The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-14

CHICAGO. March 13.-Rapid progress
was made today by the government court
OF inquiry investigating the beef contro-
versy. Nearly dozen witnesses were
examined, three Of them being inspectors
OF the government bureau of animal in
dustry and the rest of them employees in
various capacities at several Chicago
packing houses.
Col Davis, recorder of the court stated
tonight that he was unable to approx
mate the length of time it would take to
exhaust the list Of Chicago witnesses, but
1t seems likely that two or three days will
be required and possibly the entire week
before the members of the court can leave
for Kansas City.
The essential testimony today was de-
voted In an indirect way to charges pub
lished in New York that beef carcasses
after being condemned and put In the
rendering tanks were removed by means
OF secret traps and placed on the market
as food. This did not develop until the
second witness of the day was placed on
the stand The evidence of the first wit
ness, Edward Tilden was entirely formal
inspector, came on, the question was taken
up. DR.. Little testified that when meat
was condemned the inspection followed it
70 the rendering tanks, and saw it put in
he had no reason to believe that con-
demned meat had been taken from the
tanks, and did not suspect this had ever
been done. He added that the matter of
chemicals was not in his Jurisdiction, and
that II the meat was rubbed down with
Dor1c acid 1t would not be in his province
to interfere
Dr. .. b. Dyson was the next witness.
lie has been an inspector since 1893 He
old not believe it would be possible now
10 remove condemned meat from the
rendering tanks without discovery. He had
heard rumors to the effect that some four
or f1ve years ago this was done, but he
nad no definite knowledge. Dr. Mcneil.
announcer inspector, gave similar testimony
Cnaries Emory and James Morrow Of
hclals of the Libby, Mcneil & Libby
company, were the other witnesses of
the morning. They testified as to the
amounts of canned meat sold TO the gov
eminent and the various processes of
manufacture. Both denied the use of
chemicals.
AZ The AFTERNOON session Arthur Meek
er' manager of Armour & Co.'S packing
mouse, testified that no chemicals were
used by his firm in either canned or re-
IL iSoidteu oeeI NO date labels, he said
We're put on timed roast, the contents
being guaranteed and as good in six or
eight years as in one
How do you account for the dissatis-
Iaetion that is alleged on the part of the
soldiers In the use Of the canned roast
beef?" ioe'''
think there were several reasons
the neat, which caused the fat and the
.ehy 10 melt, and instead of nice. at
tractlVe-look1ng piece of meat coming out
oi the can the meat would separate come
apart III pieces. And there was no salt
III IT, no pepper no condiments, and in
many cases no condiments were used
several other officials explained various
other processes of canning meat and then
W. e. Pierce, the last witness of the
DAY, was called. He was asked If anv
discussion or dispute had ever arisen he,
tween the firm and the government in
spectors, with reference to the pronrietv
OF a condemnation
Yes. some times, but very seldom"
II a prime steer is condemned. WHAT
Is the loss to Armour s. Coz
Forty dollars or more"
Has any matter ever been removal
from the tanks during your connection
with the establishments?
Only after it had been thorouqblv die
tntegrated." N'
Have you ever had any reason TO Sis.
pect any tampering or foul play with re-
spect to condemned meat?"
mo sir
are any chemical salts or acids used
In connection with preservation"
NO Sir; cold alone is relied upon"