Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-05-12
The,EmbaImed Beef Court Findings.

In an interview in the Cincinnati
Enquirer, IL. Il. Probasco, United
States district attorney. a relative of
ex-senator Sherman and counsel for
Gen. Miles, says, apropos of the en-
balmed beef inquiry court findings:
The decision amounts to the court
finding that the beef packers were
saints, sent to our soldiers with man
ma from heaven, and that Gen. Miles
was careless because he did not re-
port the first vague rumor which
came to his ears that this food was
bad. Every witness condemned in
unstinted terms the so-called canned
roast beef as an unfit ration. The
chief clerk of the commissary-gen-
erals Office testified that canned roast
beef in 1873 was an experimental ra-
ton and was adversely reported on
after a short trial. Before bids were
received for the commissary general
he was advised by expert cattle and
beef men, that fresh beef would not
hold up "A hours after delivery from
the refrigerator in the climate that
prevailed in Florida and the West In
dies and that the best course to pur-
sue would be the purchase of beef on
the block or beef on the hoof. He
told these gentlemen that the parties
who desired to furnish the fresh beef
had a process which they said would
enable them to deliver meat which
would keep sound and fresh for ~
hours after delivery from the refrig-
orator. The day after the bids were
opened attorneys in Washington adj
dressed communication to the sec
l.,
that. Notwithstanding their clients
had bid somewhat higher than the
others, they ought to be awarded the
contract because of their ability to
perform their contract by means of
the Powell process for the preserva-
ton of meat, which they con-
trolled. and which had been satisfac-
torily tested under the auspices of the
government. This letter was re-
ferred by the secretary of war to the
~ pmissary general for his consider
alton, W. ~eturned it to the secre-
tary with his ihaS.-; vent, in which
he said: These tests are noUl.-- My
tests which have been made leav-
ing the plain inference that the other
bidders also had processes for the pre-
servation of meat, which had been
tested.
This letter was returned by the
secretary of war. DR.. Days testi-
mony that he had found by chemical
analysis of meat furnished the sol
diers that it contained chemicals was
in nowise contradicted. Three wit
Mason, Lieut.. Gam
pher and DR.. Castle-testiiied that
the agent at Lakeland, Fla, had told
them that they had found it impossible
to comply with their contract to de-
liver fresh meats which would remain
sound and sweet for - hours after
delivery from the refrigerator without
n chemical process, which was a secret
even to him. If the court found in
the face of this testimony that no
meat delivered was chemically
treated. it amounts almost to stulti-
fication.
Cattle on the hoof are now being
delivered in Cuba, slaughtered on the
island and delivered to the troops the
following day. and no complaint has
been made. Furthermore, screamed
roast beef was dropped as n meat ra-
ton some time, | think, during last |
August or September: all of which |
shows that Gen. Miles reference to |
the method of supplying the troops
with meat as an experiment was cor |
rect. and that his opinion that beef |
on the block or on the hoof was the |
only suitable fresh-meat ration for |
troops was well founded"
Mr.. Probasco said Gen. Miles had |
no political ambition whatever.
and" he added, he no more thinks /
Of being q candidate for president or /
any other office than do"
Mr.. Probasco charges the secretary
Of war and the adiutant general with
opposing the general commanding the
army.