The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-30
[AGAN TELLS OF CONTRACT.
Was MISTAKES IN KEGARD TO THE
5z-nOIR PROVISION.
- Insisted ON RefrigeseteA Dess
for the Arny B~eause He Css-
sSAesea IL the best There Was-
Canned Beef for EneFgeneies.


WASHINGTON. March 1y-Rear Adni-
SxI Edwin Stewart psYmastsr OF the navy.
vas the first witness before the army beef
inquiry board tSday. He stated that can
ned roast Beef was one Of the articles
used b. the navy. Very little was ever
condemned.
Paymaster Fl. G. Colby. OF the navy. said
canned roast oeef had been used only
ssnce the beginning Of the late war Very
LsIie Of tt was rejected as UNFIT 10 use.
Eagan's yirsient Tongue.
Mai Black, who was chief conrnssary
on Miles staff during the Porto Kican
campaign. was asked by Maj. Lee to de-
tall conversation ne had with Gen. E.a-
kan. at that time commszsary general, att
er bss BLACK - return 10 Washington last
fail. The statement he made proved 10
be somewhat sensational.
II called upon Easan.' Black began ny
saving TO confer with rim concerning
the conduct Of our Affairs at Ponce. lie
asked me why refrigerated beet was not
issued at Ponce. and replied II was bse.
cause the issue commtssafies did not want
tt-iEey were getting native beef There
upon Eagsn became very much excited
and exclaimed. - d-n them, they have
no right to refuse IL. / consider II the
beat beef In IN. United States. and
them. I'd hare made them take IT,
Black also stated that at the time the
Manitoba Was on the reef he had some con-
versat;on with Miles about the vessel and
while mere was casual reference TO the
be@s on heard. the genera seemed princi-
pasy concerned 10 get the troops and horses
Native Beef Preferred.
Black sIso testified regarding beef IL
susd TO soldiers Native beef was pre-
ferred.
Blacks assistant at Ponce, related part!cu-
lars Of the return Of the transport Mani
toha to Ponce after visiting other DEPART
mefgts. He was at that time depot CON-
Ynissary and recelpiea for 1900 pounds Of
beef. Of which 5000 pounds WAS destroyed.
Pomeroy stated he had handled probably
e0.os1 pounds Of roast beef. hat had great
difficulty In getting the men TO take II.
When the men did take 1t they threw II
away.
The afternoon session began with Eagan
on the stand
Gen. EaGaa's Testimony.
He was recalled Ia take cognizance cs
points which have developed since he gave
his first testimony. Gen. Eagan said that
he had had conversations with the repre-
esntasives Of Swift q CO. prior TO the let:
also talked with others on the same sub
Ject he could not recall the details of his
remarks. He remembered that Mr.. Swif.
had taken exception 70 some OF the terms
Of the nrs. draft OF the contract rs being
very harsh
Explaining his plans in general. Gen.
Eaxan said X WAS his first Intention 10
take refrigerator beef then. in case OF
failure. 10 take beef on the block. and last
for the government tn have its own herd.
Every body. he thought. understood that
Swift a. Co. being the lowess bidders for
refrigerated beef naturally received the
award Of the contract.
Referring 10 tho terms OF the contract
Ger Fersn said that the matter of sup
plying the army with beef was considered
from the beginning very serious prchIem.
He had hrst Thought OF having ships
ply up and down the Cuban shore, and IL
was with this IN View thar he decided to
ask for beef that would keep for seventy
two hours He had also felt that there
would be difficulty In landing at Santiago.
His principal reason for inserting the
clause stipulating that the beef should be
good twen,y-faur boarse after leaving
the refrigerator was that he did not wish
the troops TO know that the contract
called for beef that would keep seventy
two hours for fear II would no; keep so
long
When cross-examined by Mai Lee. Gen.
Ea1an said he exercised HIS own discre-
ton In the letting of contracts. without
suggestions from. ths secretary OF war.
Whtn the lowest bid wss ascertaIned he
had been in tue .iabit al making an alb
stras's pf the fac's and submitting it to
tire secretary. lu<s as when hc WAS a
commissary IN the array he would furnish
eugh an abstract to his commanding of
feer. The general said that I'm providing
for the soidlers n the tropics he had
acted upor his sSFerls nee az Fort Mo-
1ave. ArsE lie was convinced from this
experience thar beef cooked before the
Animal heat YVES cot OF 1, was positively
Injurious. I'D recalled his conversation
with Mr.. Gardner. OF the firm ~ Swift Il
Co, who. no satd. had assured him that
with proper care refrigerator beef would
Keep ssyeaty~t hours. lie WAS hor-
ever. doubtful % the care the army weula
give II II . was known the beef would
keep seventy two hours. hence his agree
nsent to the inserf.eF OF the tWeuty-four
haur clause.
Ibid you understand i. vas ~ ktsp In
Good condition AFTER lac sag taken iron. the
ships refrigerator " asked Mai Lee
Yes sir; that WAS the understanding 50
Gen. Eagsn responded promptly. Here he
again referred To the iweaty~tour hour
clause explaining tina; his whole idea was
TIA. there should be a ScyentN-twe haur
time limit, though the contract should
state II at twsnty-fostr hours. The reien-
Ifon 80 strongly ef the seventy two hours
idea n his mind explained his tofsetful-
ness OF the twenty -four hour clause Ia
giving his testimony an a previous 0xcs.
sion ard his statement TINT it's Insertion
VAS clerical error Nal. I.ee asked the
general II he thought Il perfectly feasible
Ia keep r~ff GeTstpF beef for even TWEEN
y -four hours after leaving the refrtgvsa-
Tor and he replied in the affirmative
''Bat not" he said, at left IN the open
IL xoEuo Instances.
GEN Eakan said be had secured The of.ifa-
lon Of she surgeon geaeral that refrigerator
hset was mest acceptable. HE rad neyes
had any LEA that ths troops could he be1-
ter seppie& ~ giving them beef on the
hoof, He Terolleeted that the secretary 81
waT Asa suggested 20 hln that The tefri9
orator beer should he taken frafn Arfneus
OF swift merely as kFsal. being convinced
ef 81. superiority oyeT ali other beef
The secretary gave Ie a fre4 han3" se
sad He approved nay award % the con
tract and theEe was no further esafpFencs
witii him or insssactisus from him on shs
beef sa@i et, "
Referring So Ger w.~t0n'a repert on tas
trial of tae fAwSN process for pre@a.vlns
BEEF made 70 For ~, Gen, sagan said !
report bsa been received an thsx Suassri
ffegn 'ien. WcsfuN, nsa6 ts.Al ne tEsaxSna haa
no. Niso%n % - Es2rr2rs anjti long afte.
TIE contract VAS Esg 10 Swift 4 Ca .fle ge-
calissi letsVr hs had wgstter T. Asaxatsa~,
T. kf~s5{, May - regarding hlS PROCESS
Vie also stated thas he had A.afa rha,
F1weA had sadscsss Swifg ar Axnsessa~ *
ssSvesisEesc tAs press. snS "'sogfss, - RS
hiaa ~ proposed ~ it. bsis be gave ,hs
suhfeet - aft@FsI5Aa
Fer thAs mattel" he continued a*tse~s
VAS greas eess 81 tax aeaus sac powea