New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-19
THE BEEF INVESTIGATION.
FURTHER TESTIMONY HEARD AND RE-
PORTS OF OFFICERS READ

Washington April 1s-The Beef Court OF In
quiry held three sessions to-day devong the fore
noon TO an executive session the afternoon TO
hearing testimony and the evening TO the reading
Of reports OF officers General Weston related the
provision made for feeding the soldiers. and con-
tended that beef on the hoof could not have been
landed at Siboney. George l.. Taylor. Phiadel-
phia chemist said he had detected the presence
OF formaldehyde on the meat while on his way TO
Porto Rico last fall officer in the lst Vol
unteer Cavalry. The Court is considering the ad-
visibility OF visiting Plttsburg before closing the
inquiry for the purpose OF securing testimony
which cannot be had in Washington. The nature
Of this evidence is not disclosed
General Weston said General shafter had not
designated the rations to be carried 70 Santiago
but that he had informed him daily of what he was
doing At Santiago there was no exact system for
giving out food supplies They were given to all
who came and in the confusion II was more than
likely that some of the commands received all beef
and others all bacon.
Il believe he said. our meat ration is entirely
too big. and am now arranging TO cut It down ma
terally. adding vegetables to supply the deficiency
The people pn the he o tropics do not 30 sa much meat
You'd the wealth or standing Of any any firm ha I'm IN
9aT 0Po its 's ess ' r eds Major Lee
No SIR General Weston replied empha tically.
some OF the kansas city packing firms, and he had
found that they always delivered food OF good
Speaking of the canned roast beef General Weston
said that when It was spoiled it emitted horrible
loads rejected by one officer which on In
spection furnished only twenty spoiled cans. He
carcass Of beeves canned. as to do would
greatly improve the product As matter OF fact fact.
the best beef ever put in cans but IT had been
put up hurriedly. ,,, =,
presence Of forma dehyde in the refrigerator beef
on the transport Cnester me 9dor T ~ taia
members of the command had been attacked by
gastritls after eating the meat This result was
This gas was he said. the base Of nearly all en-
baming fluids. When used as preservative on
organic substances its presence could not be de-
tected by chemical analysis. With 10 cents worth OF
the gas an entire carload OF meat could oe pre- :,
dangerous
REPORTS FROM OFFICERS
Between sixty and seventy reports from Army
officers we're read at the night session. which lasted
until nearly 1870 O'Clock. Colonel Davis submit
ted the following letter signed "A Soldiers
Mother: - ,soo
President Mckinley. ,-,.,--
houses told my husband today the stuff they were
packing up for the Army was awful Now is not
Government. with kind. good man at lis head
willing to give the Army the best possible and nd
worst. We see in the papers the soldiers complain
Of the canned beef some OF 1t not ht 70 eat OF
wrongs done the Army. II you will only threaten
the vengeance Of the Government on the packers
the food be better.
This letter was referred to the War Department
for investigation. and by the Department referred
10 Major o NJ Smith. purchasing commssary at
Chicago Major Smith returned to the Depart
meut letters in reply to II from Armour GO.
Iihhv Mcneil g. Libby. Cudahy and Hammond &
Co These letters Colonel Davis put In evidence
They we're general denial OF the charges con
taired in the letter and Of them offered an OK
PLANTATION OF the so-called "swellers among the
canned roast beef 49,
same lines as those heretofore submitted As
r,,Ia ,hay were unanimous in condemna ton or the
csnned roast beef and discussed the general ques-
zion OF food supplied TO the Army from the pom,
~ yieu ~ their Individual experiences. colonel
ravis also read large batch OF reports. among
tbar1' ONE from Maior-General Sumner. In which he
ss,d ,bat 10 the best OF his belief his command
had A. no time suffered for want Of food In the
Cuban campaign.