The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-23
DR.. DAILY ON THE STAND
He Reiterates His Charges of
Embalmed Beef.
CANNED BEEF CONDEMNED
Refrigerated Article Has More Friends.
Packers Will Be Given a Chanca
to Reply to DR.. Daly's
Accusations

Washington, Feb. 22.-To- days pro
ceedings of the court of inquiry inves
tisating the beef controversy developed
little that was new. The testimony
with the exception Of that of DR.. DAILY
surgeon on the staff of General Miles
during the war. and of Colonel Wood
ruff, assistant commissary general
was generally in line with that of yes
terday. The canned roast beef was
generally condemned as unsatisfactory,
while the refrigerated beef was COM
mended, the chief complaint being that
it often decomposed en- route to camp.
The testimony of representatives of the
subsistence department was begun, that
of Colonel Woodruff, assistant commas
sary general, being the most notable.
He purchased more than 100000 pounds
of canned beef and told Of The method
of purchase, and the reasons tnat
prompted it. He took issue with Gen
eral Miles contention that beef on the
hoof was the usual source of fresh
meat supply to the army. Another feat
ure of the day was the introduction Of
DR.. Daily, who charged before the war
commission that refrigerated beef at
JdchSpllNlllt, am pa anu
in Porto Rico had been treated chemi-
cally. He was not examined, however,
in regard to this charge. Colonel Davis
announced that the contractors who
were attacked were entitled to be mott
fled of the examination upon this point,
that they might have ample time in
which to appear should they decide
to do so. The law required this, he said.
Accordingly DR.. DAILY was excused after
a Ttjat ion and will IA recall
ed later The investigation will pro-
coed Tomorrow when General Eagan,
former commissary general, is expected
to appear and tell the story of the beef
supply as viewed by this department
When the court met this morning
Colonel Davis, recorder announced the
examination Of witnesses so far sum
moned and reported was about con-
cluded. The court should consider now
he thought, the question of further
summons and procedure and the court
went into executive session.
When the executive session concluded
DIR. William H. DAILY, of Pittsburg
who was major and chief surgeon of
volunteers during the war and testified
before the commission he had discov
cred by chemical analysis boracic and
salicylic acid in the refrigerated beef
furnished the army, was introduced
DAILY testified he was assigned to duty
on the staff of Miles and remained at
Tampa until few days after the Shat
ter expedition sailed. Thence he went
to Key West, Miami and other points
to study the proposed camp sites. He
finally joined Miles at Guanica, Porto
Rico. His duties, he said, We're those Of
attending surgeon at headquarters and
general duties incident to surgical and
medical needs of the army. DAILY re-
manned in Porto Rico five or six days
after Miles departed, being ordered to
supervise the preparations of the trans
port Panama for bringing onNales-
cents north. He arrived al Fortress
Monroe with convalescents Sept. 10. He
was i'll and returned to Pittsburg.
While still sick in Pittsburg he re-
ceived an order from Miles to go on an
inspection tour of new regiments in the
South that We're being fitted out for
tropical service. This was the trip on
which witness became acquainted with
the alleged embalmed beef. There were
several officers engaged in this inspec-
ton. Days investigation was directed
among other things particularly toward
the food supply and cooking arrange
ments of the regiments. The general
object of inspection, according to wit
ness, was to get troops into the best
possible condition for active service and
ITO render assistance and instruction
wherever it was needed.
DAILY testified he became sick, and
was forced to return to Pittsburg He
was handed a copy of his famous GEM
balmed beef report and stated it was
an accurate copy of his report
Davis then addressed the court brief
1y, saying it was only within "a hours
ne had been able personally to study
this report of Daily, and he found there
in certain allegations against certain
persons who had made contracts for
supplying food material to the govern
ment. To continue the examination Of
witnesses on this subject in the absence
of those persons against whom these
charges We're directed would be to de-
prive them of the rights accorded them
by law. He therefore suggested the
other parties interested (meat contract
ors) should be given a reasonable no
tice Of proceeding and witness be eX-
cused subject to recall when the exam
ination could be continued with the
other interested parties present.
Prior to leaving the stand, however,
DR.. Daily was examined in regard to
the Powell experiment with beef pres
it was merely experimental and no con-
tractor was involved. Daily said J. F.
Weston called his attention to a quar-
ter of beef which was hanging on board
ship, and which Weston said had been
for 20 hours in the open air and he was
waiting to see what would eventuate
Daily did not recall anything of Colonel
Weston's statement indicating the beef
was other than part of the general
supply or that it had been treated with
chemicals as an experiment. He no.
ticed that flies would not remain on the
beef and no larvae We're deposited He
thought it strange beef would not pu-
trify in Tampa air after 60 hours eX-
posture. Witness finally cut a piece
from the beef and later cooked and ate
it. He became nauseated. He did not
suspect preservatives in the beef, al
though his taste suggested an expert
ence he had with antelope some years
before while hunting. He said he had
no reason to suspect the government
was conducting an experiment as to the
efficacy of any chemical personalities.
Witness supposed it was part of the
from contractors, supposed
TO keep ~ hours in the sun and per-
faps Weston was merely curious to see
if beef would stand the test. Recur
ring to the taste of the beef as suggest
ing an experience with preserved ante
lone meat witness said that some wears