Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-03-30
They Sampled Some Of Eagan's
Article and Passed"
GENERAL EAGAN RECALLED.


WASHINGTON. March 2o.--capialn Fred
III. pomcruy. OF the volunteer sub
aiatcncc department. who was for n
time Major Blacks assistant Ia Ponce.
gave testimony Mt the beef inquiry
hearing today. He related the pnrtloI-
lars " the return Of the Manitoba TO
Ponce after visiting other departments.
lie was ut that time depot commlssary
ana during the stay he had rccciptcd
for si.oco pounds. Of which COCO pounds
was destroyed. Much ~ the beef was
covered with n grecnlsh aim. but some
Of the mon ntc ~ at each meal. SIN.
they generally complained Of the bcof.
Much ~ II was found 90 be tainted. de-
composed and spoiled. Tho beef IN this
condition was condemned or buried. or
thrown into the harbor ut night. AZ
this time fresh native berf vas bcing
received ON the hooi. and at many
points inland native beef ". the cnp-
tain sald. rtlli being delivered.
At Major Lees request. Captain
romeroy related conversation with
Colonel Smith. who was at one Time
commissary. and he told him that the
two hours on shore because of a process
for preserving u. The colonel had.
however. stated that he did not know
wxt the proccss-was.
Captain pomcroy said he had han.
died probably 10000 pounds NJ canned
ronst beef during his occupancy OF the
office % depot cnmmisaufy. but that h.
had great difficulty In getting the men
% take IL. They complained" h.
said. that the beef was repuiHlyc In
appearance. unappotlzinE, tnatclosa and
not nutritious. Not To exceed 10 per
- aaHss st I'D a.
men did accept u they generally threw
Il away. They tried 10 ncli this canned
beef To the natives, and succeeded FOR
time. but not long"
The afternoon session began with
General Charles T.. Pagan, late COM
miHsary general ~ the United states
army. on the stand. lie was recalled
TO take cugnizance OF points which
have developed since he gave his frst
testimony. General EaFan said u was
his flrrt Intention 60 take refrigerator
beef. then. In case OF failure. 10 take
beef ON the block. and. last. for the
government 10 have it, own iurd.
Everybody. he thought undcrHtnpd
that his preference was for refrigerator
beef swift a CO.. being rs, lowest
bidders for refrigerator beef, naturally
received the award of the contract.
when crors-cxamlncd by Major Loo
General Eagnn -ald he exercised his
tracts without suggestions from tho
secretary of war. When the loves. hid
was nsccrtnincd he had heen In thu
habit OF making an abstract OF the
facts and submitting II 10 the secretary.
Just as when he was "a commissa.y In
the army he would furnish auoii nm
abstract to his commanding officer.
The general said that In providing Tor
the soldiers In the tropics he had acted
upon his experience at Fort Mojnve,
Ariz. He was convinced from this cx.
pcricnce that beef cooked before the
Injurious.
THE secretary gave me a free hand"
he said. "iie approved my award ~
the contract and there was M further
conference with him or instructions
from him on the beef subject"
l,cfctrinH To General Wcnton'n re.
port on the trial of the Powell process
uf preserving beef made In Florida.
General Engnn said a report had boon
received ON this Hubicct from General
Weston, hut that Pagan had not known
81 Its purport untii long after tho en-.
tract was let to swift y Go.
DO you recall" asked Major Lee.
being present when conversation
took place concerning the letting OF
these contracts when Senator Hanna
was arcaont1'
u never spoke TO Senator Hanna In
my NE responded General Engan.
and ! don't think l would know him N
he should step into the room now"
But" persisted Major Lee, were
you ever present whore he was when
the beef contracts were dlscusscd7"
II recall was tho reply, that the
secretary sent FOR me On one occasion
and asked me about the contracts when
there wcrc two other gentlemen present
IN the room with him. stated To- him
that tho contracts had already been lot
and that nothing more could be done.
hut n Senator Hanna was one of the
men present l was not aware OF the
fact"
Explaining tho purchases OF the