The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-25
ROAST BEEF PRAISED
REPULSIvE LOOKING IN HOT Gil
MATES, BUT GOOD TO EAT.
Gen. Eagan Positive In Asserting He
Knew Nothing About Chemical
Treatment of Beef to Preserve 1t.

Former Commissary General Eagan to-day
concluded his testimony, explaining the
provisions of contracts for beef supplies to
the armies in Porto Rico, Cuba and the
Philippines. He very vigorously denied any
knowledge of any emf treatment OF
beef to preserve il, and disavOwed any con-
nection whatever of the government with
any such treatment. He further defended
the canned roast beef, explaining why it
had been sent to the troops, and when Col.
Davis, the recorder, asked him if any food
had been used as an experiment or p~retense
Of experiment, suggesting General MIless
famous allegation that precipitated the
Eagan court-martial, the former commits
sary general with great dignity and en-
phasis replied sweepingly in the negative.
General Eagan was followed by Maj. Gen.
S. B. M. Young and other officers who were
in the Santiago campaign, and by officers
Of the subsistence department. The re-
frigerated beef was commended, while the
canned roast beef on the whole, rather
suffered as a sequence to the days testi-
mony.
Next week probably fifteen witnesses will
be heard, among them perhaps Governor
Roosevelt, of New York, and it is expected
that DR.. w. II. Daily will be examined later
In the week, when the beef concerns will
| have their representatives here to hear the
witness repeat charges that the refrigerated
beef was treated chemically. The beef con-
Germs had not been notified to-day when to
| appear, Colonel Davis saying it had not de-
veloped fully from the evidence who fur
nished the beef at Jacksonville, Tampa,
~Chickamauga and Porto Rico. which was
| attacked, and until the origin of the beef
was ascertained notification to the beef con-
Germs would be impossible. Some time next
week, according to present expectations,
the court will leave for the West, going
first to Chicago to inspect the plants of the
concerns that furnished beef during the
war and later to Omaha. Kansas City and
perhaps st. Louis.
THE BEEF CONTRACTS.
In resuming his testimony to-day General
Eagan required to the contract require
ments, and explained that Swift & Co. were
wholly responsible for the beef until de-
livered TO the government at the points des-
ignated. The clause requiring teef to keep
seventy-two hours after leaving the re-
frigerator was inserted, he said, at his in
stance, after the concerns declared they
could prepare it so as to keep that long.
Explaining further, he said: Suppose a
commissary should make requisition at San
tiago for 10000 pounds of beef, should Sc
cure it from the ships and take proper care
OF it, retaining it in the shade, and it should
spoil within seventy-two hours, the con-
tractors would not be paid for it." Many
vouchers for beef had been paid, he said,
and he presumed reductions for spoiled beef
had been made, though he did not know.
He understood, through Colonel Osgood,
that beef had been rejected by commands,
when, in fact, it was sweet and perfectly
good.
Speaking Of arrangements for the Porto
Rican expedition, General Eagan said he
understood General Brooke was to COM
mand it, and he accordingly consulted with
General Brooke, reaching a complete under
standing as to refrigerated beef. Subse-
quently he learned that General Miles as
Sumed command, but he never consulted
with him, and he did not know that General
Miles knew of the beef arrangements.
Replying to Col9nel Davis, he said that
expedition, was furnishing something like
$3.50, coo credits on the United States and an
offer to send cash was made, but declined.
This statement was intended to bear OH
General MileS'S statement that funds for
purchase of supplies in Porto Rico were not
Here were read the kilograms between
General Eagan and Colonel Weston, the
a packing firm of beef refrigerated to Tam
pa to test how long it would keep after re-
moval from the ice boxes, with a view to
NAS AA~AtAAS u OA1k1 avis ANO NAC leaning
out of the war. The beef, when removed
from the ice boxes and hung up, was de-
clared serviceable within forty-eight hours.
whereas that left in the box after ice dis
appeared could not be used after eighteen
hours. Frozen beef was tested. but ad.
was declared by commissary officials at
Tampa as the best solution Of the fresh
beef problem until circumstance were such
as would admit the prompt delivery and
use of refrigerated beef.
Ample and complete" declared General
! To oon u-oc tho onthnrffU fN~ fhn aan,Doi@
saries in Cuba and Porto Rico to purchase
beef on the hoof for any emergencies or at
the VIII of their respective commanders.
Reports received, he said, showed, he
thought, without exception that the native
beef was not nearly so satisfactory as the
refrigerator beef. The latter tends to dis
place beef on the hoof wherever both are
equally available.
ONE OF THE EXPERIMENTS.
Were any rations Of any kind" asked
Colonel Davis, sent to the troops at any
time as an experiment."
Five thousand pounds of the Dole
beef" responded General Eagan. "A
canned preparation that made a nice Ham
burger steak was sent. 1t found its way
to Porto Rico, was used. and everybody was
delighted with it. 1t was very expensive
and was not purchased any further"
He then reviewed the first shipment of
refrigerated beef to Santiago. which he
considered as experimental, because the
value of refrigerated beef had not then been
established finally. Aside from this, abso-
lutely no other experimental shipments
were made, General Eiagan declared. ION
the contrary. he added, Il fought all the
time against It,"
Was anything furnished on the pretense
of experiment. asked Colonel Davis, sug-
costing General Miless notable allegation.
No, sir, never, not to the value Of a
penny" replied General Eagan, without In
dicating consciousness of the query's sug-
geStiVenesS.
Ganeral Eaean then said NAM, narsons
had offered alleged p~reservative processes.
but he never entertained any such PROPOSE
tons. and the departments never had any
connection whatever with any method of
preserving beef other than the ordinary re-
frigerating process as he understood il. Re-
frigerated beef was approved by army
physicians.
Continuing. General Eagan said he re-
ceived on Aug. 8 General Miles's telegram
from Porto Rico asking that no more re-
frigerated beef be sent, as he could secure
native cattle. AT that time a cargo of re-
frigerated beef was on the Manitoba con-
signed to Porto Rico. freight was paid and
it was allowed to proceed. Had that not
been the case, said General Eagan, 1t would
not have gone. After that no more was sent
to General Miles's forces.
Here witness detailed the supplying of
troops in and for the Philippines. canned
roast beef being sent. No complaints had
been heard. The Australian frozen beef was
delivered at 8 cents at Manila, the govern
ment paying 500 per day while the ship
was detained at Manila. No mutton was
sent The government Is now erecting a