The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-03-30
GENERAL EAGAN
ON THE STAND.
Recalled to Testify Concerning the
Beef Furnished the Army.
A SENSATIONAL STATEMENT,
Major Blacks Says General Eagan was
Violent and Profane Because Re
rrirerator Beef was Not Issued
to Troops at Ponce.

WASHINGTON. March 29.-The mill
tarv court appointed to inquire into Cen
eral Niles charges concerning the beef
supplied the army during the Spanish
war had former Commssary-Genera
Pagan before it to-day on recall, and also
heard the testimony Of Rear-Admiral
Stewart and Paymastor Colby Of the
navy. and Major Black and Captain Pom
eroy. volunteer officers, who were en-
Gagged I'm the commissary service at Ponce
during General Miles Porto Rican cam
paign.
General Eagan's testimony was not
startling He stated that Messrs. Armour
& CO. had put in bid TO supply beef TO
BE- preserved by process OF their own
but that be had not considered il. He
also modified a former statement 10 the
effect that the twenty-four houf cause
i'm the beef contract had crept 30 rs
clerical error saying that In the mulu-
tude of matters which had been deinailu-
ing his attention at the time be bad for
rotten its Insertion His understanding
was that the beef was % keep ~ good
condition sevouty-twO hours after being
taken from the ships refrigerator. his
principal reason for inserting the clause
Stimulating that the beef should Zoe good
tventv-four hours after leaving the re-
frlrerator was that he did not wish the
troops 90 know that the contract caiied
for beef that would keep seventy-tWo
hours for fear that 10 would not keep so
long.
TO BRING HANNA ~.
There was an apparent effort on the
,,rrt of Major Ice. representing General
Miles. 70 show that Senator Hanna had
sought 10 influence the contracts. Dur
General Eacau asserted that he did NOT
know the Senator, and no explanation
was made of the Introduction or nus
name General Pagan made frequent
reference during the giving of his testi-
monv 10 the numerous demands upon his
time during the war making this COM
diUon am explanation for not remember
ING details.
Major Plack and Captain Pomoroy
gave the details concerning tho cOnd ton
OF the beef brought 10 Porto Rico on the
steamer Manitoba. Captain PomerOv
stated that ~ q 600 pounds receipted for
at Ponce. 6e0 pounds had been cone
demued. They also detailed the ohiec-
tions made by the men 90 the roast
canned beef
Major Slack. who was chief commits
sary on General Miles star durinz the
Porto Rican campaign. was asked by
Major Lee 10 detail a cont ersation boz
bad with General EagaD ~ th0t time
Commissary General. after his Biack's)
ro'nrn ZOO WASHINGTON last fal
The statement be mace proved 20 Doe
somewhat sensational
he WAS VIOLENT.
"I called upon General Eagau.' Major
Black began. by saying "tO confer with
him concerning the conduct OF our affairs
at Ponce lie asked me why the reirise-
rator beef was not ISSUED at Ponce and
j replied that it was because the issue
commlssaries did not want d. as they
were getting native beef Thereupon
General Eagan became very much excited
and exclaimed. o. - them. they have no
right 90 refuse 10, l consider it the best
beef in the United States and them
/ have made them take it,
At Major Lees request Captain P0me-
roy of the Volunteer Subsistence Depart
ment. related a. conversation with Colonel
Smith who was for "a time chief commits
sary. and who had told him that The beef
was guaranteed TO keep seyenty-twO
hours on shore. because OF 70 process for
preserving 3d. The colonel had. however
stated that Dice did not know what the
process was
Captain IOmerOy said he Dad handled
probably $4,000 pounds of canned roast
beef during his occupancy of the 1iiice
of depot commissary. but That Dee mad
great difficulty in getting the men 20 take
H.
Admiral Stewart and p1vm1sfor colby
testified To- the use of canned roast beef
in tine navy. on The whole it gave satis-