The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-18
EAGAN REyISES STATEMENT.
oBJECTIoNsBEE FEATURES HAVE
BEEN ELIMINATED THERIsFROM.
says He Hnd No Intention of show
ing AIRY Disrcspcct TO the
ComnIiSstOn.
Especial Dispatch to The Post

| Especial Dispatch to The POST
| Washington, January 17.--GenerM Eagan
submitted to the war commission today a
revised statement, eliminating all the OBJ
ljcctionable language of his original state
| n,ent. In his letter General Eagan says:
\ To the Commission Appointed by the
! President to Investigate the Conduct of
/ the War Department in the War with
| Spain. x,sI
office Of Commissary General. WASH XII
| ton, January A. lS99.--Gentlemeu; y hsfe
+ the honor TO hand you herewith my yaAi-
mony, which la now resubmttted and re-
pressed by you in your letter to me Of Jan
uary 10. 1890 The Objectionable features
and what Is considered Irrelevant matter
by you, in which opinion ] entirely agree,
are eliminated In this connection I desire
to state that there was never thought or
intention on my part OF any disrespect
whatsoever to your commission. but In ex-
plantation and in extenuation of the Ian
guage used by me heretofore I beg to in
vite the attention OF the commission to
the fact that ] have been accused, prac-
tically, Of feeding the soldiers with pois-
oned beef which made them sick
embalmcd beef so-ealled: that have fur
nished meat to the army under the pre-
tense Of experiment, which charge In eff
feet is corruption and worse, because II
ieopardizes the lives of soldiers sent to
the front in tropical climates, and who
were dependent on such food as was sent
them; that the statements have gone to the
whole country uncontradicted: that they
have been published and have been pill
loried in the press OF the country as man
who had fed the army on poisoned meat,
and corruptly so. For about three weeks
time have kept silent. for the reason that
/ was debarred. after talking with the hon
orabe secretary OF war. from preferring
charges, because of the immunity granted
by the president to witnesses before your
commission, notwithstanding the gravity !
of the accusations; that II is unreasonable |
to believe that such monstrous charges |
could have any other effect than to work |
upon an honorable man in such a way as
to goad him to a species of desperation,
and that 1t was but natural, when the
proper opportunity was given him, to meet |
and refute the charges, that he should
cIothe them In harsh language and In /
terms that are deemed improper, no mat
ter what the proyoeation therefore |
withdraw the language and matter 80 OBJ
jectionable, and resubmit to you now my
sworn statement, with the abiding faith
that your commission, having all the facts
before YOU VIII decide the points at issue
justly. Very respectfully.
Charles p. Eagan.
Commissary General OF Subsistence.
General Eagan began his new statement
by stating that he "holds In his hands the
official copy Of the statements made by
your commission by the senior major gem
pral OF the United States, Nelson A. Miles"
He details the amazement and surprise he ,
experienced when informed that General
Miles had selected Major General Black
"a volunteer ofHcer). Totally void of eT-
perience in the Subsistence department
as his chief commissary instead OF Maj lr
Osgood, who was first chosen for that p st
by General Miles. He refers TO "a very
ordinary, commonplace telegram sent by =
General Miles to his adjutant general here !
IN washington. about June I. inGniring
what subsistence stores were at Tampa.
General Eagan says he made formal writ
Len reply to this, but WAS amazed next
morning to see in the newspapers that
General Miles had found II necessary TO
,end serious reprimand TO Washington.
II have TO state" SAYS General Esg1n.
that no such reprimand was ever received Q
" me from General Miles, nor any other
General. and that General Miles has no 9
In his commission or In his po- y
itiop under the laws OF regulations 70
END reprimands 10 me.
Notwithstanding that this imaginary
eprimand was published In the press" be (
oRtinues, General Miles from that day
81 this has never In any shape or form, :
Though have met him, taken any oeca-
bn to express any regret for the state =
tents made In the papers about the repri-
land nor TO ailude to II at all.
General Eagan says he fitted out the Q
xpeditlon to Porto Rico with ample sub Z
Istence supplies. and sent In one Of the
efrigerator ships. the Massachusetts, 20S,- =
90 pounds OF refrigerated beef-not em- b
aimed beef, nor treated by any chemical :
rocass whatever. but hrst-class refrig- q
rated beef as good rs the country pro
uees and Ii every way SOUND, sweet ana =
roper food. =
Alter 4 dfecuission OF General Miles, n