The record-union., 1899-03-14
The Court Of Inquiry Making Rapid
Progress at Chicago.
Nearly a Dozen Witnesses Examined at
Yesterdays Session Of the Board.
Three Were Inspectors of the Gov
eminent Bureau Of Animal In
dustry and the Rest Employees
in Various Capacities at Chi
cago Packing-Houses.

CHICAGO, March 13.-Rapid progress
was made to-day by the Government
Court of Inquiry investigating the beef
controversy. Nearly a dozen witnesses
We're examined, three of them being in
spectors of the Government Bureau OF
Animal Industry, and the rest of them
employees in various capacities at sew
eral Chicago packing houses. Colonel
Davis, Recorder of the court, stated to-
night that he was unable to approx
mate the length of time it would take
to exhaust the list of Chicago witnesses,
but it seems likely that two or three
days will be required before the mem
bers of the court can leave for Kansas
City.
TESTIMONY AT YESTERDAYS SES-
SION OF THE COURT.
CHICAGO, March Backward Til
den. who is Treasurer and one of the
directors of the Libby, Mcneil & Libby
Packing Company, was the first wit
ness called to-day in the army beef
inquiry. Referring to the grade OF
stock reported in the newspapers as
Gamers" he said: L understand that
it refers to- a cheap grade of cattle, but
so far as the packing houses are con-
cerned it is a misnomer and does not
signify anything"
Witness said the aim is to get uni
form class of beef for canning of about
900 pounds live weight. Generally the
fore quarters are used for canning.
Major Lee asked: rs it not a mat
ter of fact that you can what might be
termed the inferior part of the fore
quarters?''
No. sir: 1T is a matter of fact that we
can the best part of the fore quarters,
the chuck
rs it not a fact that chucks were
sold to the troops at WATERFOWL, N. Y.
and other points for four cents
pound?'
IF they were, somebody must have
been very anxious to dispose of them
The market price would be about six
cents. The chuck is not by any means
the worst part of the carcass; We look
upon it as one of the choicest parts.
In fact, the fore quarter of the carcass
is the only part eaten by an orthodox
Jew"
Major Lee: Then the price would
depend upon the number of Jews in the
community"
NO sir; not at all"
How many different grades of
canned beef do you prepare?"
Two grades of roast beef, one grade
of corned beef"
rYou sold considerable of this lower
grade to the Government, did youI not ?'
"A very small amount We sold
about ., 100000 pounds of canned roast
beef to the Government in ALL
a
second grade delivered?"
Il think it was delivered at Camp
Alger." The difference in price be-
tween the two grades, witness said,
was one cent a pound.
DR. George Lyttle an assistant in
spector of the Bureau of Animal In
dustry, who has been on duty in the
various stock yards, testified that abou.
one in five hundred cattle was con-
demned. If the animal is to be en-
tirely condemned, the inspector fol-
lows it to the rendering tank and sees it
put in. He made no inspection of the
tank itself, nor did he inspect the re-
fuse when it came out. In the case of
bruises. the bruised portions are cut
off and condemned Meat withdrawn
from the tank would not be suitable for
food
Have you any knowledge of any be-
ing withdrawn from the tanks?"
No, sir"
ANY reasonl for suspecting it?~
mo sir
Have you any jurisdiction as to
chemicals?"
No SIR
IF beef were rubbed down with cloths
containing boracic acid, it would not be
a matter within your jurisdiction"
No, sir
In reply to General Davis witness
told how the meat was cut up prior to
being placed in the rendering tank say
ing it would be possible for a small
quarter to be put in whole.
Are cows that have recently given
birth to calves condemned?"
Eyes, within a certain length of
time
What is the limit?''
Nine days after delivery. or up to
within a month prior to delivery"
Major Lee: Then a COW carrying a
calf seven months would go in and not
be condemned?"
Yes"
Are not cows habitually used in the
canning establishment
Yes, the larger portion of the can
ners are cows
Colonel Davis-What is the purpose
of your inspection?
ITO guard against diseased meats
you consider a COW seven months
with calf just as good and wholesome
as one that is not with calf seven
months?"
All things being considered, yes"
In reply to Major Lee, the witness
stated that some of the houses kill cat
tie the same day they arrive at the
yards. while others held them for a
day or two days
Some kill them right away?"
Eyes, sir
After they have been shipped long
distance?"
Yes, sir"
DR.. o. f. Dyson, who has been an in
spector at the stockyards since 1892,
was next called. He said his duties
were to look after the other inspectors
and see that they do their duty. He
had twenty-five or thirty men to look