unwarranted
and recklcss-ln that he ordered the
purchase OF such enormous quantities
OF food that was practically untrled
and unknown, and the court so finds.
The court also finds that there Is no
ground for any imputation whatever Of
any other actuating motive on the part
of the commlssary general than the
earnest desire to procure the best posi-
Bile food for the troops. The court
pronounces this act OF the commtssary
general Of subsistence q colossal error,
Tor which there is no pllliation."
Neglect In Delivery.
The court finds that there was neglect
In Cuba, and TO n less degree in Porto
Rico In delivering the refrigerated
beef.
THE court" says the report, docs
not wish TO state the case more strongly
than to say that the finding appears to
be warranted thnt too much time was
consumed In distributing this perisha-
bic article. The fault II any there
was, rested with the brigade and higher
commanding otiicers and their commits
SartcS ana quarterm1eters, but the tes-
tiinony Is not so definite or specific as
TO warrant the naming by the court OF
any particular officer"
They soy that tho refrigerated beef
was at first received with great salts
faction. There is also criticism of the
delay In unloading the refrlgerating ap-
paratus or Swift y Gu. at Santiago.
IAN appeal by the contractors agent
to General Shafter for an order on the
Quartermcster to expedite the delivery
from the transport of the refrigcrating
plant did not affect any result. The de-
lay In this matter waathe cause of seri-
GUS loss"
THE court Is OF the opinion that the
canned roast beef waS not suitable as
travel ration on transports. consider
Ing the absence OF cooking facilities
and the absence from that ration OF
fresh vegetables and condiments. Tor
use on shore as field ration. where the
companies had their camp cooking
equipment and vegetables were avalia-
BILE. canned roast beef Is suitable for
Issue. say two days in ten. bu, not for
two days In succession. In some or
ganizations 1t seems TO have constituted
~ hA IT,.
and until after the surrender the troops
had no means for other cooking than
was practicable with the individual kit
carried. For such extensive use, or
any use exceeding one dny in five, the
court finds this beef unsuitable.
THE refrigerated llcef Is. in the opin-
lon of the court. suitable ration for
troops when It can be issued to them
In good condition"
The Courts Opinion.
As to whether anything better than
the beef was available 70 ration. the
opiniunis:
J. That on the transports The reliance
on canned fresh and canned corned beef
was wise. but that the canned fresh
beef was less desirable than the corncd
beef
.. That while the bacon Is not regard
cd as suitable. constant food in cam-
pal2n for troops serving In the tropics,
combined with the vegetables than the
unknown and unfamiliar canned roast
beef eaten tilrect from the can.
: J. That the use Of refrigerated bcst
on shore, after the troops had secured
convenient hurborB and landing facll-
tiles. was wise and desirable. The
court believes that there WINS no better
food available or practicable.
The opinion Is expressed that It would
have been impracticablc to land beef
cattle on the hoof in Cuba. the remark
OF the court on this point being as fol-
lows:
Tho commanding general OF the cy-
petition characterize rs absurd such
a proposition, and many of his COM
manding officers whose opinion Is given
In the testimony. colncidcd with him
In the tmpractlcabillty or incxpcdlcnoy
Of such project. Tho court concure
In the opinion OF these men, whose ex-
pcriencc In active military service dated
from 1851"
An instruction OF the Presidents to
the court was Chat If the packers of
the country ere guilty II must be
known" Replying TO this direction. the
court says:
The court finds that Mt tho outbreak
OF hoatllltiee In April, 1855. the packers
of canned beef were engaged In tho
manufacture OF nm article OF standard
quality. wei! known to the trade nnd
tho subsistence department under tho
name of canned roast beef. The meth
uds OF packing then In use were the
zane us Those hhhitually employed in
the preparation Of the meat as an ar
ticlc OF commerce, nnd the court does
not fln1 that thcy Underwent any
change during the progress OF the war.
Meat Purchases.
The large purchases for the use OF the
military forrnS during tho oopth, %