The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-17
EAGAN,s TESTIMONY.
SeupPilous Portions Eiiniinnted-He
HUH claims He Was justified.


claims He Was JussiHcd.
Washington, January I6.--Commissary
General Eagan today sent to the war in
vestigating commission revised statement
In place of that originally made in response
10 General Miles charges. The revised
statement is about IS per cent shorter
than that which was ordered withdrawn
because of Its violent and abusive charac-
ter. The commission after its receipt went
into secret session TO read the document
and decide whether in its present form i.
had been expurgated sufficiently to per-
init II to be made part Of the commits
sions record.
Following is the text of the letter sent
by General Eagan
To the Commission Appointed by the Pres
ident to Investigate the Conduct OF the
War With Spain.
Once OF Commissary General of Sub
sistence, Washington, January IA, lSa9.--
Gentlemen: ] have the honor to hand you
herewith ms testimony, which is now re-
submitted and revised In accordance with
the views Expressed by YOU in your letter
TO me OF January 10, 1890.
The objectionable features and what is
considered irrelevant matter by you, in
which opinion entirely agree. are eliml-
mated. In this connection I desire TO state
my part OF any disrespect whatever to
your commission, but In explanation and In
extepuation OF the language used by me
heretofore beg to invite the attention of
the commission to the fact that ! bave
been accused practically of feeding the sol
diers with poisoned beef; which made
them sick" embalmed," -called--,itnt
lave furnished meat to the army under
the ''preterisc of experiment." which
charge In effect Is esrruption. and worse.
Al-n. tt.-< - n al
10. the front in tropical climates and who
were dependent on such food rs was sent
them: that the statements have gone to
tho whole country uncontradictrdsr that
they have been published and I have been
pillorcd in the prcss o. the country as a
man who fed the army on poisoned meat
and corruptly so; that for about thres
weeks time 1 have kest sient for the
reason that | was dcbprrcd after talking
with The honorable secretary OF war from
answering the charges because of the im-
munity granted by tho president to wit
nesses before the commission, notwith-
standing the gravity OF the accusations,
that II Is unreasonable to believe that
such monstrous charges could have any
other effect than to work upon unhon0r-
able man IN such a way rs to goad him
to n species of Desperation and that II was
bit natural. when the proper opportunity
was given him. to moet AMI refute the
charges. that he should characterize than
IN harsh language and In terms that are
deemed improper. no matter what the pro-
vocation. therefore withdraw the Lam
guage and matter IA Objectionable and re-
submit to you now my sworn statement
With the abiding faith that your commits
sion. having AL the facts before YOU,
will decide the points ut Issue Justly.
Very respectfnliy. Charles p, Esgan,
Commissary General OF Subsistence.
The commission. after brief executive
sessions decided for the present 10 make
public only General JnaEan's letter and
the statement accompanying H.