Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-25

livery 10 the army. As represented bN cor
respondcnce and testified to by witnesses
this stipulation involved what was regarded
by many experienced men as impossible OF
satisfactory fulhllment A preservative
process in addition to the ordinary refrigera-
tion seemed a sine qua non and in discus
sing the subject with General Eagan, the
commissary general Of subsistence, four Wit
nesses, Sipher Giddings, Simpson and ARM
strong, all testified in effect that the com
missary general stated that the refrigerat
ing people had a special process for preserv-
ing meat and that one process was being
tested at Tampa, Fla.
Referring to the credibilty OF witnesses,
Major Lee said;
Returning for a moment to the subject
OF credibility OF witnesses, we deem 1t proper
to say-but In no offensive sense-that OF
all witnesses where self-interest stands out
conspicuously the ffty-one interested in the
meat industry are pre- eminent Their read
mess, zeal and volubility when on the stand,
their eagerness to palliate, excuse and deny
any and every criticism or fault found with
their meats, must account for much OF the
most remarkable testimony ever given be-
fore a court. The officers and soldiers OF
our army may go wrong, the people may
err, other interests may be full of defects
and Irregularities, but IL there is anything
strictly honest, without reproach almost
perfect, all these virtues will be found In
overwhelming abundance in the packing
houses of our country. Pardon me for say
ing it, but much, if not ALL of such testi-
mony is like much of the roast beef COM
planned of-somewhat overlooked.
Where the Blame Fails.
In summing up his case, Major Lee made
the following claims:
1t was perfectly practicable to have had
at all times herds of fat cattle at every
camp in the United States to meet any and
all eXigencies of service, as they might
arise
At no time during the war was there
any emergency calling for food supplies by
other than the safe methods of proved ex-
perience
1t was perfectly practicable to have landed
beef cattle with the armies in both Porto
Rico and Cuba.
There was no necessity for departure from
the army travel ration which has been
found perfectly satisfactory. Instead OF
supplying the troops during this war, as
other armies have been supplied with
wholesome food (of which there was an
inexhaustible supply in the country, there
was gathered up all of the canned food
possible, much of which had been stored
for years in the warehouses of the Baltimore
~ Ohio railroad, and in foreign storehouses
and falsely labeled prime roast beef
where there was not an ounce of roast beef,
and we believe, not an ounce of prime
beef contained in the cans.
The sending of troops chained to re-
frigerators and cold storage and ice houses,
into a campaign against hostile enemy is
so unprecedented and unmilitary that it
hn Of nrlc To a =.
yet this was done, and there was full
knowledge that the commissary department
required from the contractors furnishing re-
frigerated beef that it must keen for sew
enty-two hours outside of the refrigerators.
To fulfill these contracts, the evidence
shows the contractors would be compelled
to resort to artificial preservatives. That
they possessed and intended to use chemical
appliances is evidenced beyond question.
The serious and injurious effect upon the
troops that were compelled to receive and
use these two classes of food to suffer
in consequence of not having wholesome
food is as apparent as any well established
fact, but the extent of such injury upon
the health and lives of the troops cannot
we'll be measured.
While our troops were thus deprived of
wholesome food, many parties were ready
to supply them at all times and in all
camps in this country and on foreign sta
tions with any number of cattle.
We believe these facts have been estab
lished beyond question and we believe that
great fraud has been perpetrated upon the
government and a great crime committed
on the soldiers; and as to the party or par
ties who have committed this offense, and
whether the evidence should be referred to
the judicial officers of the government, in
order that justice shall be done, mat
ters that we leave to the consideration of