The Portland daily press., 1899-03-28
The PACKERS HEARD.
Agents Of Swifts Before the
Inquiry c urt
STATEMENT MADE BY GEN. EAGAN
DISPUTED.

They Never said Beef Would stand Up
as Long as Eagan Says 1t Would
--Latter Had Heard of the Pre-
serving Process But Appeared Dis
gusted at Thought.
! swashington, March 81. The military
court of inquiry appointed by the Presi.
dent to make an investigation Of the beef
furnished tho army during the Spanish
war, today resumed it's sittlngs In this
city.
Mr.. K. c. Swift. vics president OF the
Swift Packing company. was the first
witness. de is resident of Lowell,
Mass, and gives especial attention to the
Eastern interests of the company, He as
sisted in preparing the contract for sup
plying beef for Cubn during the war.
Mr.. Swift stated that he started to Wash
ing.on in response II request from
General Egan when 1t appeared that his
firm had made the lowest bid. The con-
versation with General Egan was some
visit to Washington on the goth of June.
when the contract was submitted to him.
He had thon made some obj ections to the
terms OF the agreement as presented to
him. One of these objections was to the
terms which he thought might require
the beef company to deliver beef by
lighters, he complaining that the com
pany could not reasonably be expected TO
deliver at only such points rs had rail-
road tracks alongside the wharves. 1t
was also understood that beef was to be
supplied only to the port towns, In the
inland points to be furnished with beef
killed in the country. They were TO keep
on hand sufficient supply for seventy
two hours consumption, this time to be
extended twenty-four under special
actions. Shore refrlgcration was contem-
plated In oil the conversations and with
the understanding that this was TO e
had. The company had agreed that the
quality OF the beef should be maintained
for three days and nights. Mr.. swift
stated that General Egan had during the
interview, mentioned that he had IT scsiv-d
some suggestion of process for preserv-
Ing meat, but General Egan did not go
into detlils.
Major Leo then stated that aen Egan
had said In his testimony before the board
that the company had guaranteed that
the beef should be kept good fer seventy
Two nOurS HItef leiANinB tHe TeHAkohoVoA
either on shipboard or on shore.
81 can only say" responded Mr.. swift,
that General Egan at the time of the In
terview seemed to have the same under
standing of the contract that l had. In
view of his testimony, can only say that
he was mistaken.
Major Lee-''Ihen the insertion Of the
clause limiting TO twenty -four hours the
time meat should be fresh, after taken
out of the refrigerator was not n clerical
error as suggested by the GeneralF'
"a Mr.. Swift-"That cannot te so. be
said his agents would take good care to
protect the rcat from the sun and as
sured him that il this were done that the
meat would be good twenty -four hours
after being taken from the refrigerator.
Mr.. Swift continued by saying that re-
ffigerated beef In u torrid country would
keep good longer than an Ordinary person
would think it good. on account of the
outside appearance.
There was, he said. superior demand
abroad for the refrigerator beef
Charles 4. Barry, travelling salesman