Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-06
Commissary of Subsistence Sharpe a
Witness Today.
THINKS IT WAS OF GOOD QUALITY
Mold Did Not Hurt 1t in His
Opinion.
SUPPLIES IN PORTO RICO

The war investigation commission at its
| session this morning heard the testimony Of
| Col. Henry G. Sharpe, commissary OF sub
| sistence. He stated that during the war
with Spain he had been on duty at Camp
| Thomas and also at Porto Rico, and said
| that he had experience in the purchase Of
beef during the interval named. He stated
that the quality of beef furnished at Camp
| Thomas under his supervision was as fine
| as any he had ever seen in any Of the
cities.
Reference was made by General Beaver
to a statement by Dr. W. II. DAILY Of the
L. ). n. in letter to the adjutant general
of the army that the beef at Jacksonville
and also at Camp Thomas had sickenlnG
| odor. The witness stated that the remark
could not apply to the beef at the camp
while he was there. His attention was also
called 10 DR.. Days statement that the beef
at Ponce had evidently been chemically
prepared in order to make UP for deficiency
IN the refriEerating process. In regard TO
the Porto Rico beef the witness stated that
II was very fine and generally So conceded
to be. He further stated as his opinion
based on experience, that refrigerated beef
was superior TO beef slaughtered in Porto
Rico.
odor and DiscoIoration.
In further quotation from the letter OF
DR.. DAILY, which General Beaver referred
to as the purported letter" because, as he
explained DR. DAILY hal not been before
the commission TO testify that he had writ
ten the letter. the para graph was read
which spoke Of the odor from decornposing
boric acid, and the witness said he did not
Know what was meant. General Beaver ad-
mltted that he also did not understand the
language used
The witness also said that in Porto Rico
there were complaints about the refriger-
ated beef, and also about the native beef
of h.a ,t,f..-
receive the beef, while others used it, The
difficulty, he said, was one that was COM
mon to all chilled beef. and that was a
slight diScolOration of the surface when
removed from the refrigerator. This, he
said did not affect the quality of the beef
The discoloration, he said was hardly no.
iceable as mold, as had been described,
although a close inspection might give that
effect.
In regard to canned beef, the witness said
some of it was good and some was not 80
good, and the latter condition. he thought
was caused by some defect in the canning
process.
Quarter of a Million for Supplies.
In reply to a question, the witness said
when he arrived at Ponce he had a credit
of quartec OF a million of dollars for the
purchase of supplies. Coffee and sugar
could be obtained on the island to a limited
extent. He said for his personal use if he
had the choice, he would select first. re-
frigerated beef. then canned beef and,
lastly, beef the hoof. The witness
further stated in reply to a question that
I'm his opinion il was an advantage to the
United States TO purchase refrigerated beef
expressly for use along the coast I'm Porto
Rico, rather than to procure native beef
AT places in the interior. where no refrig-
Grating facilities existed. it was of course
necessary, he said, to buy the native beef.
The attention of the witness was called
to the statements of several officers that
the canned meat at Porto Rico was not
palatablc and not tit for use.
The witness stated the officers named
were not there with their commands, al
though they might have been then on the
staff of General Miles.
Beef Issued by Mai. Black
In regard to the issue of beef by Major
Black, commissary on the staff of General
Miles at Porto Rico, the witness stated he
was there at that time but he knew moth
ing of the beef that was issued.
The witness said that there was a differ
ence of opinion about the canned roast beef
used in Porto Rico, but personally he did
not think the extreme views this sub
ject We're justified. When the cans were
opened. he said, the appearance was not
inviting, but the beef was perfectly good.
He further said the use of this beef was
not an experiment; that it was used in the
foreign services, especially for emergencies,
was done during the late war.
Upon the conclusion of the testimony Of
the witness the board went into executive
session,