Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-04-26
UNCLE SAM RESPONSIBLE
FOR Loss Of Refrigerated Beef Sen, on the
Transport Mani,oba.s
Report OF the Board of Investigation
No Dccisres-wss Not subjected
60 Chemical Process.

Washington. April :6.-Thc board
convened by special order 20 examine
and report on the responsibility for the
loss OF 5000 pounds Of refrigerated bccf
sent 10 Porto Rico last summer has
submitted Ia report and ilnciTga. The
beef was shipped on tho transport Man
itoba from swift n Co. Chicago. and
kanFaa CITY. The boards findings are
aa follows!
The beef was good and iit for issue
upon it, arrival az the Port OF Ponce.
August 10th. is9s. II was reported to
the proper military authorities and
that this condition continued after the
release u the Manitoba from the reef
on August lSth. iSg,. although thcru In
Isau0h 10 believe thai tfir refrigerator
wa,n not satlnfaetory during that inter-
val.
Thai Notwithstanding the time and
labor involved IN unloading troops and
animals from the Manitoba. and Ia
CLEANING the ship. up To ana including
August 10Th, 1899, due ana proper cf-
fort was not made 10 issue this beef to
accessible troops between that date and
August 18th. lsss. thu date OF the de-
pagture OF the Manitoba from Maya.
Euuz,
"Thai this lack of cnort was In tho
nature Of an acquicaccncc IN the ar
rangcmUnt already locally mentioned
for the purchase % live bcvf but lay
primarily In the lack of controlling nu-
thorlty and responsible head 81 tho
subsistence department In Poncs' under
the difficulties Attending a new military
situation.
THAT both at MnyaEucE, August seth
"a AulFIIHN .lNl uMI IA nAnaas l.sTtk
the date ~ the rctufn OF the Manitoba.
August alAt, 10 her departure for New
York. September. l5th. no proper EFFORT
was made for the issue OF this beef and
the mea was IN the opinion OF tho
board, still NJ for Issue.
'Thst the meat had not been sub
jrotUt to any chemical process what
ever Tor ~ preservation.
''fhnt the loss Of this beef was due TO
several causes Possibly deterioration
while the rcfrlRcrating plant was Inter-
Tuptcd or disturbed August 10th TO
August 18th. exposure TO hish temper
nturc from the time % loading ON the
transport to the date of issue al Maya
gucz and 20 improper handling and
faulty protection after issue, deficient
transport a. troops, prejudice against
IT. appearance under unfamiliar con-
ditlonH ana delay. A month elapsed
since the beef was dressed before II
lfANnfh MalhhhNA WYNN TOT tue Ufnt
time issues We're made. owing 10 the
difficulties. Finally the distribution
10 the troops was such that. under the
circumstances. great iunA was incyit-
able In the absence of any refrigerator
AZ ports " entry.
THAT the United States IL response
BILE for the loss,
''rhc board II aware OF an average
wastAgc. IN refrigerated becf-a loss
propsfiy chargeable To the contractor
but the board IL unwilling 10 flx an AR
hitrnry figure Tor such "A shipment nA
that ~ the Manitoba. handled under
the adverse circumstances existing ms
established by the testimony and by
the absence of reliable data.
That swift a co. be reimbursed for
the beef"
The board CONSTITUTES tho time limit IN
the contract with swift * Co.. 10 mean
thai the beef should remain sound for
twenty four hours after delivery 10 the
issuing commisaAIy u property protect
cd. the aevoniy-two hours clause re.
fcrrlng to Intermediate storage In land
falrluplnt0Ia