New-York tribune., 1899-03-28
THE BEEF INVESTIGATION.
corRT OF INQUIRY SITS IN WASHING
TON AGAIN.
crxrRA1s NILES AND EAGAN TO BE HEARD
ONCE MoRE-TEsTIMoNY OF +
c. SWIFT.


,,,-ob g7-The Army Beef Court OF
N"s"''s -,,urned to Washington. and at :
H',- .,a,v resumed its sittngs III the l''ho"
90, 90, The members Of the court hope tha'
,u Nc able to finish their WORK Wl'hh 'ne
' - 5svs and expect 10 have some important
. before them IN that time, including ten
-. who Will be recalled. Ii is a.so eN-
pccted tha; Genera ''i'' VIII
tunity TO ies'hH. s,,, ,,.,rt,c
,..-,,arv was the FIRST witness to-day. He lives
~ roveu Mass. and gives especial attention 10
-. Eastern interests Of the company lie assisted
80 ,-enarire the contract for supplying beef for
rrhs during the war. coming 20 Washington for
hs, rilrposc FIRST on June o. Mr. Swift said that
10 started for Washington in response 10 request
from General Eagan. when IL appeared that MS
e-,o had made the lowest bid The conversation
on This occasion somewhat genera. relating
-, ,be conduct Of the business. He here only
DAY. and was told before he left the city that the
contract would be awarded to his firm. General
t-sean had however said at that time that nc
cou'd not 20 into details with him until he could
make some necessary investigation as 10 suitable
ships
Nr Swift made his second visit 70 Washington on
J.ne % when the contract was submitted 10 him.
I, then made some objections To the terms OF the
s.rroemert as presented 20 him. one OF these
objections Vas 20 thc terms which ne thought
Ineht require the beef company 10 deliver beef by
lighter T. was also understood that beef was 20
he supplied only to the port towns, the inland
points 10 be- furnished with beef killed in the coun-
,ry The, were 20 keep hand sufficient sup
r,v for severty-twp hours consumption, this time
20 5e extended twenty-four hours under special
exactions shore refrigeration contemplated
IN all the conversation. and with the understanding
tha. this was TO be had the company had agreed
that the quality of the beef should be maintained
for three days and nights.
I'm reply 10 a question from Major Lee Mr. Swift
said that General Eagan mentioned that he had re-
celyed some suggestions of process for preserving
meat. but he did not - into details. giving no
name OF the inventor OF the process"
Major Lee said that Genera. Eagan had testified
before the court that the company had guaranteed
the bee. should be kept good for seventy-two hours
aNer leaving the refrigerator either on shipboard
O. on shore
II can only say" replied Mr Swift that General
Tagar al the time Of the interview seemed TO have
t'e same understanding Of the contract that had
in view Of his testimony ] can only say that he
was mistaken.
Major Lce-Thon ;he insertion OF the clause limit
i-e 20 iwenty-four hours the time meat should be
fresh after taken ogt OF the refriserator not
clerical error as suggested by the General?
would take good care TO protect the meat from the
So. and ! assured him mat If this were done the
meat would - good twenty -four hours after being
taken from the refrigerator.
Mr Swift continued by saying that refrigerator
nfef in a torrid country would keep good longer
man an ordinary person would think IT good. on
account ~ The outside appearance. As conse-
ouence ~ his representations. the first draft Of the
contract had neen changed by General Eaean in
several particulars.
NJ swift said in reply TO a question that the
dressed beef export business was growing rapidly
a. the expense Of the eXpcrtauon or live cattle.
There was. he said greater demand abroad Tor
the rcfree.ator beef. and in London this beef was
supplied tp tte best trade.
charles r. Barry. travelling salesman for Swift
& Co. followed Nj. swift He testified 10 taking
part IN the NEGOTIATIONS with General kagan TO Sc
cure the contract. saying ne had met the General
several times the subject. me first meeting be
i~c in MAY o. last ycaT. before the publication OF
TIE advertisement for ODDS. He also understood
that the seyeuty-two-hour clause applied only 70
the tine thar beef Was % be kept in the reirigeIN
siors on shore There WAS IN especial understand
!ne with General Eagan IS to the iwenty-four.
hour clause limiting the time during which the beef
rot5 d. kent OUT cf r~frigeratOr he agreeing that
}, -nouir ~ Kept constantly under cover
Nr Barry said that one day. when ne was IN
General Eagan's offco before the letting OF the
contract the latter complained Of the number OF
people who We're writing letters 10 him concerning
tfo processing CO., beef The General had then
handed to MIN q letter from Nj Powell. Of New
York VINO said be had process for preserving
meat and that ho had shipped beef prepared under
g. 10 points iu -he Southern States 1T struck me-.
said NJ Barry from General Eagan's behavior
that No. was Disguised al the thought. Tie SAID be
was depending ON the refrigerator beef and would
only deal with those who could furnish it,
After hearing Mr Barry. the court held brief
executive session. and then adjourned until to-