Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-04-01
CONTRADICTION AGAIN
Meets the Testimony of General
Eagan Before the Beef
investigators.
ISSUE IS VERY DIRECT THIS TIME.

Recent Statements of the Late Head of the
Comnissary Department Controverted
F1atIy by Two witnesses-Major Lee
After Evidence OF an Experiment on the
Soldiers and Also of the Influence Of
PoIitics-surgeons Give Testimony.
Washington, April 1.-AIl but two OF
the witnesses before the army beef in
quiry court yesterday were members
OF the medical staff OF the army who
were on service in Cuba during the
Spanish war. The other two witnesses
were George H. Giudings and General
j. Hale Sypher, who had been inter-
ested III securing contracts for supply
ing beef on the hoof and the block for
the army in Cuba. They testified that
Gen. Eagan had told them the secretary
Of war had asked him to give the re-
trigerator beef a trial. while Sypher
said that General Eagan had created
the impression upon him that he
preferred beef on the block to refrigera-
tor beef. Their testimony throughout
was contradictory to General Eagan'5
testimony. and Giddings said that Rep
resentative Hawley was present at sew
eral of his conferences with General
Eagan.
Gen. Eagan Directly Contradicted.
The testimony Of Giddings and Sypher
was almost sensational! IL was so di-
rectly contradictory to what General
Eagan had declared when on the stand
last. Giddings had put in a bid 10 sup
ply beef on the hoof to the army in
Cuba. and he detailed the particulars
Of various interviews with Gen. Eagan
concerning the letting Of the contract.
His first conversation had related t.
a 1.
d:ngs had called attention to the fact
that they were vague. General Eagan
had then said that the specifications
were necessarily vague ag he could nos
at that time give any specific informa
ton. General Eagan had at that time
said his preference would be for re-
frigcrator beef. If he had any confidence
in IT; but he did not think the refrigera-
tor beef could be made available in the
Cuban climate. Il had been in Cuba
several times myself" said the witness.
and L agreed with him that it would
be impossible to keep the refrigerated
beef in that climate without refrigera-
tors"
Believed in Beef on the HooE
Giddings then told OF his visit to the
commjssary general on the 1sL q. July.
-~+r~+-e4---+eSe~~-ss|a- at Aat7t ses~,
rotary of wa- had sent Tor him the
niGnt before ana had sad that --winE
20 the difference in price they had bet
ter give the refrigerator beef a tria1
and that ne would have to do this. II
then asked General Eagan IL he had
any confidence in the proposition, and
he replied that he had very little, but
that the refrigerator men were pre-
parcd to give a bond to keep the beef
good for seventy-two hours after leav-
ing the refrigerator. He also stated
that they had n preserving process by
which they were able to keep the beef
in condition General EaEan tod wit
ness that when he was an officer in the
field he always drove his beef with him
on foot and that he CEagan) thought
this the proper way 20 supply beef for
the army.
Interview with Secretary AIger.
Repeating his interview with Secre-
tary Alger General EaEan had said,
according to GiddinGs. well, the sec
retary sent for me last night and told
me that there was so much difference
in price that we should give the re-
frigerator beef a trial
Did he order you to do that?' / asked.
No. he replied. but his wish amounts
to an order General Eagan then re-
peated his want of confidence"
With reference to General Eagan's
reference TO a preservative process
Giddings said that the general had told
him that Swift & Co. who had made the
lowest bid on refrigerator beef had a
process which would enable them to
keep the beef for seventy-two hours
after being taken from the refrigerator.
do you believe it?' asked General
Eagan." said Giddings. to which ne re-
piled I've got to believe-I've got to
give g trial."