The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-01

to supply the beef for Cuba on the boot
In reply to request from Major Lee, Mr.
Giddings detailed the particulars of va
rious interviews with General Engan con-
corning the letting OF the contract for
beef His first conversation had related TO
his specifications for bids at which Mr.
Ciddings had called attention TO the fact
thai they were vague.
General Eagan had then said that the
specifications were necessarily vague as
he could not at that time give any specific
Information. General Eagan had at that
time said that his preference would be for
refrigerator beef, II he had any confidence
in Il; but he did not think the refrigerated
beef could be made available In the Cuban
climate.
~ had been in Cuba several times my
self said the witness. land agreed with
him that 1t would be impossible 10 Keep
the refrigerated beef IN tina innate with
out refrigerators,
Mr.. Giddings then told OF bis visit 20
the commssary general on the first OF
July when the latter told him that tho
secretary OF war had sent for him the
night before and said that owing to the
adherence In price they had better give the
refrigerator beef a trial and that he would
have TO do this.
price they had better give tho refrigerator
beef trial and that he would have to
do this.
81 then asked General Eagnn ~ he
ton and he replied that he Ind YER,
Iittlc. hut that the refrigerator men
were prepared In give bond to
keen the beef good for sevcnty-fwo
hours after leaving the rcfrigcrator.
He also stated that they had N pre-
sentative process by which they ex-
uected 10 he able to keep tho beer
IN condition. Hut he said that ~
aberc was any dissatisfaction after
the contract went into effect, he
would snpset II and give the 80
/ cnttiepscn "a chance
Mr.. Giddings then proposed to make
! proposition 10 keep his combination OF
cattlemen together for the purpose OF
1 taking tho contract n the emergency in
dictated and this he did. He pronuced
| copv of this document He had represented,
! he said combination fully capable OF
I carrying tho contract into ehecI.
/ M. Giddings said IN reply TO questions
by Major Lee that General Eagan had tola
/ him that when he was an officer ~ inc
| 6eld he always drove his beef with him
/ on foot and that he (Eagan) thought this
1 was the proper way to supply beef for
4 the army
Repeating his interview with Secretary
4 Alger. General Eagan had said, according
\ to Mr. Glddings
/ "Weu, the secretary sent for me
/ last night and told me that there
! WINS SO much difference In price thnt
we should give the refrigerator beef
( TRIAL"
"Did he order you 10 do tbat."
asked.
"'so,' he replied, but his wish
amounts to an order
"GcneraI Easun then repeated his
want of confidence and reiterated
that IL the beef did not prove salts
factory he would nBDui the contract
for Ia. ,vonid not let the soldiers he
POISONED"
In regard 20 General Eagans reference
10 the prsservative process, Mr.. Giddings
said that the general had told him that
Swift & Co., who made the lowest bld on
refrigerator beef. had process whlen
would enable them 10 keep the beel Tor
seyenty-two hours after being taken from
the refrigerator.
..Do you believe itr asked Gem
erai Eagan," said Dir. GiddiDsn' "to
which he replied, i've got TO beiieSe
1--we got 40 give II n trial.
Mr.. Giddings said his relations had been
pleasant with General Eagan, that he haa
gene into the generals office frequently,
but felt he had a right to do SO.
m" he added, General Esgan referred
to me when he said he had iorpiaaen
some one admission 10 his office. the state
ment was untrue
General Sypher an attorney Tor the
Texas cattlemen. confirmed what Mr.. Cid
. dngs had said. He said that while he nae
not visited General Eagan With MI. CID,
dipgs. be had seen bin frequently and
talked fully with him on this subject u