Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-01-17
EAGAN GIVES A REVISE
Has Eliminated What War Board
Deems Objectionable.
ALSO DEFENDS HIS WORDS.
In Letter lie Calls the Attention of
the Commissioners to the Accu-
Stations of Corruption Brought
Against His Department.

Washington, Jan. 17.-Commissary
General Eagan has sent to the war In
vestigating commission a revised state
ment in place Of that originally made In
response to General Miles charges. The
revised statement Is about IS per cent
shorter than that which was ordered
withdrawn because Of it's violent and
abusive character.
The commission after its receipt went
into secret session to read the document
and decide whether in it's present form
it had been expurgated sufficiently to
permit it to be made part of the COM
missions records.
The following is the text Of letter
sent by General Eagan to the war COM
mission with the amended statement:
"Gentemen-I have the honor to hand
you herewith my testimony, which Is
now resubmitted and revised in accord
ance with the views expressed by you In
your letter to me Of Jan. 10. The OBJ
jectionable features and what Is con-
sidered irrelevant matter by you, in
which opinion 1 entirely agree, are elm
mated.
SIN this connection I desire to state
that there was never a thought or in
tention on my part Of any disrespect
whatsoever to your commission, but In
explanation and in extenuation of the
language used by me heretofore l beg
to invite the attention of the commits
sion to the fact that I have been ac-
cused practically of feeding the SOL
diers with poisoned beef, which made
them sick-'embalmed beef so called
that have furnished meat to the army
11p6pv the 'nrQfnnSp Of pYnRrimPn MT ,
which charge in effect is corruption and
worse, because it jeopardizes the lives
of soldiers sent to the front in tropical
climates and who were dependent on
such food as was sent them.
Have Gone Uncontradicted.
THAT these statements have gone to
the whole country uncontradcted; that
they have been published and I have
been pilloried in the press of the coun-
try as man who had fed the army on
poisoned meat and corruptly so; that
for about three weeks time have kept
silent for the reason that l was debar-
red after talking with the honorable
secretary of war from preparing
charges because of the immunity grant
ed by the president to witnesses before
your commission, Notwithstanding the
gravity Of the accusations; that it is
unreasonable to believe that such mon
strous charges could have any other eff
feet than to work upon an honorable
man in such q way as to goad him to a
species of despel alton and that it was
but natural when the proper opportu-
nifty was given him. to meet and refute
the charges, that he should character
ize them in harsh language and in
terms that are deemed improper, no
matter what the provocation.
81 therefore withdraw the language
and matter so Objectionable and re-
submit to you now my sworn statement
with the abiding faith that your COM
mission, having all the facts before you.
will decide the points at issue justly
Very respectfully,
"CHARLES P. EAGAN."
The commission, after a brief execu-
tive session, decided for the present to
make public only General Eagan's let
ter and not the accompanying state
ment.
Secretary Alger and Adjutant Cen
eral Corbin went to the White House,
and each had a brief consultation with
the president. presumably in regard to
the contemplated action in the case of
Commissary General Eagan. Both the
secretary and General Corbin refused
absolutely, however, to say anything
about the nature of their interviews.