The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-13

ignorance, their, officers not knowing what
refrigerated Beef-This commission
vas organized on the oath day Of
September last. Up to the 2lst day Of
mony in seventeen different towns ana
cities and nine camps 1t had also
received many hundred letters, communi-
persons living in all parts of the country.
examination OF numerous officers and en-
listed men had been made as to the quail
ity and condition of the meat issued to
ceptions. showed that the refrigerated
some.
On the 21st day of December last Major
General Nelson A. Miles, upon the writ
ten request of the president of this COM
mission, appeared before it. He refused to
be sworn, as all other witnesses had been,
except one. who affirmed, stating that he
would make his statements without being
sworn and was responsible for what he
said: He proceeded, and, for the first time
allegation was made that refrigerated
beef issued to the troops had been chemi-
cally treated. In this statement, revised
by himself, General Miles said:
There. was sent to Porto Rico ss7 tons
of what is known as so-called refrigerated
beef, which might call embalmed beef
He proceeded to read communication
from DR.. w. H.. DAILY, major and chief
staff, bearing date of September 81 1898,
wherein DIR. DAILY stated that: I'm the
several inspections | made in the various
camps and troopships at Tampa, Jack
sonville, Chickamauga and Porto Rico, I
found the fresh beef to be apparently pre-
served with secret chemicals which de-
stroyed its natural flavor and which 1
also believed to be. detrimental to the
health of the troops
Although Dr.. DAILY swears that he in
formed General Miles about the first of
Arsrr ,%o.6 ft,NA ) 1,A
refrigerated beef was chemically treated,
1t does not appear that the general in
formed you or the War Department
that an officer of his staff had made this
discovery. nor does it appear that he at
the time ordered any of the officers under
his command to probe to the bottom an
allegation, which, # true, concerned the
health of 275,0 600 soldiers in the army. 1t
appears from the report of DR.. DAILY,
which he handed to General Miles October
q last that. he then specifically stated
the troops was apparently chemically
treated" 1t does not appear when this
charge was made, October p it having
been already made to him in August, 1898,
that General Miles communicated to you
or the Secretary of War or to the commits
sary general the belief or suspicion enter
tanned by him that refrigerated meat,
dangerous to health, was issued every
day to the troops, in failure to do which
there was dereliction of duty. 1t is true
that on September 20 he had directed
that an order should be issued asking for
reports relating to meats issued, but the
order specifically mentions canned 1resn
the reports received in answer to this that
were printed in abstract by the general at
the time of his appearance before the
commission and since.
In his report DR.. DAILY does not make
the all-important statement that he had
already chemically analysed any meat, al
though he suggested that an analysis
should be made. He does state that IN
the several inspections made by him at
Tampa, Jacksonville, Chickamauga ana
Porto Rico. he found the fresh beef to
be apparently preserved with secret
chemicals" He said that at Ponce the
character being apparently preserved
bv Injected chemicals" The result or an
ANALYSTS has been reported to us ana II
will be seen by the reports appended that
IN no specimen examined has either
boracie or salicylic acid or other deleteri-
Gus chemicals been found: In view or
the facts above set forth the commission
Is of the opinion that no refrigerated beef
furnished by contractors and issued to
the troops during the war with Spain, was
eI,biected to or treated with any chemi-
calls by the contractors or those IN their
In considering questions concerning
canned meats it is not the duty of the
commission to inquire into. the character
and kind. For months as II appears, Drs
Daiv concealed the commission OF crime
affecting men under his charge, whom. as
an officer and a physician, he was bound
to protect.
The report. then after quoting from
the regulations of the Agricultural De-
partment prescribing the manner in
which inspections are, made lana no
packing house in the country is al
lowed to do business without Govern
mental inspection) after detailing the
processes pursued by our officials and
showing the practical impossibility Of
putting impure meat upon the market
goes On to say:
The commission has not confined itself
to merely verbal or written proof. I'm.
mediately upon hearing the testimony OF
DR. DAILY on the 10Th or January, teie-
Grams were sent to all issuing commits
sarfes in Cuba, Porto Rico and at the
various home camps occupied by troops.
asking that samples or refrlgerated peer
be at once taken. placed IN glass Jars
securely sealed and forwarded to the COM
mission These samples were TO be OF one
hound weight from the outside and one
pound weight from the INSIDE Oh quar-
ter In response to this request many
samples have been received and later sent
to the chemist of the Agricultural and
Interior Departments for careful chemi-
cal examination.
as to the quality of meats furnished the
soldiers during the recent war with spain.
There has been neither allegation, nor
any other acids have been used in the
canned meats furnished to the troops, but
such meats have nevertheless been great
ly criticized and they have for that rea-
son been tested by US and have been ana
lived under our direction, and we have
taken great deal of testimony as to the
mode of their preparation. The canned
meat is ordinarily taken from the fore
quarters of beeves.
The Agricultural Departments official
reports upon the s4nethods employed by
the packing hoieses, as required under the
inspection regulations, is incorporated.
The unansMous report shows that num-
Der of officers testified that canned beef
was unpalatable. 1t is also elected that
in tropical country, where it is subjected
to intense heat, the meat presents re-
pulsive appearance at first. Furthermore
1t transpires that occasionally an inferior
article is found. But the records of the
army prove that canned beef has been
used for many years.
The work Of the signal corps is highly
commended, as is also that of the pay
department the engineers department
and corps of engineers and the ord
nance department.