The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-02-24
GEN. .EAGAN
TESTIFIESI
In Court Of Inquiry Investigating
Charges of General Miles,
IMPRESSED WITH CANNED BEEF.


He Never Considered It Possible TO
Get Beef ou the Hoof to the Army
I'm Cuba-Refrigerated Beef Hts First
Choice-The Meat was Guaranteed.
Washington. Feb 24.-The testimony
OF Colonel j. Il. Weston, who was, at
the outbreak Of the war, assistant COM
missary general, and who now is the
successor OF Commissary General Charles
p. Eagan, together with the appearance
Of General Eagan, was the feature OF
yesterdays proceedings OF the court OF
inquiry investigating the charges or
General Miles as 10 the beef supply TO
the army while in Cuba and Porto Rico
Each COnteuded that the canned roast
beef was a wholesome and nutritious
component Of the army rations which
was furnished the Santiago and Porto
Rican expeditions and took issue with
the regular army officers who have criti-
cizcd it,
General Eagan entered into the cir
cumstances attending the entry into CON
tracts with the beef concerns. There
was little notable in the proceedings
General Eagan appeared in full dress
uniform, wearing a sword, greeted the
court smilingly and proceeded TO testify.
He took issue with General Miles in re-
gard to the beef on the hoof being the
best supply Of fresh beef to the army,
insisting that such source was imprac-
ticable in Cuba, and especially undesir-
able in any country where the animal
heat in the beef could not disappear be-
fore cooking.
1t was nearly 4 o'clock when former
Commissary General Eagan, who had
arrived from New York, was presented
to the court He announced his name
as Charles p. Eagan. brigadier general.
commissary department, and added: 81
have no station at present" Proceed
ing, in reply TO questions, he said he was
very favorably impressed with the can
ned roast beef, tasted it, and united
with other officers OF the department in
adopting it. Me understood the navy
had used it for many years with entire
satisfaction.
Speaking OF the shipments to Tampa
he said he understood the orders to be
for 80 days rations for 10000 men.
The latter number, however, never ma.
terialzed he added. In introducing can.
ned roast beef it was the intention to
take it or not, as they liked. The best
way. he said, for it to be used was in a
stew with tomatoes or other vegetables.
The first complaint about this beef
came from Captain Philip Reed, of the
commissary department Witness was
surprised, ana at once ordered all Of
fcers who had the beef to examine and
report. All responses endorsed the beef.
The question of supplying refrigerated
beef came up at once with the war and
there were many consultations with
packers representatives about the keep
ing of beef after being taken from the
refrigeratOrs. Refrigerated beef and
frozen beef was sent to Tampa for a
test, and witness recollection was that
the frozen spoiled first Mind you,
however" Said General Eagan, this was
not process beef-that is, beef treated
with chemicals"
Colonel Davis read the commissary de-
partment's advertisements for bids: The
refrigerated beef for the army in Cuba
and Porto Rico. the companies being re-
Quired TO put in the ships rrfrigcrators
(the beef to keep - hour, after delivery,
and the advertisement for bids for fur
nishing beef on the hoof To the army in
Cuba. General Eagan said the depart
ment never considered it possible 10 get
native beef in Cuba and the proposition
for the government 10 buy and take its
own herds to Cuba was never considered
seriously.
Colonel Davis then read the contract
with Swift & Co. for the Porto Rico sup
ply of refrigerated beef, General Eagan
having identified the copy. The beef con
Germ was required to put in refrigerator
plants on ships where necessary. Beef
was to he from steers weighing not less
than 600 pounds, dressed. and should be
so preserved by the refrigcrating process
as to be perfectly good and fit for use
~ hours after delivery from the refrig-
orator on ship or 24 hours after de-
livery from any refrigerator the beef
concern might erect at any port, 'to the
proper officer of the United States"
General Eagan said when the war
came there were three plans for a fresh
beef supply-refriGerated beef. beef on
the hoOf to be furnished by contractors
and for the government TO own it's own
herd. All his experiences taught him the
undesirability Of the government owning
its own herd, the expense and trouble.
straying Of the cattle and Inconvenience
pf slaughter all arguing against it. He
believed the policy Of the war depart
menr 10 be against beef on the hoof when
any other supply could be had. Beef for
troops should not be cooked until the
animal heat had left it. Refrigerated
heof he considered first choice, and when
the beef concerns offered it and guaran-
tecd its preservation he accepted it..
General Eagan in explaining why he
signed the contracts with the beef con-
ccru said the usual way for contracting
was for the chief commissary for any
ce tain department of the army TO sign
such contracts for supplies, but when the
war broke ont the army intended for use
In Cuba was composed OF forces from
several departments and there was no de-
partment 10 which the army in Cuba and
Porto Rico was attached, and therefore.
he, as commissary general signed the
contract for its supplies,