Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-03
COMHlSSARlAT IS CRITICISED
Congressman Rainey sGys Tainted Neat is
Served 70 Canal Employees.
ExrRAs ARE PREFARls FoR WsITORs
He Says Lunch for Congregational
Party Cost s1y85 = Head Instead
OF 30 Gents, as stated
by Steward.

NEW YORK, April 2-Congressman II.
T. Rainey Of Illinois, after spending eight
days in the Panama canal zone, today re-
turned here enthusiastic over the progress
made but most unfavorably impressed with
the management Of the commissary de-
psrtment
A careful investigation OF the commits
sariat would, Mr. Rainey believes, bring to
light a scandal second only to the scandal
OF the Standardization war"
The chief trouble he thought. lay in the
fact that meat arriving at the isthmus we'll
preserved, was not met at the dock as
was supposed, by refrigerator cars, but
instead was leisurely transferred in a tenn
pcrature Of between 80 and 90 degrees, with
the result that unless served with strong
garlic dressing or gravy II was unpal-
atable.
Mr. Rainey said that he would prove
that the lunch served 70 the congressional
party that recently visited the isthmus
and which was supposed to consist Of the
same menu served daily to canal workers
at a cost of 30 cents a man, was In reality
ordered five days in advance and cost S1.65
a plate. While the commissarat was sup
posed to serve food at cost, the stewards,
he said were ordered to make a profit Of
at lthNl eOU TO suU n Week. SHOES NubA
could be bought in the United States for
% a pair were sold by the commissariat,
the congressman declared, at g a pair
Beyond a poorly organized oommissary
department however Mr.. Rainey said he
found nothing to criticise.
Work PrOgressing Rapidly.
II visited the isthmus alone" he said.
81 inspected that portion OF the canal
where work is IN progress and am well
satisfied that the work is progressing ia
vorably. The excavations are made rapidly
and the removal of dirt is remarkable II
the work is continued at the rate now
made there is no doubt that It will be
finished in FIVE years and the locks can
be built In the same time The organiza-
tion Of the force in all departments except
commissary, is thorough and friendly RI
valry exists between the different gangs in
the excavation work. over 1B miles of
trackage is in use and GOO trains move
over the road daily making It the busiest
piece Of railroad in the world.
"The commissariat is the only ground
for complaint over 100 men in all parts
Of the isthmus complained to me Of the
food. The meat is brought down from
the United States on vessels provided with
refrigerators and arrives at the isthmus
in splendid condition. It Is supposed to be
met there at the docks by refrigerator cars.
/ The heat is between 50 and % degrees.
The meat is transferred very leisurely, and
this is where the trouble arises
Expensive Lunch for ConEreEamen.
Recently a congressional party Of nifty
three visited the isthmus and while there
was served with lunch in one OF the dining
halls. The guests were told that It was the
same lunch served from day to day to the
employees at cost OF 80 cents. can prove
that that lunch was ordered five days In
advance and cost 81 IS per head.
r. again, recently some members OF COM
mercial clubs from st., LOUIS and other
cities also visited the isthnus and were
served with luncheon in the Culebra din
ling hall. They we're told that the lunch,
with the exception of the cigars and wines,
was the same as is served to the employees
for 30 cents a head. Why. the oyster soup
alone cost 80 cents head.
1.-THE day President Roosevelt visited the
isthmus he was served with a 'thlrty-cent
meal. I md out that 1t was generally un-
derstood that the president would eat al
one OF the dining halls. so ali were ready
for him and had ready an unusually well
served lunch.
Meats in Bad Condition.
can meals are we'll served except the
meats The meats are not good. 1 have
the evidence Of stewards who say that
mutton has to be treated with soda and
water before It is cooked in order to take
on the green mould.
jackson Smith is in charge of the COM
missarfat and is crowded with work. The
details are left to subordinates and are
neglected.
81 think an examination here in this
states as to the purchase Of supplies would
develop that there ts graft. 1t is impossible
TO examine into the question down there.