The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-30
EAGAN CURSED VOLUNTEERS
AND WOULD HAVE FORCED
THEM TO ACCEPT BAD BEEF

condition twenty four hours after being taken
from the ship refrigerator asked Major Lee;
Yes, sir, that was the understanding,
General Eagan responded, promptly here ne
again referred TO the twenty-four hour clause,
explaining that his whole idea was that there
shouIq De seFenty-tWo hour time mint
though the contract should state II at twenty
four The retention so strongly Of the seventy
Two hours idea in his mind explained ms TOT
getfulness OF the twenty-four clause in giving
MS testimony on previous occasion ana MS
statement then that It's insertion was clerical
error. Major Lee asked the general II he
thought II perfectly feasible TO keep refrlgera-
tor beef Tor even twenty-four hours after leav-
ing the refrigerator, and he replied IN the al
But not" he said. IF left in the open sun
stances"
General Eagan said he had secured the opin--
lon Of the surgeon general that refrigerator beer
was most acceptable. He had never had any
idea that the troops could be better supplied
by giving them beef on the foot. He had no
recollection that the Secretary OF War had sug-
gested 10 him that the refrigerator beer should
be taken from Armour OF Swift merely as a
trial being convinced OF its superiority over
all other beef.
The Secretary gave me free hand he
said He approved my award OF the contract
and there was no further conference with him
or instructions from him on the beef subject.
Referring to General Weston report on the
trial Of the Powell process for preserving beer
made in Florida. General Eagan said report
had been received on this subject from General
Weston, but that he (Eagan) had not known OF
It's purport until loRS after the contract was let
to Swift q CO. He recalled a letter he had
written TO Alexander IS. Powell, May 70. re
garding his process He also stated that he
had heard that Powell had induced Swift or
Armour TO investigate the process, and some
Of the bidders proposed 70 use it. But he gave
the subject no attention.
For that matter" he continued. there
q great deal OF talk about the Powell and other
processes about the department, hut not on my
part, as did not propose that any but the pest
frozen beef. such as is used in the best hotels,
should be eaten by the army
DO you recall asked Major Lee, being
present when q tiOn took place
corning the letting OF these contracts when
Senator Hanna was present.,
I never spoke to Senator Hanna in my life
responded General Eagan, and l don't think
would know him il he should step into the
room now
But" persisted Major Lee "were you ever
present where be Vas when the beef contracts
were discussed p
7 recall. was the reply. that the secre-
tary sent for me on one occasion and asked
me about the contracts when there were two
otheT gentlemen present in the room win MIN.
I stated him that the contracts had already
been let and that nothing more could be done.
But II Senator Hanna was one Of the men
present. I was not aware of the fact
Explaining the purchases Of the canned roast
beef General Eagan said that during the en-
tire war not 10 exceed twentY:four days "a
tons all told Of il for the entire army had
been issued It was only intended as make
shift 10 be used when fresh meat could not
Some reports favorable to it and others IN
favorable came 10 NE concerning it he said
There were some complaints and some com
nendatious.'
the objections 10 this food largely to the ig
norance and prejudice Of the men. which
has, % he said, been the cause Of the army 5
refusing many wholesome articles Of food
Sickness among the troops had also doubt
less much TO co in influencing the objections
10 this meat, according TO the opinion of the
witness. General Eagan said he had had many
conversations with men processing 10 repre-
sent the Texas ca tile interests. who wanted TO
furnish beef on the hoof. but he did not recall
expressing the opinion that beef on the hOof
or On the block would be the best form in
rh c~1r r~7as FIR he nor
fectly well understood at all times that he
preferred refrigerator beef. He remembered
that ne had forbidden his office 10 of these
he had mentioned the Powell proposition 70
preserve beef to some of the beef men, but
had only done so casually, and then only be
cause many Of them thought the beef could
self, he would not touch the process. nor
would he have accepted any bid in which the
bidder depended upon process other than
freezing or chilling the beef
In this connection General Eagan said that
A ruour & CO. had put in bid for ''processed
beef but il was not accepted, and he did
not remember the details concerning il. This
bid was made IN the letting OF the contracts
for beef for Cuba and Porto Rico He knew
nothing OF the secret OF the process and had
given the matter no attention
I decided to give the contract TO the lowest
bidder and stopped al that, he
said 4 took 10 interest whatever in the
subject Of the process. ne repeated He
thought the bid could be obtained al the com
missary generals office and recommended that
it be procured for the exact facts.
The witness said he had conVersed with nei-
Their General Miles nor General Shafter con
corning the army rations, but that General
Brooke had made some recommendations con
corning bacon in cans. With this. General
Eaean's testimony closed and the court ad- /
that some witnesses in General Miles behalf
would be heard tomorrow.