New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-01

cooked, and found It very paiatabe. This meat
hsa not caused any inconvenience. The beef
hdo caused vomiting on each occasion. Tha
surgeon IF yhe 10Th Cavalry had reported similar
experiences among the men of that regiment
as a result OF eating the canned beef. Others
Iad eaten 1t without apparent i'll effect The
reef was tough, stringy. tasteless and devoid OF
nutrition. and Dr. Heyl thought its use had
promoted disease In the Army.
MR.. GIDDINGss TESTIMONY
AT this point the line of surgeons under ex-
animation was broken In upon by the introduce
ton Of George H. Gddngs Of San Antonio.
Tex, who had put in bid to supply the beef
for Cuba on the hoof. In reply to request
from Major Lee Mr. Gddngs detailed the par
uculars Of various interviews with General
Eagan concerning the letting of the contract for
beef. His FIRST conversation had related to the
specifications for bids. Mr.. Giddings had called
attention 20 the fact that they were vague
General Eagan had then said that the specfca-
tions were necessarily vague, as he could not at
that time give any specific information Cen
eral Eagan had at that time said that his pref
erence would be for refrigerator beef II he had
any confidence in II. but he did not think the
refrigerator beef could be made available in the
Cuban climate II had been in Cuba several
times myself said the witness, and ] agreed
with him that II would he impossible to keep the
frgerators."
Mr.. GiGdings then told Of his visit to the Com
missary- General on July !. when the latter told
him that the Secretary Of War had sent for him
the night before. and said that owing to the diff
ference in price they had better give the re-
frgerator beef trial and that he would have
to do this.
Il then asked General Eagan II he had any
confidence in the proposition. and he replied
that he had very little. but that the refrigerator
men were prepared to give n bond to keep the
beef good for seventy-two hours after leaving
the refrigerator. He also said that they had a
preservative process by which they expected 10
he able to keep the beef in condition But ne
said that If there was any dissatisfaction after
the contract went into effect he would upset 1t
and give the Texas Cattlemen a chance.
Mr.. Giddings then made proposition TO Keep
his combination Of cattlemen together FOR the
purpose Of taking the contract IN the emergency
indicated. He produced copy of this docu-
ment He had represented he said. combina-
ton for carrying the contract into effect
Mr. Giddings said in reply to questions by
Major Lee that General Eagan had tod MN
that when he was an officer in the field he al
ways drove his beef with him on foot. ana that
he thought this the proper way to supply oeel
for the Army.
repeating his interview with Secretary Alger.
General Eagan had said according TO Mr.. Cid
dings: Well the Secretary sent for me Iast
night and told me that there was so much an
ference in price that We should give the re-
frgeratOr beef a trial
''.Did he order YOU to do that? asked.
mo, he replied. but his wish amounts 10 M
order ~.
General Eagan then repeated his want OF
confidence, and reiterated that II the peer ulu
not prove satisfactory he would annuI the con
tract for he would not let the soldiers he
In regard to General Eagan's reference to a
n~eseryative process Mr.. Giddings said that the
General had told him that Swift x CO.. VINO had
made the lowest bid on refrigerator beef hau d
process which would enable them TO Keep the
beef for seventytwo hours AFTER DelhS 'dNe"
from tho refri cer2tO ID.
DO YOU believe it.? asked General Pagan,
said Mr.. Giddings. Ito which he replied: i We
sG to 6Glys said Y his sps 'G with
Fayan had been easant, that he fad gone mo
the Generals office frequently because ne ie5'
that he had right to do so. ~ ne duueu'
General Eqean referred to me when he said ne
had forbidden some one admission to his Office
the statement IVES untrue.
TALK OF POLITICAL PRESSURE.
General J. Hale Syphcr. attorney for the
Texas cattlemen. confirmed what Mr.. CID
dings had said He said that while he mad not
visited General Eagan with Mr. Giddines' ne
had seen him frequently and had talked fulIy
with him or this subject in the interest OF me
Tevas men General EaCaH" said the witness.
conveyed the impression 10 me that ne as
tinctIy and positively preferred beef on me
block 10 refrigerator beef and 80 informed my
General Sypher said that he had hrst as
covered a tendency To change his mind on the
part Of General Eagan soon after the blds Were
orenad. "Ho disclosed to me tnen sald 'hs
witness that the refrigerator beef men had
volunteered 10 give bond for the preservation
OF their meat for seVenty-twO hours after leav-
Ing the refrigerator. ] asked him II ne thonsh'
II possible to do this. and he replied J don't be-
leve il is unless they put up cold storage
plants
Continuing. General Sypher said that some
thing was said by General Eagan at TINS
.uncture concerning 2 preventative process. nut
that he gave little attention 70 il. some days
later" General Syphcc said. General Eaean IN
formed me that owing 10 the great dinerence
IN price he would have to give the refrigerator
beef n trial Trial the word he used
The witness said in reply to question ny
Major Lee that General Eagan had said some
thing about "poitical pressure as the reason
for the necessity to make the trial. and that ne
had said some thing about his conference WIN
,he Secretary Of War As IN Just what he had
said on this latter point. he could not rememher'
bat he thought Mr. Giddngs had stated IL cor
roctly. "
Major Philip T. Harvey who was chief sur
reon ~ the First Division Of the Army at san
tiago ard Major A. II. Appel who was In com
noand Of ono Of the division hospitals. hoth
testified but neither had given especial AT
iention tn The beef used Major Appel said he
lad necer heard good word said for the
canned beet.