The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-02-24
GEN. EACAN TESTIFIES
In Court Of Inquiry Investigating
Charges Of General Miles.
IMPRESSED WITH CANNED BEEF.


| Get Beef on the Eoof to the Army
In Acknowledgements Reef His First
Choice-rhe Meat Was Guaranteed.
Washington. Feb. 24.-The testimony
| of Colonel j. II. Weston, who was, at
the outbreak of the war, assistant COM
missary general, and who now is the
successor of Commissary General Charles
+. Eagan. together with the appearance
of General Eagan. was the feature of
yesterdays proceedings of the court of
inquiry investigating the charges of
General Miles as to the beef supply to
the army Will" in Cuba and Porto Rico.
Each contended that the canned roast
beef was wholesome anu nutritious
component Of the army rations which
wns furnished the Santiago and Porto
ilcan expeditions and took issue with
the regular army officers who have criti-
cizcd it,
General Eagan entered into the cir.
cumstances attending the entsy into con-
tracts with the beef concerns. There
was little notable in the proceedings.
General EatHn appeared in full dress
uniform, wearing a sword, greeted the
court smiliD@ly and proceeded to testify.
He took issue with General Miles in re-
gard to tn" beef on the hoof being the
best supply of fresh beef to the army,
insisting that such source was imprac-
ticable in Cuba, and especially undcsir-
able in any country where the animal
heat in the beef could not disappear be-
fore cooking
II N-Is nroplv A n'uI,,G ,s-hop
Comni,sary General Easan, who had
arrived from New York, was presented
to the court He announced his name
us Charles L. Eagan, brgadier general.
commiSsary department, and added: II
have no station at present" Proceed,
ing, in reply to questions, he said he was
very ayorably impressed with the can
ned roast berf. tasted it, and united
with other officers of the department in
adopting it. He understood the navy
had used it forsma years with entire
satisfaction.
Speaking Of the shipments to Tampa
he said he understood the orders to bc
for 80 days rations for 70.UDO men.
The latter number. however, never ma
tcrialzrd, he added. In introducing can.
ned roast beef ii was the intention to
use it as an incident, and the mon could
take it or not, US they liked. The best
way. he said. fer it to be used was in a
stew with tomatoes or other vegetables.
The first complaint about this beef
catAc from Captain Philip Reed of tho
cor!nissnry department. Witness was
surprised, ana at once ordered all Of
1iccrs who had the beef 10 examine and
4 IL, Al,
III" question of supplying refrigerated
beef came up at once with the war and
there were many consultations with
packers representatives about the keep !
ing of beef after being taken from the |
rcf"igcraturs. Refrigerated beef and |
frozen beef was sent to Tampa for n
test. and witness recollection was that |
the frozen spoiled first. Mind you,
however, said General Eagan, this was |
not process heef--that is, beef treated !
with chemicals"
Colonel Davis read the commissary de-
partneIts advertisements for bids: The |
refrigerated beef for the army in Cuba
and Porto Rico, the companies being re-
CURED to put in the ships refrigerators
(thc beef to keep y hours after delivery,
and the advertisement for bids for fur
ni>hing beef on the hoof to the army in
Cuba. General Eagan said the depart
ment never considered it possible to get
native beef in Cuba and the proposition
for the government to buy and take its
own herds to Cuba was never considered
seriously.
Colonel Davis then read the contract
with Swift & Co. for the Porto Rico sup-
Al ,,r ntr;. t.,J |
having identified the copy. The beef con-
corn was required to put in refrigerator
plants on ships where necessary. Beef
was to be from steers weighing not less
than 600 pounds, dressed, and should be
so preserved by the refrigcrating process
as to he perfectly good and fit for use
r. hours after delivery from the rcfrig-
orator on ship or "a hours after de-
livery from amy refrigerator the beef
concern might erect at any port 'to the
proper officer of the United States"
General Eagan said when the war
came there were three plans for a fresh
beef supply refrigerated beef, beef on
The hoof TO be furnished by contractors
nnd for the government to own its own
herd. All his experiences taught him the
Of the government owning
It's own herd, the expense and trouble,
,traying Of the cattle and Inconvenience
If slaughter all arguing against it. He
believed tho policy of the war depart
nent to be against beef on the hoof when
my other supply could be had. Beef for
roops should not be cooked until the
lnnal heat had left it. Refrigerated
,cef he considered first choice, and when
he beef concerns offered i, aud guuran
ecd its preservation he accepted il.
General Eusan in explaining why he
signed th" contracts with the beef con
'ern said the usual way for contracting
vas for the chief commiSsary for any
'ertain department Of the army to sign
uch contracts for supplies. but when the
var broke ont the army intended for use
n Cuba was composed of forces from
rvcral departments and there was no de-
'artment to which the army in Cuba and
'orto Rico was attached. and therefore,
:. 4 l