New-York tribune., 1918-06-20
Captain Williams Tells of
Rejecting 428,878 Pounds
of Bad Meat
Charges Denied by
Packing Firm Head
Witness Says Inspectors
Rely Largely on Sense
of Smell

Disclosures that huge quantities of
meat rendered to the government under
contract for use by the army and navy
were found in stages of decay making
them unfit for human consumption
we're made yesterday by Captain
Charles S. Williams, of the pay division
at South Brooklyn. in charge of sup
plying food for the enlisted personnel
of the navy
Captain Williams was testifying at
the second session Of the Federal
Trade Boards inquiry into charges
that Wilson & Co. we're furnishing bad
meat to our fighting forces. He told
Edward B. Patterson, special examiner
for the commission, that of 529,662
pounds of ham offered by the company
he had to reject 42s.87s pounds, finding
only 110,5SS pounds fit TO eat.
Thomas E. Wilson, president of the
Wilson firm. was called to the witness
stand by Il. Snowden Marshall, counsel
or the company. He denied that any
member of his company had ever know
ng'y delivered to the government taint-
4 meat saying his firm had already
sold to the United States and it's
lies moe than 500 900 600 pounds of
maatstuffs, and that when any meat was
found bad he had always taken it back.
All Closely Inspected
Mr.. Wilson said: "My firm has al
ways manifested willingness to guaran-
tee all deliveries as sound. Every con.
signment has been closely scrutinized
by inspectors of the bureau of animal
industry of the Department of Agri-
culture. Never have they complained
to the company. / think our firm is
entitled to be put right in the eyes
OF the commission, who must see sooner
or later that the facts do not bear out
the charges"
he I'd sd that his employees have in
structions to follow the products to
the camps and assist the men there
IN handling them, realizing, he said,
that they had moral responsibility
until the goods were eaten.
When it was pointed out by W. T.
Chantland attorney for the board, that
$50 per cent of the meat delivered
under certain contracts was bad, he
denied that such percentage was
found unfit, adding that he didn't think
from mould under the naval specif-
cations. The government contracts
called for four m .nths' guarantee.
Mr.. Wilson's contention that his firm
was always willing to withdraw all
spoiled meats was jolted somewhat by
The testimony. earlier in the day, of
Captain Williams. The captain said
that when he ordered the 428,878
pounds of ham returned as unfit, Will
son & Co. appealed from his ruling to
tne Assistant Secretary of the Navy,
VINO ordered a reinspection, piece by
piece, at Chicago Two deliveries were
sent to the Great Lakes Naval Train
ing Station, where the protests of the
medical officers, he said were SO great
mat the shipments ceased.
Refund Delayed
captain Williams testified that he
wrote repeatedly to the Wilson COM
pany requesting refund for the meat
rejected, but that it was only after
several months had passed and he had
e.ompsa'ned to the Bureau of Supplies
.nst check was sent. The bids which
,ne packers had made, he continued,
FAC been so "exorbitunt" that he had
ossn compelled to issue commar1r er-
~ oraer directing the packers to de-
nsr nssr the hams according to navy speci-
nsauons, for which fixed price was
4 discussion concerning the best
methods of packing - m brought forth
telegram from MIR. Marshall. which
M.c aac hren sent by Paymaster General
ce,. ccs.,ows,' r., at Washington to Wilson &
read in part: "oficer in charge Of Of
provision depot at New York reports
.n;:... meat inspectors here are of the
.p.','n th"t mould on h'm after deliv-
a. ~ - due to wrapping in heavy paraf-
.a .ne paper Suggest that cot
~: s9n ssek be used "r burlap outer wrap
Captain Williams, however. said
II. IL o,sagreed with the paymaster as to
AZ, wv oest manner Of wrapping hams,
sSsn ,S~.ns; He doesn't know as much
srcmt It az do"
ne captain then told how 372
,;uae: r;s OF ham placed on board the sup
snip kittery ard another lot on the
A. enri he'd been condemned by the
$40 rd of survey and destroyed. Re-
sment was asked because the con-
.aSr mscsor Guaranteed the hams to keep in
lISu sl condition for four months IN any
How Meat Was Inspected
Il, ne next witness was Joseph E. Han
Tns., superintendent of the National
wS;u, vS;u storage plant. In Brooklyn. to
the Wilson company sent meats
-. m..t tStorago. When asked to detail the
sn.s sncd OF inspection he said: I'VE
NJ ~ ,he car, and IL it smeiis all right
fsss ~S snsre is no exterior sign of de-
'ss,ofstion,, it's good
/, s. ~ ts1srack 's T. Spencer, q superintend-
sl ~ s;s. g 81 ne International Mercantile Ma
81 - mpany, and an assistant Thomas
E az II s -
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