The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-24
EAGAN BEFORE THE
COURT OF ENQUIRY
His Voice Heard Again in the
Beef Scandal.
A Clause in the Contract Of Which
He Had Never Heard.
The Twcut. -Tour-Hour Paragraph
Must Have Been inserted
Through IL Clerical Error.

Charles J.. Eagan, suspended from the
army for six years for having yilified his
superior officer was a witness before the
Court Of Enquiry appointed 10 investigate
bad beef at its session yesterday after
noon.
Eagan Was in The full dress uniform of
brigadier general, wearing epaulettes of
gold with 4 silver star. white silk sash
under a gold belt white kid gloves, and
sword. He wore one glove on his left hand
and carried the other. He was polite. He
called nobody liar His examination was
moi concluded and he will sit in the wit
ness chair today.
Eagan dismissed his military record by
saying that he became Commissary Gen
eral in May last. Early in his career in
this department he had been impressed
with timed roast beef as an army ration
when fresh beef could not be obtained. No
reports were called for. but the question
was gone over thoroughly by experienced
Commissary officers. This timed beef, he
said, had been used in the navy with
cess for number OF years. He told the
court that he had tasted IL and considered
it good substitute for fresh beef when
that article of food could not be obtained.
He Had Been Informed.
He had been informed that there was no
fresh beef to be had around Santiago.
The day after Santiago fell he shipped
cargo of refrigerated beef. Most of the
roast beef was Bought in Chicago. Some
was purchased in Kansas City, st.
Louis, and New York He wanted
10 be sure that it was satisfac-
tory. and he ate some of IT. He con-
EfiaTad SpffCFagrDry II W. intended
solely as an emergency ration and it was
not TO be used when fresh beef was to be
had. The feasibility Of supplying the army
with beef on the hocf had been considered
by the Commissary Department 1t was
understood thar no cattle were to be had in
Cuba He supposed the Spaniards would
keep them out OF the reach of the Amer
lean troops. II was not considered prac-
ticabis 10 ship cattle TO the island.
The First complaint received by him
against the timed roast beef came he
thought. from Captain Reed The feasi-
bility of supplying the army with refrig-
Grated beef was considered soon as war
broke out He had conversations with
packers and their representatives and il
was decided TO adopt this plan. The beef
men had said that they We're sure their
product would last for seventy-two hours
after being taken from the refrigerator.
He knew that many of the troops woulc
and he knew that it was necessary that the
meat should endure considerable exposure.
Colonel Davis read 10 The court the ad-
Tertisements for bids from the beef pack
ers- The proposals for Cuba and Porto
Rico were read and the Cuban and Porto
Rican beef contracts were also submitted
to the court.
Mystery of 81 Contract.
Esgan stated that he entered into the
contracts as Commissary General, because
Cubs and Porto Rico were not in any mill
tary department. II was his understand
ing that the meat was TO be good for sew
enty-two hours after having been taken
from the refrigerators. He did not know
how the twenty-four- hour clause got into
the contract. He attributed it to a cler-
ical error of some kind.
Eagsn said that he did not wish to en-
cumber the invading army with the i'm
pediment of herd of cattle Wherever
the Government had owned its herd II -
found II very costly experiment and q
source OF great annoyance TO commandins
officers.
NJ this point Colonel Davis. the Re-
corder OF the Court. announced that as it
would be impossible to complete the ex-
animation of the witness at this session,
he would suggest that the court adjourn.
tlat he would appear today.
Trivial Grumbiine.
The first witness examined yesterday
was Capt. Alexander r. Piper of the Sub
sisteEce Department, now stationed at
Ponce. Porto Rico. He had issued canned
roast beef and refrigerated beef. He testi-
fed that both kinds were good. He had
heard grumbling On the part Of The men
against The timed roast beef. but he con-
sidered many OF these complaints trivial.
Many men would complain of anything,
and did really complain OF about every
thing. Many of them wanted TO return TO
their homes, were dissatisfied with army
life and were in temper TO eXaggerate al
the little inconvenience incidental TO mil
iiary life in a campaign
Quite large quantity OF native cattle
lad been slaughtered and served as food
The beef was killed late in the evening
and issued and consumed next morning
There was much complaint against this
beef. 1t was considered too fresh and was
certainly tough. The days and nights
were not and there was no way in which
the animal heat could be cooled out of the
flesh. Much OF the sickness was attributed
10 this meat, although some OF the sur
geons in the army thought that much
sickness was due 10 the use of Porto Rican
rum and fresh fruits.
When the native beef was suppanted by
Western refrigerated beef he heard of no
complaint. The cold storage meat was de-
cidedly more popular than the native beef
The cattle in Porto Rico. the witness said
were small and lean and made tough and
stringy beef. The only complaint against
refrigerated beef which he had received
was because one lot Of meat which had
been shipped TO distant point, had spoiled
in transit. the ice chest in which it was
transported having been broken open.
Steers Would Not swim
Colonel Weston. Acting Commissary Gen
eral, was sworn ana testified that he con-
sidered timed roast beef. such as was
served TO the troops during the war. A
good article Of diet when fresh beef was
not TO be had. The refrigerated beef is
sued during the war was fine Skaters
army could not have been supplied with
cattle on the hoof There was no means
Of shipping herds OF cattle TO Cuba with
the Shafter expedition and no means of
landing the cattle had they been shipped
Horses and mules would swim through the