The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-04
Report VIII Be Made TO rhe Secretary
of War on Responsibility for Loss
of Refrigerated Beef.
GEN. EAGAN'S INVESTIGATION
LETTERS FROM CHICAGO PACKERS
IN REPLY TO INQUIRIES.
Vigorous Denial of Allegations that
Chemicals Are Used in Preserv-
ing Beef-Canned Meat.

WASHINGTON, JAN 3.-The board of
survey, appointed by the secretary of war,
TO examine into and report on the RESPONSE
bility for the loss of 100000 pounds of re-
frigerated beef of Swift & Co., which was
rejected by General Miles on its arrival at
Ponce, Porto Rico, and which was subse-
quently thrown overheard while en- route
on the return voyage, met to-day, but de-
cided that, inasmuch as the proceedings Of
a board Of survey were subject to review
they would not be made public. The board
is instructed to ascertain if proper effort
was made to feed this beef to the troops in
Porto Rico and fix the responsibility in case
proper effort was not made; to ascertain
whether, as reported in the testimony be-
fore the war commission, the beef had been
chemically treated and whether the United
States was responsible for its loss, which
involves a recommendation as to whether
Swift & Co. should be reimbursed. A board
of survey has no power to administer oaths.
1t can only find on information and recon-
mend, subject to review of the appointing
officer, in this case, Secretary of War AL
ger. The board will investigate the ques-
lions with which they are charged. They
intimate that the proceedings are not Of
great Importance in reality only involving
a recommendation as to whether Swift &
Co. should be paid for the beef. Such a
recommendation, however, necessarily in
wolves fixing the responsibility for the re-
lection of the beef
The board decided to go into the investi-
cation exhaustively. All the records will be
carefully examined, witnesses will be sum-
moned and, wherever possible, affidavits
will be obtained in support of testimony
The board has no power to administer oaths
and affidavits, therefore, must be volun-
tary. Representatives of Swift & Co. I'M
doubtedly will be summoned, as will Cen
Miles and other army officers conversant
with the facts but, up to a late hour this
afternoon, no summons, so far as could be
learned, had reached General Miles The
general Of the army is very complacent over
the matter. The 100000 pounds of refriger-
ated beef arrived at Ponce the very day the
protocol was signed. This amount of fresh
meat, it is stated, would have furnished
rations for the American troops then on the
island for fifty days. But, it is added, had
it been landed 1t could not have been kept
There was barely enough ice in Ponce to
supply the hospitals. Our troops, save about
one thousand men, were scattered through
the southern portion of the island from
MayagueZ to Guayama, distances varying
from twenty-five to ninety miles. Had the
beef been landed almost the entire quantity
the general of the army holds, must, in
evitably, have spoiled. 1t is believed the
work Of the board will consume the greater
portion of two weeks, possibly longer
The war investigating commission has de-
cided to make a thorough investigation of
the complaints made about the beef fur
nished the army in the expeditionary cam
paigns. Summons was made to-day for the
appearance before the commission, next
Friday, Of Major Daily, the chief surgeon
at the army headquarters at Tampa, prior
to the departure of the Shafter expedition,
who made vigorous report, forwarded by
General Miles, in condemnation of the beef.
The Swift Packing Company, of Chicago,
will be heard next Monday in defense of
these supplies. There was only one witness
to-day Col James M. Moore, assistant
quartermaster general OF the army, who
appeared merely to correct some errors in
the report of previous testimony