The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-10
And See that the Beef Is Rendered In
stead of Passing Through to a Sc
cret Canning Department..
WORKMEN TO BE EXAMINED
PACKER WHO FURNISHED ROAST
BEEF ALSO TO BE QUESTIONED,
No More of the Timed Roast Meat TO
BE Used as Part of the Army Ra-
tion-A Chemist Selected.

CHICAGO March e.-The court of inquiry
to examine the beef question began its work
to-day in this city, where are located the
nlants of the packers which had the con-
tracts for supplying the army with animal
food. Two of the members-Brig. Gen. Geo
w. Davis and Lieut. Col. George E. Davis,
the Judge advocate and recorder-reached
here Wednesday night. and the other two
members-AIaj. Gen. James +. Wade and
Brig. Gen George L. Gillespie-arrived this
morning.
A short executive session held al the
army headquarters in the Pullman building
and it resulted in a decision TO defer the
taking of testimony until after an inspection
had been made of the packing houses at the
stock yards, where the refrigerated beef and
canned beef are prepared. The court began
in the killing room. The next place visited
was the cooling room. Here were found
several halves of beef which had been con-
demned, either because the beef was badly
bruised or gave evidence that the animal
had had tuberculosis. This condemned beef
had been placed by itself, and while the
court was present men came in to remove IT
TO the rendering tanks, preparatory to turn
ing il into a fertilizer. The court examined
these tanks carefully, possibly in view OF
the statement that the carcasses passed
through them. There certainly was no evi-
dence Of such passage. From this room the
court taken to the one in which the
meat is prepared for canning and saw the
men at work cutting up the meat.
The next room visited was the canning
department Here the cooked meat was
brought in in huge caldrons, deposited on
platform and put into cans by machinery
the cans removed and sealed, only pin
hole being left open in the top. Next the
cans were put under an iron tank, where
they were subjected to a heat of 80 degrees
the sterlizing process. While the court
was in this room number of cans of roast
beef which had an old appearance and
which, it was said had been i'm Porto Rico
were opened. The meat inside was good and
the members of the court tasted 1t, but, of
course, expressed no opinion. Subsequently
the court was shown through the printing
packing and other branches. Barring the
killing room. everything about the estab-
Hshment was very clean.
After leaving the yards the court went TO
the Bureau of Animal Industry. branch of
the Agricultural Department. and obtained
some information from Mr.. w. S. Devoe,
who is in charge They read the law govern
ing the inspection OF animals anu Inquirer
as to the details of the work OF inspection.
Inspectors are stationed in the yards proper
and they condemn any diseased cattle they
see. The inspectors at the packing houses
supplement their work by examining the
carcasseS after slaughter and throw out any
bearing evidence of pulmonary trouble.
Tomorrow morning the court will go to the
stock yards and spend the entire day there
in going over three other packing houses.
1t is not likely that any testimony will be
taken before Saturday morning. 1t is quite
likely that the evidence taken will be con-
fined to that of the foremen and workmen
who have personal knowledge of the prepa-
ration Of refrigerated beef and canned roast
beef for consumption. While the board may
hear any one who appears, it is probable
that il will not continue the line of inquiry
followed at Washington. AS Colonel Davis
said I'VE have examined everybody from
the private to the major general who ate
any of the beef in Cuba or had information
about its condition there. At least one
packer is to be examined-the one who fur
nished most of the canned roast beef to the
army"
Members of the court declined to discuss
any OF the details of the investigation at
Washington stating that their views on the
testimony would be submitted to the proper
authorities when the inquiry was concluded.