The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-27

Testimony Before the Court OF In
quiry.
New York. March Ex-Governor
Roosevelt was the principal witness
yesterday before the only session held
in this city Of the court of inquiry ap-
pointed 20 investigate the charges
made by General Miles concerning the
quality of the beef furnished TO the
army during the recent war.
Practically the only reason for hold
ing a session here was the desire cf
the court to obtain personally from
rhe colonel of the Rough Riders his
precise views on the character of the
rations issued to his men.
The governor declared that he con-
sidercd the canned roast beef issued
To the army in Cuba and while home
ward bound on the transports as being
utterly unfit and unwholesome and the
cause of much illness. His own men
were unable to eat it, he had tried In
effectualy to do so.
Before leaving Chicago on Wednes-
day the court telegraphed to Governor
Roosevelt, asking at what time he
could most conveniently appear before
it,. The latter replied that IL o'clock on
Saturday morning would suit him very
we'll and precisely at that hour he
stepped out of tne elevator on the top
nour of the Army building in Whitehall
street, and bris<ly entered room n, in
which the members Of the court had
Just gathered. Then he threw off his
coat and asked where he should sit.
Colonel Davis indicated a chair at the
middle of the table and the governor
seated himself, facing Major Lee. and
smilingly intimated that he placed HIM
self at the disposal Of the court.
What" asked Colonel Davis, was
the first complaint you heard Of the
quality of the ratinns issued to the men
of your commando
IF the court will permit replied the
governor, 81 should like to answer that
question in my own way"
with pleasure" responded Colonel
Davis and Governor Roosevelt lean
ing forward and speaking so that all
in the room could distinctly hear him,
said
Saw Man Throw Away Can.
"Thn first time my attention was
called t any trouble with the rations
was on board the transport at Tampa.
! 81 ~ enc III my men, NIiOSt lltlllt' L
think, was Ashe Che came from Ken
tucky), throw overheard a can Of what
was described as roast beef. ! asked
him what tho matter was, and he re-
piled that il was impossible TO cat the
stuff. l told him to brace up and not
he a baby. adding that he had Volun
leered, and that he ought to take what
came to him.
Il though, nothing of the incident
at the moment, but soon afterward
found that complaints against this So
called canned roast beef We're coming
i'm from all quarters. ] looked into the
matter. and the explanation was made
10 me that the beef was a part of the
regular army rations, and that the
complaints only came from the Nolun
teers. who were not seasoned to rough
fare.
II spoke to Colonel Wood about it
and learned that it was a part of the
ration. Then / tried some of the stuff
myself 10 the extent Of a mouthful or
two. but found that simply couldn't
eat it,"
"Wha. was the appearance q the
contents Of the cans" asked Colonel
Davis
ON being opened," replied the COVER
nor, the contents appeared 10 be COW
"led with a cCat Of slime, giving it a
most unattractive appearance even to
the moSt hungry men. The meat itself
was coarse and stringy. Very few OF
the men could eat ii, and it did not
agree with these who succeeded in do
ing So"
Report Not Published.
Major Lee questioned the governor
relative to "A report on rations made
by him in July, and the governor re-
piled that il was in the possession Of
the war department, and that he had
been informed thai it had not been
published, owing to AN oversight. He
added that he had submitted a much
more exhaustive report on the same
subject on september 10. Major Lee
"sk2d the court to cause both these re-
.1orts to be submitted to II.
Turning again to Governor Roosevelt,
Major Lee said. Please give MS your
opinion OF the canned roast beef as a
ration for troops"
Sreakng slowly, and with, if any
'ning moro than his wonted emphasis,
Governor Roosevelt said
y regard the sO-Called canned roast
I"ft as an utterly unfit and unwhole-
some ration to be issued to troops, I
desire 20 he understood as making this
statement without any qualification
whatever 1t is true that cans have
been tested and their contents declared
10 be wholesome, but my experience in
camp has proved 10 me beyond the
shadow of II doubt that at the very
hest 1t was unpalatable, and at the
worst ii was uneatable and unwhole
some sufficiently so To make many
sick
There was stir among tho specta-
tors as the governor made this state.