Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-03-30
The BEEF INQUIRY.
The Military Court Resumes Its
Sittings in Washington.
C. SWIFT TESTIFIES BEFORE IT
Ane PACKER COntradicts One Of Eaean't
statements-The Com missary General
Hints About u Process OF Pre-
serving Meat.

Washington March 2S-The mill
tary court of inquiry appointed by the
president to make an investigation Of
the beef furnished the army during
the Spanish war has returned to Wash.
ington and yesterday resumed its sit
tlngs in the Lemon building The
members Of the commission are hope.
full that they will be able to conclude
their work within the next ten DAYS
ana expect to have some important
witnesses before them in that time, in.
Guiding Gen. Eagan, who will be re.
called. 1t is also expected that Gen.
Miles will be given an opportunity to
testify.
f. G. Swift, vice president Of the
Swift Packing company, was the first
witness who appeared. lie assisted in
preparing the contract for supplies OF
beef for Cuba during the war coming
to Washington for that purpose first
on the 23d of June He stated that he
started to Washington in response to
a request from Gen. Eagan when it ap-
peared that his firm had made the
lowest bid. The conversation with
Gen. Eagan on this occasion was some
what general relating to the conduct
OF the business 1t was also under.
stood that beef was to be supplied only
TO the port towns. the inland points to
be furnished with beef killed in the
country They were to keep on hand
sufficient supply for u hours con.
sumption, this time to be extended "A
hours under special exactions Shore
refrigeration was contemplated in all
the conversation, and with the under
standing 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 question from Mai. |
Lee, Mr.. Swift stated that Gen. Eagan
had during the interview with him
mentioned that he had received some
suggestions OF process for preserving
meat but Gen. Eagan did not 90 into
details, giving no name of the invent
or or OF the process. Maj Lee then
stated that Gen. Eagan had said in his
testimony before tine board that the
company had guaranteed that the beef
should be kept good for II hours after
leaving the refrigerator either on shin.
board or on shore Il can only saw"
responded Mr.. Swift, that Gen. Eagan
at the time of the interview seemed to
have the same understanding of the
contract that had. In view Of his
testimony | can only say that he was
mistaken"
Maj. Lee-Then the insertion of the
clause limit to "a hours the time for
fresh beef after being taken out of the
refrigerator was not a clerical error,
as suggested by the general9
Mr.. Swift-That cannot be so. He
said his agents would take good care
to protect the meat from the sun and
assured him that If this were done
the meat would be good "a hours after
being taken from the refrigerator. /
Mr. Swift continued by saying that
refrigerator beef in a torrd country
would keep a good deal longer than
IN ordinary person would think it
rood, on account of the outside ap. !.
'earance. As consequence of his
representations the first draft of the G
contract had been changed by Gen.
1agan in several places. a
Mr. Swift said in reply to question =
hat the dressed beef export business g
vas growing rapidly at the expense of l,
he expectation Of live cattle. There u
vas, he said superb demand abroad
or the refrigerator beef and in London
his beef was supplied to the best
rade. =,
Charles F. Barry, travelling salesman =,
or Swift & Co., followed Mr.. Swift K
|e testified that the ~ hour clause ap. h
lied only to the time the beef was to a,
Q kept in the refrigera sors on shore. ~
here was an especial understanding ~
18th Gen. Eagan as to the "a hour In
ause, limiting the time during which
le beef could be kept ont of the re.
'iRerator, he agreeing that it should
kept constantly under cover. w
After hearing Mr.. Barry the court W
lid brief executive session and then tn
liourned, sn