Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-04-26
OFFICERS TO BLAME
Fixing Responsibility for Loss of
100000 Pounds of Beef.
THE MEAT ON BOARD The MANITOBA
Proper Effort to Issue 1t Was
Not Made.
NO PRESERVATIVES USED

The army board convened by a special
order to examine into the responsibility
for the loss of 100000 pounds of refrig-
Grated beef sent to Porto Rico last sum-
mer has submitted it's report and findings
to the Secretary of War. The beef was
shipped on the transport Manitoba, from
Swift & Co., in Chicago and Kansas City.
The board which made the report consists
of Col. James Moore, assistant quartermas-
ter general; Col. Dallas Bache, assistant
surgeon general; Col. Francis L. Guenther,
4th Artillery; Capt Louis C. Scherer, as
sistant adjutant general, recorder. The
boards findings as follows:
THAT the beef was good and fit for issue
upon its arrival at the port of Ponce, Au-
gust 10. 1898, was reported to the proper
military authorities, and that this condition
continued after the release of the Mani
toba from the reef on August IA, 1898, al
though there is reason to believe that the
refrigeration was not satisfactory during
that interval
THAT notwithstanding the time and labor
involved in unloading troops and animals
from the Manitoba, and in cleaning the
snip, up to and including August 16 1898
due and proper effort was: not made to
issue this beef to the accessible troops be-
tween that date and August % 1885, the
date of the departure Of the Manitoba from
Mayaguez.
THAT this lack of effort was in the ma
ture of an acquiescence in the arrangement
already locally sanctioned for the purchase
of native beef, but lay primarily in the
lack of controlling authority and a respon-
sible head of the subsistence department in
Ponce, under the difficulties attending
new military situation.
That both at Mayaguez August % to Au-
gust 81, and at Ponce, between the date of
the return of the Manitoba August 81, to
her departure for New York, September Z,
n n off nrt a. thxt of
this beef, and the meat was in the opinion
of the board. still fit for issue.
Ihat the meat had not been subjected to
any chemical process whatever for its
preservation
THAT the loss of this beef was due to
several causes: Possibly deterioration, while
the refrigeraung plant was interrupted or
disturbed August 10 to August Il exposure
to hlgh temperature from the time of load
ing on the transport to the date of issue at
Mayaguez and after; improper handling
and faulty protection after ISSUE deficient
transport to troops; prejudice against its
appearance under unfamiliar conditions and
delay. A month elapsed since the beef was
dressed before it reached Mayaguez, when
1or the hrst time issues We're made, each
DAY adding to the difficulties Finally the
distribution to the troops was such that
uhder the circumstances, great loss was in
eVltable In the absence Of refrigeTators at
ports of entry.
THAT the United States is responsible for
the loss. The board is aware of aan aver
age wastage in the issue of refrigerated
peel-a loss properly chargeable to the con-
tractor-but the board is unwilling to fix an
arbltrary hgure for such a shipment as
that of the Manitoba, handled under the
adverse circumstances existing as estab-
ashed by the testimony, and in the absence
of reliable data.
That Swift & Co. be reimbursed for the
beef.
The board construes the time limit in the
contract with Swift & Co. to mean that the
beef should remain sound forotwenty-four
hourS rx i after delivery to the issuing commits
hour clause referring to intermediate stor-
age in land refrigerators.
Findings Approved by the Secretary.
Secretary Alger has approved the findings
of the board and directed that payment be
made TO Swift & Co., in accordance with
the report.
Nothing has been determined as to
whether or not board of inquiry will be
ordered to make a further investigation
The board which has just reported was q
board of survey.