The times., 1899-04-06
THURSDAY. APRIL c. 1899.
The Meat scandal Grows.


awful proportions Not only were our
soldiers fed on poisonous and decayed beef
on carrion. in fact. but the people were sold
the meat of diseased cattle, the earcasses
of which had been condemned by the in
speetors. Meat from COWS suffering from
such hideous diseases as lumpy jaw and tu-
berculosis was put on the market as good
meat. after being thrown into the tank for
condemned careasses.
This practice, described under oath by
Thomas F. Dolan. for ten years the super
intendent of the killing room at the Ar
mour establishment. was not confined 10
that house. 1t was done. according TO the
reluctant testimony of a Government in
spector at the packing house of Nelson
Norris & Co. and presumably at all. There
is confirmation of the appalling recital OF
DnIan
Yes. and OF more than that. The scandal
has reached the stage of official corruption.
The packers were able to have any inspect
or sent to another part of the country
when he became inquisitive. They were
able to have official documents stolen from
The office of the Secretary of Agriculture or
otherwise removed.
". 5. Deyoe was the chief meat inspector
a. Chicago for the Department Of Agri-
culture four years ago. He reluctantly
swears ne learned that diseased and con-
demned earca- : that had been thrown
into the waste tank were rescued and put
on the market as good meat He was
ordered by Secretary Morton to make an
investigation.
He sent a report to tine Department OF
Agriculture telling what he had found and
SAYING it was important to go on with the
investigation.
Then. before the investigation was
through he was detailed to another sec
ton Of the country and the matter was
dropped. tsee Dolan's sworn statement
that when an inspector became troublesome
he was removed 10 another station.)
That report. reeiting the facts of the
ease. has disappeared from the archives
Of tho Department OF Agriculture! No ac-
tion MAS taken-to prosecute the guilty par
ties, The inspector was called off. his re-
port was stolen or destroyed. and the pack
ers went UNPUBLISHED.
Deyoe is reluctant witness. 1t required
the sternest orders from the Court to COM
pel him to answer questions. He vOIun-
tsered no information. He said:
don't wish to besmirch the names Of frm.
thai have since obeyed the law. | don't see what
is 10 be gained by it.
This IS suggestive. How does he know
ihe firms have since obeyed the law? lie
was sent away. Why should they obey the
Law when they could outrage it with i'm
punity? Firms which could once sell 10
innocent buyers the meat of diseased cal
tie. condemned by the inspectors. with the
probability Of destroying the lives of those
,.ho ate it. cannot be expected to obey
tlt law IL Antf tuH eNdue IL DeNoS : oN II
evidence proves that they have been able 10
&c that The crime is peculiarly atrocious
and it was committed from strictly sordid
motives. Persons who eat the meat of cat
tie afflicted with tuberculosis are liable to
die Of consumption. The meat OF any dis
casrd COW is poisonous There is an awful
probability that people have died as the re-
suit Of this crime.
Now what win the Court do? WIN It
hear Thomas F. Doian? The testimony IS
pertinent 1t Is established that the canned
roast beef was bad. Doian tells why it was
had. There is testimony as TO the poisonous
character of the refrigerated beef, also.
Il j. proper 10 take account of the use of
diseased and condemned carcasses as mar
keiable by the packers. II it was their
custom 10 use such meat the proof con-
FIRMS the testimony of officers and doctors
concerning the effect OF the meat ration
on the health of the soldiers.
The responsibility of the Court Of En-
quiry is heavy. The people are Intensely
interested. and they do not mean that a1y