The times., 1899-02-04
TIMED ROAST BEEF
FOR THE ALGER BOARD
A Case of the Chicago Output
From Santiago.
The Report Not to Be Presented
Before Tuesday.
The Absence of Captain Howell,
Who IL in Atlanta, Is the
Cause of the Delay.

The only incident which disturbed the
serenity of the Alger Relief Commission
yesterday was the arrival of a case Of
timed roast beef from the depot commits
sary at Santiago.
The package was not taken into the ses-
sion chamber of the Commission, though
the cans were closely and carefully boxed
and had been exposed to the air for long
time. The meat contained in the cans is
perhaps of a pleasanter variety than that
issued to the troops.
The Commissary Department has done
all that it could be reasonably expected to
do toward sustaining its contention thlt
the rations issued to the troops were pure
and wholesome. 1t is thought by those
persons who have followed the proceedings
of the Commission that the depot commits
sary at Santiago would not select sample
of bad beef for the inspection of the Re
lief Workers.
The case OF meat was deposited in an
outer hall, and no information was 10 be-
had as to when it would be taken into the
presence of the Commissioners. 1t may b.
opened before the Commissioners today,
and following their established custom,
each Commissioner may pinch off small
breath, close his eyes, and pace it gently
between his lips. He will then pause for
a moment, make a slight movement of the
mouth, heave a sigh of relief and pro-
nounce the meat good.
1t has been suggested by persons at the
Lemon Building that the way in which
the Commissioners should test this meat
would be to work hard all day and then
be allowed nothing TO eat but this same
food which they endorse.
Though the Commissioners have said
that the meat is frst-class, they have
shown no eagerness TO eat it. No Commits
sioner has ever taken into his system more
of this beef at dose than a sparrow
could carry in his beak. They have
shown suspicion of the stuff akin to fear
when they have approached it.
This beef has been presented to the
Commission under favorable conditions.
1t has been exposed to cold weather and
the fat in the cans has become hard Off
GERS and men have testified that in Cuba
and Porto Rico this fat, because OF the eli
mate, has been soft and revolving. In
some instances the Commissioners have
| admitted their inability to determine by
taste whether this beef has been boiled
roasted or corned.
One of the Gamers testified that the beef
was boiled for twenty or thirty minutes
and that the water drawn from it was used
as base for canned soups. One of the
leading contentious against the meat is
that the nutritive properties have been eX-
tracted before canning
| The report of the Commissioners. which
has been in course OF preparation for some
| time. and which has been delayed by the
mass of evidence which the Relief Work
/ ers have been compelled TO disbelieve in
! order to convince themselves that this
same meat was excellent. when it was IS
| sued TO the soldiers in Cuba and Por,c
Rico Will, in all probability, be paced il
| the hands of President Mckinley mex
/ Tuesday or Wednesday. One of the Com
missioners stated last night that progres.
/ on the report had been rapid since the
work of preparing it had been taken up
and the principal cause OF delay now is tht
! absence of Captain Howell, who is in At
| anita.
| Captain Howell is not expected to re.
| turn until Monday, and as it is necessary
| TO have his signature to the report before il
! is complete, it cannot be presented unit
| then. After his return it is expected tha
| the whole thing will be reviewed so it i.
not probable that Mr. Mckinley Will SET
the document before Wednesday.
! The Commissioners state that they have
! made every effort to secure the presence
as witness, of Mr.. Farnan, of Chester
| Pa, who claimed, in letter to a Philadel
phia physician, that he had persona
knowledge of the embalming methods useC
by the Chicago packers for preserving beef
| but had not been successful. As soon a.
the members of the Alger Relief Commits
sion heard of Mr.. Farnans declaration
they said. they teiegraphed to him anC
used other means 10 induce him to appea
before them but he failed to respond