Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-28
BEEF COURT RETURNS
TT RESUMES ITS SESSIONS IN WASH
INGTON CITY.
GENERAL EAGAN TO Be RECALLED.
General Miles Also, Probably, to BE
Given an Opportunity to Testify
Mr.. T.. C.. Swift Tells of Making
Contracts for Supplying Beef.

WASHINGTON, March 27.+The military
court of inquiry. appointed by the
President to make an investigation OF
the beef furnished the army during the
Spanish war, has returned to Washing
ton, and at o'clock to-day resumed its
sittlngs in the Lemon building.
The members of the commission are
hopeful that they will be able to conclude
their work within the next ten days, and
expect to have some important witnesses
before them in that time, including Gene
raj Eagan, who will be recalled. 1t is
also expected that General Miles will be
given an opportunity to testify
SWIFT ON THE STAND.
Mr.. Il. c. Swift, vice-president Of the
Swift Packing Company, was the first
witness who appeared to-day. He assisted
in preparing the contract for supply
ing beef for Cuba during the war, coming
to Washington for the purpose, first, on
the 23d of June. Mr.. Swift made his Sc
cond visit to Washington on the 18th OF
June when the contract was submitted
TO him. He then made some objections
TO the terms of the agreement, as pre-
scented to him. One OF these objections
was TO the terms, which he thought might
require the beef company TO deliver beer
by lighter he complaining that the COM
pany could reasonably be expected to de-
liver It only at such points as had rail-
road tracks alongside the wharf. 1t was
also understood that the beef was to be
supplied only TO port towns, the inland
points TO be furnished with beef killed
tt,o Keen
hand a sufficient supply for seventy-two
hours consumption, this time 10 be ex-
tended twenty-four hours under special
exactions. Shore refrigeration was con-
templated, and with the understanding
that this was TO be had, the company
had agreed that the quality Of the beef
should be maintained for three days.
SUGGESTION OF "EMBALMING."
In response TO question from Major
lee. Mr.. Swift stated that General Eagan
had during an interview with him, men,
toned that he had received some sugges-
ton of a process for preserving meat,
bur General Eagan did not go into details,
giving no name OF the inventor or OF the
process.
Major Lee then stated that General
Eagan had said in his testimony before
the board that the company had guaran-
teed that the beef should be Kept good
for seyenty-two hours after leaving the
refrigerator, either on shipboard or on
shore. ~.
II can only say" responded MI. swift,
that General Eagan, at the time OK inc
interview, seemed TO have the same un-
derstanding OF the contract that had. In
view OF his testimony, can ohiy s"'
that he was mistaken.
NOT A CLERICAL ERROR.
Major Lee: Then the Insertion or the
clause limiting 10 twenty-four hours the
time meat should be fresh after being
taI-e, ONT OF the refrigerator was not
clerical error, as suggested by the Gene
raj? r. o,s
Mr.. Swift: That cannot be so. He said
his agents were taking good care that the
meat was kept out of the sun, ana as
sured him that IL this were done the
meat would be good twenty-four hours
after being taken from the refrigerator.
Charles Il. Barry, travelling salesman
for Swift e. Co. followed Mr.. SWIFT. lie
testified TO his participation in the neso-
,iations with General Eagan TO secure the
army contract. lie also understood that
the 72-hour clause applied only 10 tne
time that the beef was to be kept III inc
refrlgerator on shore. There was an es-
,eciai understanding with General Eagan
90 ~ the 2i-hour clause. limiting the time
which the beef could be kept out or tho
refrigerator, he agreeing that 1t should be
kent constantly under cover.
rAGAN OBJECTED TO PROCESS
ING"
Mr.. Barry related that on one day.
when he was In General Eagans once.
nrior 70 the letting Of the contract. tho
General complained Of the number OF peo-
nile who were writing letters 10 him' COIL
cerning the processing OF Deei. me
| General then handed him letter IRON,
a Mr.. Howell. OF New fork, wno e'ain IN,
| "a have a process for preserving meat