The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-01
GENERAL SYPHER TELLS
EAGAN HAD LITTLE FAITH IN
THE BEEF
HE DID NOT BELIEVE IT WOULD KEEP
He Inlimaled that He Preferred Beef on the
Block, but Stated that Alger Wished
Him to Give the Other
Trial.

iIldl.
Washington. March 31.-An but two
Of the witnesses before the army beef
inquiry to-day were members of the
medical staff CT the army. who were I'M
service i'll Cuba during the Spanish war,
The other two witnesses were George
Gidd:ngs and General J. Ii. Sypher, who
had been interested in securing contracts
the block for the army in Cuba. They
testified that General Eagan had told
them that the Secretary of War had
asked HIM TO give the refrigerator be Z
Il trial, while Gen. Sypher said that Gen
erai Elgan had created the impression
upcn him that he preferred the beef on
the block to the refrigerator beef.
Their testimony throughout was cCn-
Trajectory to General Eagan's testimony
and Mr.. Giddings said that Congressman
Hawley WAS prestmt at several of his
conferences with General Eagan.
\ majority of the army surgeons eX-
pressed the opinion that canned beef was
unsatisfactory for food for the troops
but some CT them thought it no MGR.
harmful than other meat in the Cuban
climate.
Mr. George III. Giddings OF San An
tonic, Texas, in reply TO request from
Major Lee detailed the particulars of
his various interviews with General
Eagan, concerning the letting of the con-
tract for beef. The first conversation re-
lated to the specifications for bids at
which Mr.. Gidd.ngs had called attention
to the fact that they were vague. Gen
eral Eagan had then said thist the spe-
clflcatl1ns We're necessarily vague us he
could not at that time give any specific
information. General Eagan had at that
time said that his preference would be
for refrigerator beef. If he had any con-
fdence in it: but he did not think the
refrigerator beef could be made available
in the Cuban climate
Il had baen in Cuba several times my
SELF said the witness. Il agreed with
him that it wonld be impossible to keep
the refrigerated beef in that climate
without refrigerators.'
Mr.. Giddings then told of his visit to
the Commissary General on the first
of July when the latter told him that
the Secretary of War had sent for him
the night before and had said that owing
10 the difference in price they had bet
ter give the refrigerator beef trial and
that he would have to do this.
i then asked General Eagan if h
had any confidence in the proposition and
he replied that he had very little. but
that the refrigerator men We're prepared
to give a bond to keep the beef good
for II hours after leaving the refrigera-
tor. He also stated that they had
preventative process by which they ex-
pected to be able TO keep the beef in
condition. But h said that if there was
any dissatisfaction after the contract
went into effect he would upset it and
give the Texas cattlemen a chance"
With reference to General Eagans
alllisionY to a preselyative process Mr..
Giddings said that the General had told
him that Swift and Company who had
made the lowest bid on refrigerator be;1
had il Tsocess which would enable them
to keep the beef for II hours after be,
ing taken from the refrigerator.
'Do YOU believe it? | asked General
Eagan.' said Mr.. Gidings to which he
replied. I've got to believe it--I'ye get
to give it a triad
General j. Hale Sypher, an attorney
for the Texas Gentlemen confirmed
what Mr.. Gidd-ngs had said. He said
that while he had not visited General
Eagan with Mr.. Giddings he had seer
him frequently and tuaked fully with
him on this subject in tne interest of
the Texas men,.
General Eagan.' said the witness
conveyed the impression to me that
he distinctly and positively preferred
beef on the block to refrigerator beef.
and | 50 informed my people. sending
for some of them to come here"
General Sypher said that he had first
discovered a tendency to change his mind
on the part Of General Eagan soon after
the bids were opened.
lie disclosed to ME. then" said the
witness, that the refrigerator beef men
had volunteered 10 give u bond for pre-
seryation of their meat for Il hours af-
ter leaving the refrigerator. asked
him if he thought it possible to do this
and he replied, Il don't believe it is I'M
less they put up cold storage plants
Continuing, General Sypher said that
something WAS said by General Eagan
at this juncture concerning a preseqva-
tive process. but that he gave it very
little attention.
Some days later" General Syph5l
said, General Eagan informed me that
owing to the great difference in price
he would have to give the refrig rator
beef trial.
The witness. said in reply to question
put by Major Lee that General Eagan
had said something about political pres
sure as the reason for the necessity for
making the trial and that he mad said
something about his conference with the
Secretary of War. As to just what he
had said on this latter point, he lSy
pher) could not remember but he thought
Mr.. Giddings had stated correctly
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