New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-25
GEN. EAGAN TESTIFIES AGAIN
AN EXPLANATION OF ARMY BEEF CON
TRACTS.
ONLY ONE EXPERIMENT MADE-RESPONsI-
BILrTY OF CONTEMPORARIES COURT
ADJOURNs UNTIL MONDAY.

ADJOURNS UNTIL MONDAY
Washington. Feb A-Former Commssary ~ Cen
eral Charles P. Eagan to-day resumed his testi-
mony before the Court Of Inquiry which is In
vestigating the beef charges. He the fatigue
uniform OF brigadier- general. Referring to the
contract requirements he explained that Swift g.
Co wholly responsible for the beef undeliv-
cred TO the Government officials at the points
designated by the Department. The clause requir-
ing beef to keep seventy-two hours after lea wing
the refrigerator was inserted he said. at his In
stance. after the concerns declared they could
prepare II so TO keep that long. Explaining fur
Their. he said
Suppose a commissary should make reousition al
Santiago for 2001 pounds Of beef. should secure II
from the ship and take proper care Of II. retaining
II In the shade, and II should spoil within seventy
hours, the contractors would not he paid for H.
Many vouchers for beef had been paid. he said.
and he presumed deductions for spoiled beef had
been made though he did not know. He under
stood through Colonel Osgood that the beef had
been rejected by commands when in fact II was
sweet and perfectly good.
Speaking Of the arrangements for the Porto
Rican expedition General Eagan said he under
stood General Brooke was 10 command II. and he
accordingly consulted with him. reaching a COM
pete and satisfactory understanding to refrig-
Grated beef Afterward he learned that General
Miles assumed command but he never consulted
with him nd he did not know that General Miles
knew OF the beef arrangements.
Replying TO Colonel Davis he said that Colonel
Sharp chief commissary for that expedition, had
something Ike 5000 credits on the United States
and an offer to send cash made but declined
This statement was intended TO bear General
Miless statement that funds for purchase Of sup
plies in Porto Rico were not available.
kilograms between General Eagan and Coone
Weston the latter in Tampa. read relative to
the sending by packing firm Of refrigerated beef
to Tampa, test how long it would keep after re-
moval from the ice-boxes. with the view to the
making of contracts after the breaking out OF the
war The beef when removed from the iceboX
and hung up was declared serviceabe within forty
eight hours whereas that left in the box after ice
disappeared, could be used after eighteen
hours Frozen beef was tested. but adversely re-
ported
Canned roast beef declared BY commissary
officials al Tampa as the best solution Of the fresh
beef problem until circumstances were such as
would admit the prompt delivery and use OF re-
frgerated beef
AUTHORITY OF COMMISSARIES.
Ample and complete" declared General Eagan.
was the authority Of the commissaries in Cuba
and Porto Rico to purchase beef on tho hoof for
any emergencies or at the will OF their respective
commanders" Reports received showed he
thought without exception that the native beet
was nearly satisfactory as the refrigerated
beef. The latter tends displace beef on the hoof
wherever both equally available.
Were any rations OF any kind" asked Colonel
Davis sent to the troops any time ex-
pertinent"
Five thousand pounds OF the Dole beef" replied
General Eagan. "a canned preparation that made
a nice Hamburger steak. sent. II found its
way to Porto Rico. was used. and everybody was
delighted with IL. 1t very expensive and was
not purchased any further"
He then reviewed the first shipment OF refr gera
ted beef to Santiago. which he considered az eX-
detrimental because the value OF refrigerated beef
had not then been ests blished finally Aside from
these absolutely no other experimental shipments
were made General Eagan declared with great en-
phasis ION the contrary" he added. Il fought all
the tme against IT."
NO PRETENCE OF EXPERIMENTS.
WAS anything furnished the pretence OF ex-
pertinent" asked Colonel Davis suggesting Cen
era Miles's notable allegation.
NO sir never; not to the value OF penny" re-
piled General Eagan. without indicating conscious
ness OF the suggestiveness OF the question.
General Eagan then said that many persons had
offered alleged preservative processes but he never
entertained any such propositions. and the De-
partment never had any connection whate with
any method OF preserving beef other than the or
binary refrigerating process. as he understood II.
Refrigerated beef was approved by army physi-
clans
He received on August General Miless dispatch
from Porto Rico asking that no more re-