The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-30

mind explained his forgetfulness of the
24-hour clause in giving his testimony
on previous occasion, and his state
ment then that its insertion was a cler-
| ical error.
| Major Lee asked the general If he
thought 1T perfectly feasible to keep re-
trlgerated beef for even "a hours after
| leaving the refrigerator, and he replied
in the affirmative
But not. he said IF left in the open
sun or dumped in dirty carts, as it was
| in some instances
General Eagan said he had secured
the opinion of the surgeon general that
Tetrigenated beef Was most acceptable.
he mad never had any idea that the
troops could be better supplied by CIV
ing them beef on the foot. He had no
recollection that the secretary of war
mad suggested to him that the refriger-
ated beef should be aiken from Armour
or swift merely as a trial. being con-
WINGED of its superiority over all other
beef
The secretary gave me free hand"
he said. "He approved my award of
Inc contract and rhere was no further
conference with him or instructions
from him on the beef subject"
referring to General Weston's report
on the trial of Powell process for pre-
serving beef made in Florida, General
Eagan said report mad been received
on this subject from General Weston,
but that he (Eaganl had not known
OF its purport until long after the con-
tract was let to Nj. Swift. He recalled
a letter he had written to Alexander
Is. POWELL May &c, regarding his pro-
cess He also stated that he had heard
that Powell had induced Swift or Ar
to
cess and some of the bidders propos-
ed to use it," but he gave the subject
no attention
For that matter" he continued.
there was great deal of talk about
the Powell and other processes about
the department, but not on my part. as
L did not propose that any but the best
beef such as is used in the best hotels,
should be eaten by the army
DO you recall" asked Major Lee,
being present when a conversation
took place concerning the letting of
these contracts when Senator Hanna
was present?"
Il never spoke to Senator Hanna in
my life,' responded General Eagan.
And I don't think I would know him
II ne should step into the room now"
But, persisted Major Lee, were
you ever present where he was when
recall was the reply, that the
secretary sent for me on one occasion
ana asked me about the contracts when
there were two other gentlemen present
in the room with him. | stated to him
that the contracts had already been let
and that nothing more could be done.
But if Senator Hanna was one of the
men present, 1 was not aware of the
fact"
Explaining the purchases of the
canned roast beef, General Eagan said
mat during the entire war not to eX-
coed "A days rations all told of it for
the entire army had been issued. It was
only intended as a nakeshift to be used
when fresh meat could not be secured.
Some reports favorable to it and
others unfavorable came to me con-
corning it." he said There We're some
complaints and some concentrations
Continuing, he said he attributed the
objection to this food largely to the ig-
norance and prejudice of the men,
which has" he said, been the cause
of the army's refusing many wholesome
articles of food.'' ~
Sickness among the troops had also
doubtless had much to do in prejudicing
this meat according to the opinion of
the witness. General Eagan said he had
had many conversations with men pro-
Tossing to represent the Texas cattle in
terests who wanted to furnish beef on
the hoof, but he did not recall express
ing the opinion that beef on the hoof
or on the block would be the best form
in which to get meat for the army. 1t
was perfectly well understood at all
times that The preferred refrigerated
beef. He remembered that he had for
hidden his office to one of these men,
because of his persistence. He thought
he had mentioned the Powell PROPOSE
ton to preserve beef to some of the
beef men, but had only done so casually
and then only because many of them
thought the beef could not be kept 70
hours. AS for himself, he would not
touch the process, nor would he have
accepted any bid in which the bidder
depended upon a process other than
freezing or chilling the meat.
In this connection, General Eagan
said that Armour & Co. had put in a
bid for "processed beef" but it was not
accepted, and he did not remember the
details concerning it. This bid was
made in the letting of the contracts for
beef for Cuba and Porto Rico. He
knew nothing of the secret of the pro-
cess and had given the matter no at
tention.
II decided to give the contract to the
lowest responsible bidder, and stopped
at that he said 81 took no interest
whatever in the subject of the process"
he repeated He thought the bid could
be obtained at the commissary generals
office. and recommended that it be pro-
cured for the exact facts.
The witness said he had cCnversed
with neither General Miles nor Gener-
al Shafter concerning the army ret.ons
but that General Brooke had made some
recommendations concerning bacon in
cans. With this, General Eagans teeth
mony closed and the court adjourned
for the day with the understanding
that some witnesses in General Miles
hehalf would he hea I'd tn-nnnrrn1-