The Portland daily press., 1899-03-30

some Conversation with Gen. Miles about
the vessel and while there was casual
reference 10 the beef on board, the Cen
oral seemed principally concerned to get
the troops and horses on. i.
o'clock.
The afternoon session logan with Gen.
Charles p. EagaD, late oJmmisssry gen
eral of the U. 5. army on the stand. lie
was recalled to take oogniZance OF points
which have been developed since he gave
his first testimony. Gen. kagan SAID
that he had had conversation with the
Representatives of Swift 81 Co., prior to
the letting of the beef contracts, but as
he had ais, talked wi others on the
same sub ject he could not recall the de.
tails of his remarks lie remen- bered
that MIR. swift had taken exceptions to
some of the terms of the first draft oil the
contract as being very harsh.
Explaining his plans 10 general, Zen.
Raglan said IL was his first intention to
take refrigerated beef, then in case OF
failure to take beet on the block ano
last for the government to have Its own
herds, Every body he thought, understood
that his preference was for refrigerated
beef, which naturally received the con-
tract.
Gen. Raglan said that the matter of sup
plying the army with beof was copsid-
cred from the beginning very serious
problem. He had first thought OF hav-
ing ships ply up and down the Cuban
shore and 1t was with this In view that
he decided to ask for beef that would keep
"a hours. He had also felt that there
would be difficulty in landing ut Santi
ago. His principal reason Tor inserting
in the contract the clause STIMULATING
that the beef should be good "a hours
after leaving the refrigerator was that
be did not wish the troops to know that
the contract called for beef that would
keep ~ hours for fear that 1t would not
keep SO long.
When cross-examined by Major Ice.
Gen. hagau said he exercised his own
discretion In the letting of contracts
without suggestion froIu the secretary OF
war. When the lowest bid was asser-
tanned he had been in the habit of max
ing an abstract of the facts and submit
ting Ii to the secretary.
The general said that in providing for
the solGieIs in the tropics he had acted
upon his experience at Fort Mo1ave,
Arlz. He WIS convinced that beef cooked
before the animal heat was out Of 1t,
was positively injurious. He recalled
his co yersatiop with mir. Gardner CT
Swift 81 Co.. who. he said, had assured
him that with proper care, refrigerated
beef would keep for ~ hours. he was,
however, doubtful of the care the ARMY
would give 1t If II was known the beef
would keep z. hours, hence his agreement
to the insertion of the "a hour CLAUSE.
Ibid you understand 1t was to Keep In
good condition ~ hours after being taken
from the ship refrigerator asked Major
Lea.
Yes, sir, that was the understand
Ing" Gen. Eagan responded.
Here he again referred TO the 24-hour
clause explaining that his whole idea
hnt shO,.ll hs n ~J-hGnr time
limit though the contract should state
il at 24-hours The retention SO strong
ly of tho 72-hour idea in his mind OK.
planned his forgetfdlness Of the 24-hour
clause in giving his testimony on a pre-
vious occasion and his statement then
that the insertion was d clerical error
Major Lee asked the general il he
thought Ii PEI fectly feasible to keep re-
fri9ersted beef for even "a hours after
leaving the refrigerator and ne replied
in the affirmative.
"But not" he said, "if left in the open
sun or dumped in dirty carts as it was In
some INSTANCES"
Gen. Eagan said he had secured the
opinion of the surgeon general thut re-
frigerated beef was most acceptable. He
had never had any idea that the troops
could he better supplied Ly giving them
beef on the hoof. He had no recollec.
ton that the secretary of war had sug
RbSIeu 10 lln IHHb tnt utel
should be taken from Armour or Swift
merely as trial being convinced Of Its
superiority over all other beef The Sec
rotary gave me Ia free hand he said.
"He approved my award Of the contract
and there was no further conference with
him or instructions from him on the beef
subject
Referring to Gen. Wheaton's report on
the trial of the Powell process for preserv
ing bsef made in Florida, Gen. Eagan
said:
There was "a great deal Of talk about
the Powell and other processes a out the
department. but not on my part AS did
not propose that any but the best frozen
as issued in the best hotels should be eaten
by the army"
"Do you recall" asked Major Lee,
"being present when a conversation took
place concerning the letting OF contracts
when Senator Hanna was PRESENT.
~ never spoke to Senator Hanna in my
life," responded Gen. Eagan," and don't
think l would know him If be should
step inf" the room now. he WAS pointed
out To me once, but don't think
shonld know him now"
But" persisted Major lee, 'were
you ever present where he was when the
beef contracts were discussed
~ recall was the reply, that the
secretary sent for me on one occasion
and asked Ineabout the contracts when
there were two other gentlemen present
In the room with him. i stated TO him
that the contracts had already been l. t
and that nothing more could De done,