The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-07
SOME DECISIVE
EVIDENCE AS TO
EMBALNED BEEF
Armour & Go. Write Of Their Pro-
cess-Commissary Records
Mani puIated.

that it was complete. It was then that men
whom he understood to be representatives. Of
Swift & Co. brought up the question as to the
length of time the beef should keep after issue.
A memorandum for changes containing the "a
hour clause was brought to him by Captain
Davis, assistant commissary general Details
were lacking and the suggestions as to time
seemed to be conflicting He had tried to get
details from Captain Davis in regard TO the
24-hour clause and told by him that the
understanding was that the refrigerators were
to be built on shore and in the rear of the
moving troops, the intention being to have the
beef exposed for the minimum time Cnly. He
had at the time pointed out the apparent cv.s-
filct between the "A and the 72-hour clauses
In other provision General Eagan had
interlined in his own handwriting a clause re
ferring to the time, reading as follows: Which
shall not be more than seventy-two hours from
the time OF storing the same in such refrig-
orators.
This clause Mr. de Caindrey said, he had
not at the time understood, but he had no
authority TO strike it out. When the twenty
four-hour clause was inserted General Eagan
more. Mr. de Caindrey said that he had been
so worried by the apparent Inconsistencies in
the contract that he had kept all the memor-
anda relating to the matter.
Are they on fle noW?' asked Major Lee.
They are not in the file boxes
The witness then stated in reply to questions
that Captain Davis was in charge of these
boxes. and that Captain Davis was the especial
conhdant of General Eagan. Asked If he had
had any reason at the time the contract was
drawn 10 suspect that any of the data had been
withheld by Eagan or Davis, Mr.. de Caindrey
n
that he had none now. His impression was that
hey were undertaking to do something which
they had not digested sufficiently to know just
how they wanted to do il.
Mr. de Caindrey gave OF the particulars
concerning the trial OF the Powell process in
Florida. He spoke of a letter of Armour & Co
in which they argued that they should be
awarded the contract because they controlled
this Powell process, Notwithstanding that their
bid was something higher than that of Swift
what became of that letter." asked Major
Lee.
"A portion of it Is in the files" said Mr.. de
Caindrey. but the bulk of it was returned TO
the writer at his request. The portion re
tanned was the last page, containing the in
dorsement of the Secretary OF War and the
Comnissary General
the letter from Armour & Co, dated July l3
bearing on this subject. but he said he had no
remembrance Of ever having seen the letter be-
fore. This letter was then put in evidence.
At this point Major Lee asked Mr. de Cain
drey whether he had ever rendered his resigna-
and the witness replied that he had done SO.
Il rendered my resignation on the day follow
ing General Eagan's appearance before the
War Commission he said.
Major Lee was about to proceed with this
line of questions when Colonel Davis objected
pertinent. Major Lee then desisted. withdraw
ing the first question.
Or. Richard A. Pyle. chief surgeon Of the
District OF Columbia volunteers. testified that
the refrigerator beef supplied the troops in
Cuba had given them dysentery. but expressed
they ate too much of II. He expressed dis
approval Of the canned beef and said the men
would only eat it when they could get no other
meat.