The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-04-01
iLGER'S WISH WAS LAW.
30. Gen. Eagan Told a Texas Cattle.
man.
REASON WHY he COULDN'T con.
TRAIT FOR BEEF ON HOOP.

Secretary of War Wanted Refrigerated
Beof-somethins said About "PoIiti-
cal Prcssure---Esgsn Said the Re-
frigerator People Had Process For
Preserving Meat.
the witnesses before the army beef In
quiIy court today we're members Of the
med ical staff Of the army, who were on
service In Cuba during the Spanish war.
The other two witnesses were Mr.. George
II. Giddings and Gen. J. Hale Sypher.
who had been interested In securing con-
tracts for supplying beef on the hoof and
on the block for the army in Cuba.
A majority Of the army surgeons ex-
pre- sed the opinion that..the canned beef
was unsatisfactory rs food for the troops,
but some OF them thought 1t no more
harmful than other meat In tie Cuban
climate
MT George H. Giddings of San Antonio,
Texas, who had put in a bid to supply
the beef for Cuba on the foot at
Major Lees request, detailed the particu-
lars of various interviews with Gen.
Eagan concerning the letting of the con-
tract for beef. His first conversation had
related to the specifications for bids at
which Mr.. Giddings had called attention
to the fact that they were vague. Gen.
Eng n had then said that the specifica
lions were necessarily vague, as he could
not at that time give any specific infor-
nation. Gen. Eagan had Mt that time
said that his preference would be for re.
frigerated beef If he had any confidence
in 1t, but he did not think the refrieerat-
ed beef could be made available in the
Cuban climate.
Mr. Giddings then told of his visit to
the oOm missary general when the latter
told him that the secretary of war had
sent for him the night before and had
said that owing to the differences in price
they had better give the refrigerated beef
u trial and that he would have to do
this.
II then asked Gen. Eayan II he had
any confidence in the proposition, and
he replied that he had very little, but
that the refrigerator men were prepared
to give bond to keep the beef good for
e hours after leaving the refrigerators'
He also stated that they had preserva-
tive process by which they expected to be-
able to keep the beef In condition. But
he said that II there was any dissatisfao-
ton after the contract went into effect, he
would upset 1t and give the Texas cattle
men chance"
to.keep his commission Of cattlemen TO-
gether for the purpose of taking the con'
tract in the emergency Indicated.
Mr.. Giddings said that Gen. Eagan had
told him that, when he was an officer in
the field he always drove his beef with
him on foot and that he (Eagan) thought
this the proper way TO supply tesf for the
army.
Repeating his interview with Secretary
Alger. Gen. Eagan had said, according
to MI. Giddings. "well. the secretary
ssnt for me last might. and told me that
there was so much difference in price that
he should give the refrigerated beef a
trial."
ibid he order you to do shat asked.
No." he replied, but his wish.amounts
to an order.
Gen. Eagan then repeated his want Of
confidence and reiterated that IL the beef
did not prove satisfactory he would annul
the contract, for he would not let the sold
iers be poisoned, "
Regarding Gen. Eagan's reference to a
preservative process, MIR. Giddings said
that the general had told him that swift
81 Co., who had made the lowest hid on
refrigerated beef, had process which
would enable them to keep the beef for
~ bours after takt II from the refrigerator.
''Do you believe it?' l asked Gen. Eagan,
said MIR. Giddings, to which he replied,
1--WE got to believe I've got to give It =
trial
Gen. j. Hale Sypher, an attorney for
the Texas cattlemen, confirmed what Mr..
Giddings had said.
Gen. Eagan said the witness, "con-
veyed the Impression to me that he dis
. linz nrafaFrah n
the block to refrigerated beef and so in
formed my people, sending for some of
them to como here.
Gen. Sypher said that he had first dis
covered a tendency to change his mind on
the part OF Gen. Eagan soon after the bids
were opened.
"He disclosed to me them said the
witness, that the refrigerated beef men
had volunteered to give a bond for the
preservation of their meat for ~ hours af
ter leaving the refrigerator. / asked him
If the thought 1t possible to do this and
he replied:
up cold storage plants"
Continuing, Gen. Sypher said that
something was said By Gen. Eagan at
this juncture concerning o preventative
process, but that he gave it very little
attention.
''Some days later, Gen. Sypher said,
"Gen. Eagan informed me that owing
to the great difference in price he would
have TO give the refrigerated beef a trial.
The witness said that Gen. Raglan had
said something about political pres
sure" as the reason for the necessity of
making the trial and that he had said
something about his conference with the
secretary Of war. AS to just what he
could not remsm Der, but he thought MIR.
Hiddinpg had stated it corrpCtly