The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-17
THE BEEF COURT At OMAHA.
VISIT AND INSPECT THE VARIOUS
PACKING HOUSES.
1T Santiago Taken and They
Generally Dtsitke6 the Canned

OMAHA, Neb, March fs.-Tne board ..
inquiry appointed by TIE president "a look
Into the charges of Gen. Mics tsat the besf
isxaed during the late var Eas OF an IN
fsrlor quality, unhealthy and ~ times .eEa-
balEnel arrived this morning from Chi
csgo sFert the dag In the city and left Cor
Kansas City this evening. The morning
was spent in South Omaha, where the
plants Of the clidahy and Swift companies
were inspected and testimony taken. after
which the investigation was continued IN
the court-Ezlarsial rooms a. The hsatqsl<aI-
ieTs OF the Department Of the Missouri
AT both Sxsft's and Gudaay's the visitors
were given every opportunity 20 make
thorough inspection of Tie plants.
Returning 10 the office al the Cudahy
plant. the board took testimony for an
hcur. The first witness called was Alder,
Car.6sian, assastan superIn,e ns.eng In Cud
ahy'5 beef department lie testified as 10
the quality OK the refrigerated beef sent
10 the army last summer. and said that 10
chemicals or any SORT were used 10 preserve
tse beef
Or. .. G. Aver. superintendent OF the hu-
rean OF animal industry AZ South Omaha.
testified 10 tle inspection, OF the animals
He Stated that There we're TWO inspections.
the ante norton and the post nosten.
After the post ,loetem examination the IN
speetor had nothing more 10 do with the
meat. lie did not think i; would lse posi-
bic fer any condemned meat TO pass into
the house. The manner In which condemn
Cd animals are gotten rsd Of by the inspect
or was gone into az length. lie stated that
She meat could hardly be- taken from the
wax n which condemned meat WAS placed,
ard IL Il was taken out Of this vat Il would
he tao filthy 10 De used as food. He had no
knowledge OF the use OF Chemicals for the
preservation OF beef.
superintendent Cameron was next called.
lie stated that the meat used particularly
Tor canning we're the chuck and plates. and
that the beef Was not OF an inferior grade.
The company furnished this same qualify
OF roast beef To the English army last
year. and had aad no complaints. nor were
there every any of the cases returned.
Alter leaving Culabys the party drove
10 the Swift pant. where the department in
watch the hams are cured was thoroughly
inspected. DIR. Christine, OF philadelphia
had testified that while here he mad Been
some sort OF liquid being injected into
the meat.
Thomas Adams, foreman of the depart
ment. was called and testified that the
operation was one that had reference to
hams and was not used in beef at any
tine. The liquid injected was saltpeter
ana water, ana its only purpose was TO
cure the ham more quickly.
After hearing this testimony the board
adjourned and came TO Omaha After
lunch II reconvened at the army head
QUARTERS ana ntafu the testimony of SOL
diers who had been through the campaign
at Santiago
Capt. s. w. Cumming, OF the Sixteenth
infantry, said that after their arrival at
Santiago the men complained that they
could not eat the meat and did not Ike II.
lie was not prepared 10 say whether any
sickness occurred by reason OF the U.S.,
OF the canned beef.
His command was nsunic.ently rationed
from July until * left Cuba The ra-
tons consisted of beef hard bread. coffee
ana sugar. and when the beef was not
used IL left them short Insufficient trans
portation caused part Of this shortage
capt. W. II. Beck. acting Inspector gen
erai OF the department ~ the Missouri
said the canned beef used on the voyage
TO cuba was a new ration 10 him The
men said the beef nauseated them The
hrst supply OF refrigerator beef was re-
marked upon fasorabiy. Personally he
thought II fine. Later a quantity of il
was found 10 lac spoiled which was at
;ributed To exposure
He said that he would not attribute the
III health of the troops directly 70 fh. use
of the beef He had no reason to believe
that any OF the beef had been treated
chemically.
First Lieut. Isaac Irwin, Sergeant Al
bert 7. kase. Quartcrmaster Sergeant
John Nicer fin and Sergeant John T.
lowed with testimony similar TO that al
ready given, They agreed that the canned
beef was almost universally bad while
at FIRST the refrigerated beef was very
fine. bur spoiled later
This closed the work the board had be-
fore II in Omaha and tbs evening IL left
fer Kansas City.