New-York tribune., 1918-06-19
Mouldy Meat
Sold to NAVY.
Agents Say
Examiner for Federal Com
mission Hears Evidence in
Pelham Bay Charge

Charges which smack of the "em-
balmed meat" scandals Of the Spanish
American War are being aired before
special examiner appointed by the
Federal Trades Commission to inquire
into the quality of meat furnished un-
der government contract for the Pei
ham Bay naval training station.
The hearing, which began yesterday
morning, will be continued at II O'Clock
this morning in the United States Dis
trict Court chambers, in the Woolworth
Building. Testimony is being taken un-
der the direction of Edward P. Patter-
son, special examiner, appointed bv the
Federal Trades Commission. The find.
lngs will be submitted to that commits
sion at Washington for such action as
may be deemed necessary
William T. Chantland, of Sioux City
Iowa, is the attorney for the govern
ment, while H. Snowden Marshall, for
mer United States District Attorney, is
serving as counsel for Wilson & Co.,
packers, against whom the charges have
been brought.
Thomas E. Wilson, president of Will
son Co., was present and offered
occasional suggestions to his attorneys.
Since his recent election to the presl-
dency of the packing houses which bear
his name, an extensive advertising cam
paign has been carried on to establish
firmly the new trademark on meats in
stead of the abandoned rs. & ST." rep
resenting the German names Of
Schwarzschild G. Sulzberger. Repre-
sentatives of the packing house are
anxious to clear up the charges against
them, and contended that while SOM.
of their meat, examined may have been
bad: it was not offered for SALE
The first winess called by the gov
ernment was T. G. Lee, district super
intendent of Armour & Co., from whom
Wilson & Co. purchased a part of the
shipment alleged to be in bad condi-
ton. He said it had been received at
Philadelphia on February %, 23 and 25,
at time when there was a freight con-
gestion there.
A letter addressed by him to Mr.. v.
II. Munnecke, of Armour & Co., in Chi
cago, commenting unfavorably upon
the meat for use by military forces,
was offered in evidence, but decision
on its property was reserved by Special
Examiner Patterson.
Fred L. Meagher, manager of Armour
& Co. in Philadelphia, characterize
the meat, though moist when received,
as MT for human consumption. Joseph
Lion, another Armour manager, testi-
fed similarly.
Thomas Connolly, an inspector for
the Bureau of Animal Industry, said
that while the meat was mouldy. i.
was not unfit for use. Eugene s. Dew
lin, private inspector of meats, testl-
fed that while the meat in question
was not up to standard, it was never
theless fit for use. Edward Borneman,
food inspector in the city Departme.
OF Health, said that if the deteriora. ed
parts were trimmed off, tho remainder
would be fit for eating.
Lieutenant Bennett, summoned by
the government, testified favorably fol
the defence, but was dismissed by .ne
complainants and returned to his en-
barkation camp before the defence
could develop his testimony.
Lieutenant Edward Lapple, of the
343d Field Artillery, testified as to an
inspection made at San Antonio, Tex.
near Camp Travis, Of box of kidneys
and one of hearts furnished by Will
son G. Co.
The following statement was author
lied last night by Wilson & Co.:
"This investigation of the charges
made against US by the Federal Trade
COMMISSION Is IN response TO our own
demand for an immediate hearing
The commission, when it announced
the allegations, set July for the hear.
ing, but we insisted upon an earlier
date, knowing that when the charges
are sifted there will remain no grounds
for these unjust and unfair statements
concerning us and our service to the
government and the public.
Since our country entered the Wal
We have furnished more thnn 100000
pounds of meats to the government
and the chief item emphasized in the
original complaint is the box of kid
neys and barrel Of hearts, less thar
800 pounds, which are shown to have
bccn last in a public warehouse in Sal
Antonio, and which were never Offered
to the government nor to any o"o c'sc
"The Philadelphia beef case, referred
to in to-day's hearing, resolves itsel
into a matter Of our men buying beef il
public wholesale market from anothe
company. The evidence shows tina
this beef, as recently as Juno IL, wa
dulv inspected and annrOv"d and i
good beef. All we ask is for the pub
lie to wait until all the facts are
shown, when these reckless statements
concerning us will, we are confident
be ended 0nco for all"