The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-24

ing it required the beef to keep seventy-two
hours after being taken from the ship re-
frigerator, and If taken from the concerns
refrigerator on shore Ii should keep twenty
four hours thereafter. Witness said he had
to use some beef on the hoof, but it never
became firm, and did not compare favora-
bly, at all with the refrigerated beef, nor
did IL give such satisfaction. Major Os-
good said he formerly favored a beef-On-
the-hoo supply for the army in Cuba. but
he was forced TO take water on that" after
seeing the use of refrigerated beef.
Responding to General Davis. witness de-
clared MS opinion that man. of the claims
of officers that refrigerated beef was spoil I'd
were false. The beef, he. said, often ap-
peared offensive when merely viewed, where
as If a knife were used to cut off the outside
the best beef you could find anywhere
would be found" Snap judgment was taken
often on that beef, the witness declared.
speaking of the men and their complaints,
he said: All their livers were out Of whack.
larged Hvers, and they were ready to COM
PLAIN at everything-wanted to be fed all
the time on delicacies."
Capt. c.. L. Scott, Sixth Cavalry, served in
Porto Rico, and declared the native beef
was unsatisfactory while the refrigerated
beef was highly pleasing. He had eaten
make.
Capt. Charles H. Grierson, Tenth Cavalry,
until Feb. 8 colonel and chief cOmmissary
OF the Fourth Corps, was with his regiment
in Cuba. He said no notable complaints
were made against canned beef, but the men
dld not eat 1t. Returning from Cuba, he
WLo 6AoAAD4iEA IL 4dllDdg WHEIG n0 ldu ca
perience with refrigerated beef. He believed
1t Was satisfactory.
EAGAN'S TESTIMONY.
1t was nearly 4 o'clock when former Com
missary General Eagan, who had arrived
from New York, was presented to the court.
Proceeding in reply to questions, he said
he considered carefully the question of fresh
beef for the army when beef on the hoof or
refrigerated beef could not be supplied. He
was very favorably impressed with the
canned roast beef, tasted it and united with
other officers of the department in adopting
it. He understood the navy used it for many
years with entire satisfaction. In introduce
ing canned roast beef it was the intention
TO use it as an incident, and the men
could take 1t or not, as they liked. The best
way, he said, for It to be used was in a
stew with tomatoes or other vegetables. The
first complaint about this beef came from
Capt. Philip Reed, of the commissary de-
partment. Witness was surprised and at
once ordered all officers who had this beef
to examine and report. The responses in
dorsed the beef.
The question of supplying refrigerated
beef came vi ar once, and there were many
consultations with the packers representa-
tVes about the keeping Of the beef after
being taken from the refrigerators. Re
frigerated beef and frozen beef was sent to
Tampa for a test and witnesses recollection
was that the frozen spoiled first. Mind
was not process beef; that is, beef treated
with chemicals"
Colonel Davis then read the contract with
Swift & Co.. for the Porto Rican supply of
refrigerated beef. The beef concern was re-
CURED to put refrigerated beef plants on the
ships where necessary. Beef was to be
from steers weighing not less than six
hundred pounds, dressed, and should be so
preserved by the refrigerating process as to
be perfectly good and fit for use seventy
two hours after delivery from the refriger-
ator on ship" or twenty-four hours after
delivery from any refrigerator the beef
annnnHn Trf0hf A-4Ak aN o-v A@.k A a4~-fI -
contract for the supply for the forces in
Cuba was presented.
General Eagan said when the war came
there were three plans for a fresh beef
supply-refrigerated beef, beef on the ho0f
to be furnished by contractors, and for the
experience taught him the undevisability of
the government owning it's own herd. Re-
frigerated beef he considered first choice,
and when the beef concerns offered 1t and
guaranteed it's preservation he accepted it.
General Eagan, in explaining why he
said the usual way for contracting was for
the chief commissary for any certain de-
partment of the army to sign such contracts
for supplies, but when the war broke out
the army intended for use in Cuba was COM
posed of forces from several departments.
army in Cuba and Porto Rica was attached
and, therefore, he. as commissary general,
signed the contracts for its supplies.
Without concluding the hearing of General
Eagans testimony the court adjourned I'M
til tomorrow morning, when 1t is expected
noon explaining the circumstances attend
ing the furnishing of commissary supplies.
Germans Refer to MiTeS's Charges.