The age-herald., 1899-03-30
GEN. EAGAN AGAIN
 ON THE STAND
Was Recalled to Testify As to Beef
 Contracts.

Washington, March 29.-The military court appointed to inquire into General Miles charges concerning the beef sup piled to the army during the Spanish war had former Commissary General Eagan be- fore it today on recall, and also heard the testimony of Rear Admiral Stewart and Paymaster Colby of the navy, and Major Black and Captain Pomeroy, volunteer of ficers, who were engaged in the commits sary service at Ponce during General Miles Porto Rican campaign.
 General Eagan's testimony was not start ling. He stated that Armour & Co., had put in a bid to supply beef to be preserved by process of their own, but that he had not considered it. He also modified former statement to the effect that the twenty fourth clause in the beef contract crept in as clerical error, saying that in the null titude of matters which had been drawing his attention at times he had forgotten its insertion.
 There was an apparent effort on the part of Major Lee, representing General Miles. to show that Senator Hanna had sought to influence the contracts, but General Ea- gan\ asserted that he did not know the sen- ator and no explanation was made of the introduction of his name. General Eagan made frequent reference during the inves- dgation to the numerous demands of his time during the war, making this condition an explanation for not remembering de- tails.
 5000 Pounds Condemned
 Major Black and Captain Pomeroy gave the details concerning the condition of the beef brought to Porto Rico on the steamer Manitoba. Captain Pomeroy stated that of H,O pounds receipted for at Ponce. 5000 pounds had been condemned.
 Major Black told of a conversation with General Eagan In regard to the refrigerator beef, in which he quoted the latter as say ing with an oath that he would have com- pelled the men to take the beef.
 Admiral Stewart and Paymaster Colby testified to the use of canned roast beef in the navy.
 When cross-examined by Major Lee, Gen. eral Eagan said he exercised his own dis erection in the letting of contracts without suggestion from the secretary of war When the lowest bid had been ascertained he was in the habit of making an abstract of the facts and submitting 1t to the sec- retary, just as when he was a commissary in the army he would furnish such an ab- stract to his commanding officer.
 The general said that in providing for the soldiers in the tropics he had acted upon his experience at Fort Mojave Ariz He was convinced from this experience that beef cooked before the animal heat was out of it was positively injurious. He recalled his conversation with MT. Gardner of the firm of Swift & Co.,, who, he said, had as- sured him that with proper care refrigera- tor beef would keep for seventy-two hours. He was, however, doubtful of the care the army would give 1t If 1t was known the beef would keep for seventy-two hours, hence his agreement to the insertion of the twentyfour hours clause.
 Should Keep 7s Hours
 "Did you understand 1t was to keep in hoip talro from the ship refrgerator?" asked Major Lee.
 "Yes, sir; that was the understanding" General Eagan responded promptly Here he again referred to the 24-hour clause, explaining that his whole Idea was that there should be 72-hour limit though the contract should state 1t at 24 hours. The retention so strongly of the 72-hour idea in his mind explained his forgetfulness of the 24-hour clause in giving his testimony on previous occasion and his statement that It's Insertion was clerical error. Major Lee asked the general if he thought it perfectly feasible to keep refrigerator beef for even 24 hours after leaving the refrigerator and he replied in the afIirma- tive.
 "But not" he said, 'if left in the open sun or dumped in dirty carts, as 1t was in some instances"
 DO you recall" asked Major Lee "be- ing present when a conversation took place concerning the letting of these contracts when Senator Hanna was present?'
 'I never spoke to Senator Hanna in my life," responded General Eagan, land I don't think I would know him if he should step into the room now"
 "But," persisted Major Lee. "were you ever present where he was when the beef contracts were discussed?''
 ''I recall" was the reply, 'tthat the sec- retary sent for me on one occasion and asked me about the contracts when there were two other gentlemen present in the room with him. I stated to him that the contracts had already been let and nothing more could be done. But if Senator Hanna was one of the men present I was not aware of the fact.'