The Portland daily press., 1898-12-14
GEN. EGAN ON STAND.
He Defends the Commissary Depart
ment of the Army.

Washington, Decem Der Is. -Colnmissary
General Egan in his testimony before the
war investigation commission today
| urged that the subsistence department
should control the transportation OF all OF
its own supplies and the furnishing OF
means for cooking and eating. He said
| the secretary of war today approved bill
authorizing the subsistence de partment
to build and furnish bake ovens, mess
equipments, etc., which were much
needed. He thought the quartermaster
generals department was overburdened
with duties innumerable. He pointed out
that the British army was not as well fed
by any means as our own and that ratlons
already provided the United States
soldiers were satisfactory with the pos
sible addition of dried fruits. He spoke
of the Constant and urgent opportunities
which he said sometimes amounted to
persecution, that various articles of food
be added to the regular ratlons. THESE
opportunities were backed by strong sup
port and heavy capital. One well known
Senator whose name he withheld had pro-
posed and insisted on one article being
added, which he claimed would cost only
about one cent ration. While this might
be So for the whole army, its cost would
amount to an amazing figure. He said
he believed beer should be furnished the
men in such quantities as the command )
ing off GERS may decide to be best and IN
the interests of the men he would be will
ing to incur the hostility of the blue rib
bon societies
Referring to a complaint OF the beef
given in Porto Rico at thu outset of that
campaign, Gen. Egan said the responsible
ty rested upon other shoulders than his
own; that he purchased the best OF beef
but after the contract was entered into
and the beef aboard ship and sent Q
Newport News Gen. Miles had telegraph ed
him that he would get his beef on the isl.
and. Consequently the beef he shipped
remained on the ships, except for small
amount and was brought back to New
York and thrown overheard. The beef,
of fine quality, was there, he said, and
should have been taken No one with any
sense would hesitate to favor refrigerated
beef against native beef" He said he
had now sent refrigerator plant to San
Juan.
Referring to the ignorance in the vol
unteel army as to rations, Gen. Egan said
there should be one commissary sergeant
with each regiment to instruct the OIL
GERS as to the use and extent of rations.
Witness said that because of the de-
ficiency supplies had to be peddled out
very scantily giving only just enough to
last from day to day. He said there were
instances when his recommendations were
6isregarded by the commanding general.
He said all recommendations as TO sani
tary matters were practically only paper
manifestos and that evils complained of
were not eradicated. The responsibility
for the unsanitary conditions of the
Chickamauga camp rested on higher
shoulders than the medical. That depart
ment han exerted every effort, but he
was reluctant to name Gen. Brooke who
was in command, as responsible, though
not hesitating to say his reports and re-
Communications were repeatedly unayail-
ing.
Camp Thomas, Chickamauga under Gen.
Brooke, was recalled Were the various
regiments that arrived supplied with
such medicines as they needed in such
quantities as were wanted?' DR.. Common
asked.
sin no instance, was the reply.
Surgeon Hartsuff testified that tho ugh
he had found many cases of overcoming
he had taken no official oognizance Of
this state Of things and had not recon-
mended the removals of any of the
surgeons responsible because he did not
want to do any injustice to the surgeons
in charge.