Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-24

Washington, February 2S.-Gen. J. F.
Weston, who was Gen. Skaters head
of the commissary department in the
Santiago campaign, and succeeded Gen.
Eagan as Commissary General of the
army, testified before the court of in
quiry to-day that the whole subject of
fresh beef was considered thoroughly
in Washington prior to the army going
to Cuba and the conclusion reached
that canned roast beef was the best
thin gobtainable. He was then and
still of opinion that next to refrigera-
ted beef and beef on the hoof, canned
roast beef is the best meat supply. Con-
ditions in the Santiago campaign made
refrigerated beef and live cattle impos-
sibiltes. Under Cuba's trying heat can
ned beef became uninyiting in appear
ance but remained very palatable in
stews. The complaints he attributed to
the fact that men were run down by
the time they reached Santiago, were
kept up by excitement and when the
campaign ended and the excitement
relaxed they went to pieces.
Some complaint against the canned
amounted to little. The men had de-
terioriated in condition and were in
mood TO complain of nearly every
thing. No action was taken. The
men complained of the native beef be-
ing too fresh.
Personally he thought a large pro-
portion of sickness was due to the ma
tive fruits, cheap rum and cocoanut
candy, with which the men stuffed
themselves.
Gen. j. f. Weston, successor to Gen.
Eagan, as Commissary speaking of the
Ponce preservative process experiment,
said the commissary department had
nothing whatever officially to do with
it, MIR. Edwards. he said, represent
ing Armour & Company, came to him
and said some beef was coming that
would be treated and he asked witness
if he would not put it on ship and
see how long it would keep. The beef
arrived and witness asked Mr.. Powell
what had been done 10 the beef and
the latter replied that nothing injur-
ious was in the treatment, he had fur
nished beef for years to Florida hotels.
and he believed the beef in question
would keep seyenty-two hours, and if
so, and the government would contract
the full process would be explained.
six or seven quarters were taken and
put on the ships. Some was in can
vas and some not. The former held
out seventy odd hours while the un-
canvassed beef went up pretty quick
ly."
Col. Weston declared emphatically
that the government had no connec-
tion with the experiment.
It was nearly 4 o'clock when former
Commissary General Eagan, who had
arrived from New York, was presented
to the court.
Proceeding in reply to questions he
said he considered carefully the ques-
ton 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, tested it and united with
other officers Of the department in
adopting it. He understood the navy
had used it for many years with en-
tire satisfaction.
In introducing canned roast beef, II
was the intention to use it as an incl
dent and the men could take it 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 Captain Philip Reed Of the
-commissary department. Witness was
surpri'ed and at once ordered all Off
GERS who had this beef to examine and
report. The responses indorsed the
beef.