New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-30
ROSS-EXAMINED BY MAJOR LEE.

When crOss-eXdmined by Major Lee, Peletdi
Eagan said he exercised his own discretion in the
letting Of contracts without suggestion from the
Secretary Of War. When the lowest bid was
ascertained he had been in the habit OF making
an abstract OF the facts and submitting 1t to the
Secretary. just when he was a commissary
I'm the Army he would furnish such abstract
TO his commanding officer In providing for the
soldiers in the tropics he had acted his
perience at Fort Mojave Arizona. He was con-
WINGED from this experience that beef cooked
before the animal heat was out of ii was posi-
lively injurious.
He recalled his conversation with Mr.. Gard
ner of the firm of Swift & Co.. who he said. had
assured him that with proper care refrigerated
beef would keep seventy-two hours. He was.
however doubtful Of the care the Army would
give it II It was known the beef would keep
seventy-two hours. hence his agreement to the
insertion of the neutrality-suspicious. clause
Did you understand it to keep in good
condition seventy-two hours after being taken
from the ship refrigerator" asked Major Lee.
Yes sir; that was the understanding" Gen
eral Eagan replied. Here he again referred to
the twenty-four clause. explaining that his
whole idea was that there should be a seventy
two-hour time limit though the contract should
state It at twenty-four hours. The retention so
strongly Of the seventy -two-hour idea in his
mind explained his forgetfulness Of the twenty
four-hour clause in giving his testimony Il
previous occasion and his statement then that
its insertion was clerical error.
Major Lee asked the General IL he thought It
perfectly feasible to keep refrigerator beef even
twenty-four hours after leaving the refrigerator.
and he replied in the affirmative. But not"
dirty carts. as it was in some instances"
General Eagan said he had secured the opinion
Of the Surgeon General that refrigerator beef
was most acceptable He had never had any
idea that the troops could be better supplied by
giving them beef on the hoof. He had no reco-
lection that the Secretary OF War had sug-
gested TO him that the refrigerator beef should
be taken from Armour or Swift merely as a
trial. being convinced OF It's superiority over all
other beef.
THE Secretary gave me free hand" he said.
He approved my award of the contract, AID
there was no further conference with him or
instructions from him on the beef subject"
Referring to General Wheatons report on the
trial Of the Powell process for preserving beef
made in Florida General Eagan said a report
had been received Oh this subject from General
Weston hut that he had not known OF !ts pur-
port until long after the contract was let TO
Swift & Co He recalled letter he had written
to Alexander y. Powell May &c rc garding
his process He had heard that Powell had in
duced Swift or Armour 20 investigate the proc
ess: land some OF the bidders proposed to use
H." but he gave the subject attention. For
tina; matter" he continued. there was a great
deal OF talk about the Powell and other proc
esses about the Department. but not my
part. as did not propose that any but the best
frozen beef. such 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 con-