Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-22
BEEF LIKE WET SEAWEED
Colonel Powell Testifes that Msat is stringy
and Unwholesome.
FRESH BEEF IS GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE
More sickness. However. said to
Have Been Due to Ovcrwork aud
Poor Quarters Than Amy De-
fciency of the Food.

WASHINGTON. Feb. q. - Practically
without exception the officers who testified
a. the court OF inquiry into the beef qucs-
tion today condemned the canned roast beef
furnished as a travel ration and reviewed
complaints about II which the men very gen
orally made, declaring it unpalatable and
wanting in nutriment.
on the other hand. the refrigerated beef
suffered but little at the hands OF today's
witnesses, 1t being generally conceded that
1t was good when delivered from the trans
ports and when 1t escaped the decomposing
effect of the tropical sun en- route to the
several commands 1t was found to be salts
factory.
General commissary methods in Cuba
were inquird into. Difficulty in preventing
taint before cooking was experienced gem
orally. There was very little in todays evi-
dence pointing to any use of chemicals upon
this beef. The contention of General Miles
that the army in Cuba and Porto Rico
should have been supplied with herds of
cattle or beef on the hoof instead of refrig-
Grated beef was supported by every witness
who today gave his opinion upon this ques-
ton.
sickness Due to Climate. Too.
A feature Of today's examinations was the
general assertion Of witnesses that they
would not have left their duties to have
made any special report on the beef had it
not been for the special orders calling for
such reports, but rather would have per-
mitted the unsatisfactory ration 10 pass
without further notice an incident to
warfare and to the peculiarly trying condi-
tions with which the army was confronted
h. -
officers testified to the belief that a very
small proportion OF sickness in Cuba was
due to the beef or unwholesome rations, but
rather to the climate.
Late this week or early next week the
court will leave for Chicago. Omaha and
other western meat centers, where it will
inspect the packing houses OF the firms
which furnished beef to the army. A thor
ough study of the methods employed in fur
nishing canned roast beef and other meats
will be made and witnesses will be eX-
amined in the different cities.
The court began with the testimony of
Colonel William II. Powell of the Seventh
infantry who was stationed at Madison
barracks at the outbreak of the war
The regiment went through the Santiago
campaign and after the city was captured
and the regiment quartered In the city he
received requests from his men for money
TO buy stuff TO eat. He investigated the So
called canned roast beef and had some of 1t
served at his own -tatfe.
IL could not eat it." he continued at
was a stringy, unwholesome looking mass.
more like wet a-weed than anything else
can think of. The men were sick and
debilitated and could not keep IL on their
stomachs. We had at that time 152 sick
Soon after that this fresh beef began TO ar
rive and the men ate readily and began TO
pick up in health. Afterward We were
moved out OF camp near the San Juan bat
tlefeld. Here much of our meat spoiled be-
fore We could get it."
Colonel Davis inquired If ANY other COM
plants had been received"
Patience of the Private.
II would like to emphasize" said Colonel
Powell, that the enlisted men OF the army
are not in the habit of complaining. They
seem to feel in a campaign that the officers
are doing all that can be done for them. and
can't say l received anything that could
be termed complaints. The officers dis
cussed the matter freely and the quality Of
the canned beef was a matter of common
talk"
Regarding the refrigerated beef, Colonel
Powell said there was little to be said
against it, except that some of it spoiled
before it was received. There were no IA
ciiities for cooking while in the city, ex-
cept fire in the gutter and all food had
to be boiled.
Replying 10 Colonel Davis, he said he had
no suspicion while using either the canned
or refrigerated beef that it had been treated
with chemicals. In a general way he said
he would have chosen beef on the hoof in
E1Ysa far
given the choice. AS there was no option
at the time, he had not thought particularly
about the question.
The regiment was worked very hard while
in the city, eighty nine being on guard duty
daily. Some of these were so sick that
they fell down at their posts and had to
be brought in. Witness thought the men
would be better of in the country and he
directed his energies toward getting them
out Of town, rather than to reporting on
the quality OF the Tations. He had tried
to get better quarters and failed. and tried
10 get medical assistance TO help his one
contract surgeon, but this failed also.
No Complaint Is Made.
you made no official report at the time,
then?" said Colonel Davis, nor any effort
to ameliorate the condition OF the men as
TO their meat ration?"
mo, sir, / made no official report till
after returning TO the states, when l was
ordered by the War department TO report
on the canned roast beef"
Yes, l understand" said the recorder.
Colonel Davis then produced a report from
witness made from Governors island on
September 90 in which he condemned the
canned roast beef, saying II produced dis
orders of the stomach. Colonel Powell said
he had made that report on an order from
the adjutant generals office, and that was
based on personal knowledge and reports
frc.l his company commanders.
Colonel Powell concluded by reviewing the
decrease in sickness after the issue Of fresh
beef and removal Of the camp to the hills.
Replying TO a question, he said he attributed
the sickness more TO hygenic causes than
10 the food. His command was oyerworked
and badly quartered and clothed and ap-
peared a complete wreck. He expressed in
ability 10 estimate the percentage Of sickness
due to the food. Explaining his expression
want of nutritive value" he said the beef
gave no pleasure in eating, nor source of
strength TO the body.
Method OF Issuing Beef.
In reply to a question from Colonel Davis
he said the issue Of fresh beef was made
direct, through the regimental commissary,
without the Intervention of brigade com
mfgsa rieE