The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-28
NEGOTIATIONS WITH EAGAN.
SWIFT GIVES HIS INTERPRETA-
TION OF THE CONTRACT.

shore Refrigeration Was COntem-
plated in All the Conversations
They Had-Eagan Mentioned a
Suggestion as to a Preserving Pro-
cess But Did Not Go Into Details.
Twenty-Four Hour Clause Implied
Extra Precautions.
Washington. March H.-The military
court of inquiry appointed by the Presi-
dent to make an investigation of the beef
furnished the army during the Spanish
war has returned to Washington, and at 2
o'clock to-day resumed its sittings in the
Lemon building.
The members of the commission are
hopeful that they will be able to conclude
their work within the next ten days and
expect TO have some important witnesses
before them in that time. including Gen.
Eagan. who will be recalled 1t is also
| expected that Gen. Miles will be given an
opportunity to testify.
Mr. E. c. Swift, vice president of the
Swift Packing Company, was the first
witness who appeared to-day. He as
sisted in preparing the contract for sup
plying beef for Cuba during the war, com
ing to Washington for that purpose on
June %.
Swifts Talk With Eagan.
Mr.. Swift made his second visit to Wash
| ington on June % when the contract was
submitted to him. He had then made
some objection to the terms of the agree
ment as presented to him. One of these
objections was TO the terms which he
thought might require the beef company to
deliver beef by lighter, he complaining
that the company could reasonably be ex-
pected to deliver at only such points as
had railroad tracks alongside the wharf
1t was also understood that beef was to
be supplied only 70 the port towns, the in
land points to be furnished with beef
killed in the country. They were to.kesp
on hand a sufficient supply for seventy
two hours consumption, this time to be
extended twenty-four hours under special
conditions. Shore refrigeration was con-
templated in all the conversation, and with
the understanding that this was to be had,
the company had agreed that the quality
of the beef should be maintained for three
| days and nights.
In response to a question from Mai Lee,
Mr.. Swift stated that Gen. Eagan had, dur
ing an interview with him, mentioned that
he had received some suggestion of a pro-
cess for preserving meat, but Gen Eagan
did not go into details, giving no name Of
the inventor of the process
GEN. Eagan Was Mistaken.
Maj. Lee then stated that Gen. Eagan
had said in his testimony before the board
that the company had guaranteed that
the beef should be kept good for twelve
hours after leaving the refrigerator either
on shipboard or on shore
Il can only say" responded Mr.. Swift
that Gen. Eagan, at the time of the in
terview, seemed TO have the same under
standing of the contract that 1 had In
view of his testimony 1 can only say that
|, he was mistaken"
Maj. Lee: Then the insertion of the
clause limiting to twenty-four hours the
time meat should be fresh after taken
out of the refrigerator was not a clerical
error, as suggested by the general?"
Mr.. Swift: That cannot be so. He
said his agents would take good care 70
protect the meat from the sun, and 1 as
sured him that if this were done the meat
would De gOOQ IWenty-1Our hours after
being taken from the refrigerator"
Time the Beef Was to Keep.
Charles E. Barry travelling salesman
for Swift & Co.. followed Mr.. Swift He
testified to his participation in the nego-
tiations with Gen. Eagan to secure the
army contract. He also understood that
the seventy-two-hour clause applied only
TO the time that beef was to be kept
in the refrigerators on shore. There was
an especial understanding with Gen Ea-
gan as to the twenty-four- clause
limiting the time during which the beef
could be kept out of refrigerator, he
agreeing that ii should be kept constantly
under cover.
Mr. Barry related that on one day when
he was in Gen. Eagan's office prior to
the letting of the contract, the latter COM
planned of the number of people who were
writing letters 10 him concerning the
| processing of beef The general then
handed him a letter from Va Mr.. Powell
of New York, who claimed to have a
process for preserving meat, saying he
had shipped meat prepared under il to
points in the Southern states.
ut struck me-" said Mr.. Barry, from
Gen Eagan's behavior that he was dis
gusted at the thought He said he was
depending on the refrigerator beef, and
wohld only deal with those who could fur
nish it,"
After hearing Mr.. Barry, the court, at
3:80 o'clock p. M, held brief executive
session and then adjourned until to-mor-
row.