Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-11

which came to his ears that this fool
was bad. Every witness condemned in
unstinted terms the so-called roast beef
as an unfit ration.
what about the cmbalmed beef?'
Before bids were received by the com
missary general he was advised by expert
cattle and beef mn that fresh beef would
not hold up q hours after delivery from
the refrigerator in the climate of Florida
and the West Indies, and that the best
course to pursue would be the purchase
of beef on the block or beef on the hoof.
lie told these gentlemen that the parties
who desired to furnish the fresh beef ha i,
them to deliver meat which would keep
sound and fresh for y hours after deliV-
cry from the refrigerato tor.
THE day after the BIDS were opened.
attorneys in Washington addressed a
communication to the secretary of war
making the argument thar notwithstand-
ing their clients bid somewhat higher
than the others, they ought to be award
ed the contract because OF their ability To
perform their contract by means of the
Powell process for the preservation .:
meat, which they controlled and VIII ch
had been Satisfac tOrily tested under the
auspices OF the government.
This letter was referred by the SeCrc-
tary Of war to the Commissary general for
his consideration, who returned it to the
secretary with his endorsement, in which
he said: These tests are not the only
tests which have been made leaving the
PLAN inference that the other bidders
mad also processes for The preserVa ton or
meat which had been tested.
This letter was returned by the secrc-
tary Of war. Mr. Days testimony that
he had found by chemical analysis Of
meat furnished the soldiers. that 1t con
tanned chemicals, was in no wise contra
dicted. Three Witnesses, Sergeant Mel
son, Lieut. Campher and DR.. Castle, tes-
titled that the agent at Lakeland. Fi1.,
had told them that the contractors had
found il impossible 10 comply with their
contract to deliver fresh meat which
would remain sound ana sweet for ~
hours after delivery from the refrigerator
without the means OF a chemical process,
Whlch process was secret even 70 him.
If the court found In the face Of this teS-
timonY that no meat delivered was cneln-
ically treated, i amounts almost 10 stulti-
fcation."
Has there been any change in the man
ner of supplying troops with fresh meat
since this criticism was first made?"
Indeed there has. Cattle on The hoo:
are now being delivered in Cuba, slauGh-
tered on the island ana delivered to tho
troops the following day. and no com
plant has been made. Furthermore. the
so-called canned roast beef was dropped
as meat ration, some time. | think, dur
ing the last Of August or September. All
of which shows that Cen Miles reference
to the method of supplying the troops
with meat as an experiment was correC [
and hat his opinion that beef on the
block on the hoof. Is the only suitable
fresh meat ration for troops was well
founded.
The great majority Of the papers and
Of the people. including the President II
know this from conversation with him
about three weeks sinceD. believe thai
Gen. Miles would not make d statement
concerning any person or circumstances
which he did not honestly believe to lie
well founded and true. Gen. Niles has no
political ambition whatever. and no more
thinks OF being a Cand date for President
or any other office than | do"
Mr.. ProbaSco blameS the secretary Of
war ana the adjutant general for Oppos-
ing the general commanding the army.