New Britain Herald Newspaper, June 21, 1917, Page 9

ERGAN TALKS ON 90D FOR FIGHTERS -dongress Army and Navy Men Deserve Best Food . (Special to the Herald). 'ashington, June 21.—Represen- vo Augustine Lonergan made the flo\vlnt speech in congrss yesterday jgarding food supplies for the army d navy: ‘r Chairman: On April 16, 1917, I introduced ian Mnn of representatives the fol- /resolution: Resolved, That the secretary war be, and he is hereby,. di- ted to furnish to the house of “representatives copies of all regu- ons and orders pertaining to inspection of food supplies ‘the army in time of war, and ‘state whether or not the pres- regulations and orders for inspection of such supplies e applicable and feasible in e of war. fOn the same day I also introduced milar resolution, requesting that retary of the navy furnish to ouse of representatives like in- fon concerning the mspection food supplies in the navy in time e resolutions were referred, ively, to the committee on 1| affairs and ‘to the commit- ‘on naval affairs, and in accord- “with the stipulations therein, pcretary of war forwarded the proper channels to the mittés' on military affairs infor- concerning the inspection of supplies in the army in time of in a letter written under his| on to the chairman of the emittee, the Hon. J. Hubert Dent, ‘and signed by Assistant Secretary far’ Williami M. Ingraham. 0 Secretary of the Navy Jo- ius Danlels, forwarded to. Chair- “L. P. Padgett of the house com- ® on naval affairs, complete in- tlon as to the inspection of food plies in the navy in time of war. ‘In these days, when the, navy the army, as the fighting arms fthe nation, must at all times be fintained at the highest point of fency, it is proper to inquire into method of supplying and inspect- .food intended for both branches “the service. “sifeguard the If every precaution ealth. of the men, far as the “fo supply is con- ied, obtains: it will be reassuring ‘now this; if there 'are ilizertain Pts which can bettér be’looked ', the - responsibility lies with us ’.h | ; to make such changes the results desired. “The navy, recognized as the first line of defense, might properly be first considered. There are two gen- eral classes of provisions purchased for the navy, perishable provisions, such ag fresh and refrigerated meats, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, bread, butter, eggs, and the like; and non- perishable provisions such as tinned meats tinned vegetables, coffee, sug- ar, flour, rice and other articles sometimes designated as groceries. “Qwing to the difference of the keeping qualities of these two classes of provisions, and the fact that the navy does not own any cold storag plant, the two classes are necessar- ily purchased under different condi- tions. The non-perishable provisions are purchased in large and specific quantities for storage and subsequent supply to the fleet; whereas the per- ishable articles are purchased for monthly and quarterly deliveries— the quantities being estimated- only and the contract being in effect mere- ly an agreement on the part of the contractor to supply such quantities of the articles contracted for, as may be required by the navy during the life of the contract. “All provisions are covered by leaflet specifications; and provisions delivered m be strictly in accord- ance with these /specifications—no deviation whatever being allowed. “All bidders are required to .sub- mit samples of what they propose to furnish with their bids, and the con- ‘tract is awarded to the lowest bidder, ‘whose articles are in accordance with e standard samples. “The greatest danger from in- ferior quality, of course, lies in tinned meats. plies, inspection is made by a repre- sentative of the bureau of animal industry at the plants where these meats are put up. Specifications re- quire that such meats shall be U. 8, inspected and passed in accordance: with the regulations of the Uni States department * of agricultu Upon “delivery, samples are taken' af random from the ‘quantity delivered and a rigid inspection made at the provisions and clothing: depot to see whether or not these samples are in strict accordance with the specifica- tions. “If they are not, the delivery is re- Jected. All specifications! of non- perishable provisions, without regard to where these provisions are deliv- ered, are made at the proyisions and hing depot at New York, thus in- suring uniformity of inspection. “Tinned butter is inspected at the factories . where made, by inspectors of the bureau of animal industry, and every process is its manufacture and packing is carefully watched. “Fresh and refrigerated meats and meat products are also inspected “by sovernment ‘inspetters, at the pack- er's plant, in ition to which they are' inspected upon delivery at the navy yard by a representative of the bureau of animal industry stationed at the yard for thls particular pur- pose. This also applies to fresh “will eftect In looking after such sup- | vegoubln. fruits and dairy producb.‘nhes purchased, ‘nd at luuan'l m mr HA[.TS RUSH To m final inspection of these articles being made according to the navy regula- tions by the medical officer of the ship to which they are delivered. “Reviewing these regulations, it is well to recall here the statement of the present paymaster general of the navy in one of his first intra-bureau orders issued by him after taking of- fice, in which he said: Enlisted men have no choice as to what they shall eat, being compelled by the very necessities of the servicé to take whatever is served out to them. For this reason and because adequate and satisfactory subsistence is the very foundation not only of real efficiency but of discipline itself, there is no class of purchases for the naval service that needs to be more constantly watched than provisions, our men being no ‘poison squad’ but human beings and American citizens for whom we stand in the selation of trus- tees in mo far as relates to the question of food. “Ag a result of this statement thore were uniformly good reports from the medical officers submitted to the surgeon general in 1915, and in turn .passed on by the surgeon general of the navy tosthe 'master general. Again, in 1916, similar gratifying re- ports were made, to which the sur- geon general added in his official re- port: 1 can assure you that no navy in the world is as well fed, as well clothed, its general welfara so thoroughly looked out for as that of the United States; and am glad to offer you and the en- tire personnel of your corps my heartiest congratulations for the large share you have had in pro- ducing this well-being and its resultant contentment. “The food supply of the army 1s similarly safeguarded. Due to the passage of the food and drugs act of 1906, and amendments since, as to the sale of poisoned and deleterious food, and also the meat inspection law of 1906, and ameéndments sinoce, against the use of meat that is “‘un- sound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or otherwise unfit for human food,” the supply 'is .carefuly watched. “Meat for the use of the army is’ rigidly inspected at. the packing houses, the inspection beginning with ‘the animal before it is killed and all through the after process, by inspect- ors of the agriculture department sta- tioned at the various packing houses throughout the country. In addition to this, most- inspectors gnd experts of the glartermaster corps are also stationed at the great packing houses in such centers as Chicago, Kansas City, Omaha, Buffalo, and -elsewhere, where meat is prepared or cured for the army, and also watch through the whole process from e killing of the animal until it is turned over to the government. “With regard to othu! food .articles or stores purchased for the army, trained experts at depots and purchas- ing stations carefuily inspect all sup- where troops the actually located, in- spections are made by the officers who procure the supplies. “All provisions, of whatsoever ha- ture must measure up to the specifi- cations and conditions imposed by the guartermaster corps for subsistence and supplies. Beef, for instance, which is perhaps the principal item of the soldier’s fare, must be fit for immediate use,.and equal, numbers of fore and hindquarters must be de- livered including the best cuts; no carcase to weigh less than 500 pounds when trimmed; the difference in weight between fore and hind quar- ters not to exceed 25 pounds per carcass. Every article is specifically beef, bacon, ham and the like. “All trade labels on provisions and other artiles must conform to the re- quirements of the meat-inspection and pure-food laws, and rulings thereun- der, and also to the laws of the state in which delivery is made. All pack- ing house products canned after date of award must have the required lab- el stamped in the can. Authority from the secretary of agriculture has been obtained for a stamp-in-the-tin label on containers of canned meats or meat food products, in'lieu of the trade label, but in'order to prevent the appearance of misleading - state- ments on containers of food products, it is required that copies of all labels be submitted for the approval of the department of agriculture prior to the making of the dies. “All these regulations govern the furnishing of supplies up to the time of delivery to the army. Therefo: wheén the provisions have been re- ceived at the various army posts and camps, care {s taken that the food is properly handied. In addition there has been printed by order of the secretary of war a ‘‘Manual for Army Cooks,® prepared under the direction of the quartermaster general of the army and approved by the major gen- eral, chief of staff. This is for the in- formation and guidance of the reg- ular army and of the organized militi& of the various states, and covers the handliniz, care, and preparation of food for the table in: an admirable mannér. A similar manual has been prepared for army bakers, and both, beside being replete with information and instructions, .are well illustrated. “The costly errors that have been made in the past in regard to. the in- spection of food supplies for our fight- ing forces must, in the present war, be avoided. Strict enforcement of the regulations cited above will aid ma- terially in this. If other steps shoul from time to time, appear best to be taken, we should be ready at all events | to take them, to the end that our men in the fleld, and at sea, shall have every guarantee of health that ‘we can possibly give them.” If You Want Good Bottled New York, June 21.—Wall street paused in its rush to watch the red arrow on the “thermometer” in front of the Banker's Trust building to take its first upward jump in big Red Cross campaign ‘to raise /§100,- 000,000 in one week throughout the country. The arrow went up to th $10,000,000 mark, hesitated’an in- stant, then slowly crept up to.the margin, line just above, indicating that a little more than $11,000,000 in contributions and special Red Cross corporation dividends had been received in one day, the first of the campaign. The “thermometer” was designated to furnish an accurate record, of the progress of the cam: paign, and esch $1,000,000 raised sent the arrow _up another motch. 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