The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-16

WASHINGTON, April 15.-The army
court of inquiry did not conclude the
examination of witnesses before adj
Journing to-day, as had been hoped, but
when adjournment was reached there
We're only two more witnesses in sight
The witnesses to-day included Inspector
General Breckenridge, General Gilmore
and Colonies Bird and A L. Smith OF
the Commissary Department, and Pro-
lessor w. O.. Atwater. The officers
called related their varied experiences
with the beef supplied to the army, and
Professor Atwater gave the results not
only of chemical analysis of the canned
beef but of experiments made with it
upon persons in his laboratory. He
found the beef unwholesome, according
to the chemical tests, and in one of the
experiments the subjects experienced
failure of appetite and aversion to the
food
General John G.. Gilmore, Adjutant
General on General Miles staff was
the first witness before the court of in
quiry to-day. He was examined with
special reference to testimony given by
Captain Aspinwall, in command of the
transport Manitoba, which carried
cargo of beef to Porto Rico. Captain
<ASpillN ali lldQ Staten l0dL General Gill;
more stated to him after the vessel be-
came stranded in the harbor that the
beef should be thrown overheard, say
ing that if necessary he would give an
order to that effect The Captains tes-
t1mony was read to General Gilmore.
Il don't remember a word of it," he
said. 1 am positive l would not have
told him to throw the beef overheard,
because 1 amp not given to making re-
marks of that kind In fact, 1 don't
recall any conversation with Captain
Aspinwall whatever
Colonel Charles Bird, in charge of rail
and water transportation in the Quar-
termas<er Generals office, expressed the
opinion that the Government could have
saved money by buying beeves on the
hoof, killing them in Cuba and Porto
Rico, and keeping the meat in refrig-
orators of its own. He had expressed
this opinion to Colonel Davis of General
Eagan's office while the war was in
progress.
Colonel Bird also gave particulars
concerning the purchase of transports
at the beginning of the war. Referring
to General Miles recommendation un-
der this head, he said. I'VE felt the
need of securing the most suitable ves-
sells as sharply as. did General Miles"
He said that while the contract with
Swift & Co. had required that the firm
should build it's own refrigerator on the
transport, they had not been required
in any instance to do so, as all the
transports We're equipped with refriger-
ators before the beef shipments began.
General Joseph c. Breckenridge. IND
spector General of the army also ex-
pressed the opinion that it would have
been possible to land limited number
of cattle in Cuba after the troops se-
cured footing there. He thought that
the landing of livestock was about the
easiest task set the army in Cuba. as
they landed themselves. He was also
of the opinion that cattle might have
been held in the island, as grass and
water were plentiful. 1T would have
been as easy for the cattle to carry
themselves as it was for the mules to-
carry them" he said laconically.
Speaking of the canned roast beef.
General Breckenridge said he had eaten
it and found it to be unpalatable ITO
my mind, he said, sit was a mere pre-
tense of food. l tried giving it away
to others in whom i was interested. but
did not succeed to any aprpeciable ex-
tent"
General Breckenridge also stated that
he was recently present in Havana
when a quantity of canned beef was
distributed among Cuban indigents. IT
felt Interested" he said, because T
thought the rations given to those peo-
pie should be beyond question / was
present at two issues, and l found the
canned beef giving out most offensive
odor. l saw the meat myself. and
have no doubt that some of it was de-
cayed. This was about the time of the
condemnation of the canned goods at
Havana"
At the afternoon session of the court
Professor W. O. Atwater, Professor of
Chemistry at the Wesleyan University.
Connecticut, gave details of his inyes-
LEGATION of the canned roast beef sup
piled to the army during the Spanish
war, from specimens furnished him by
the court. Professor Atwater said he
had made test for preservatives. but
had found none.
The court adjourned. without ques-
tioning Professor Atwater, until 9 D.
m. Monday, the understanding being
that he would resumes the stand at that
time.