The Portland daily press., 1899-01-13

Continued From First Page.
then he lied again and II he made the
statement that 'pretencc 10 the precise
term 10 be used las be said then refer
ring to the 'experfment) then be lied
with as black . heart rs the man who
blew up tho Maine possessed ana he de-
served 70 be characterized ana known 20
A merican and Europe where MS state
ments have gone as being the colossal
liar Of the 18Th century. here and
now denouuce "a unpitigated fslsehood,
vile and slanderous, so slanderous that
10 can only be called filth.
This interview was headed rs follows:
miles makes grave charges against
the administration; Poisons used In beef
made the soldiers Ill; Tons Of bad meat
sent TO troops in Porto Rico"
attacks, asserted that the secretary Of
war had nothing to do with the furnish
Ing Of refrigerated meats or timed
meats. Nor had he attempted to control
the contracts, awards or purchases. In
heated language the General attacked
three New YORK newspapers and their
editors and proprietors whom he said
should be indicted and tried for treason,
rs having given aid, comfort and infor'
nation to the enemy for the sole pur-
Were / man Of means" he said, 81
would take this subject mp myself.
I would put journalistic knaves. purioin
hind the bars. where they belong"
Gen. Eagan vigorously attacked the In
spector generals department In oonneo-
ton with this Investigation he said the
principal officers of that department
took other positions and let the inspec'
needed so much as during the war, 70
SO far as they were concerned, for per-
sonaI ACKNOWLEDGMENT. They took volun-
teer rank with Increased pay and now ut
this late day that department was sud
denly endeavoring to get OK 'parte views
of people In manner not authorized
BY the secretary OF war-the proper au-
thority-about things that were passed.
The senior major general Of the army
and the inspector general OF the army
he continued, did not seem to be content
that with perfect propriety and within
the law. and ns conte plated by regula'
tons samples Of everything furnished
tanned, examined, analysed and every
statement for or against the food fur
nished, verified. / have not felt at liber-
ty to object to this method Of procehure
for the reason that my objection, how
ever, well founded, 1 fear would be given
my department feared an inspection and
this. too, when aud while and the whole
department courted It. But We did not
court ex -paIte reports made at the investi'
cation OF people well known to be hostile,
parties whose actions already and whose
| ,tatements here before your committee
show but too plainly what is behind II
all.
referring to Inspector General Breckin
ridges Investigation, Gen. Eagan point
cd ont various reports Of Officers that have
been published and quoted a telegram
he received January I. from Lieut.. Col.
A. l. Smith, depot qusrtermaster at Ha-
| vana, rs follows:
"Guild. inspector 7th corps, ordered by
Breckenridge to inspect and report on
all meat and request samples will
without further Instructions decline t.
recognize Breokenridge's authority, but
will personally show all stores desired
unofficially.
(Sisned)
smith"
"Col. Smith Is an experienced officer, I"
said Gan. Eagan. land not knowing
there WAS anything like a game In pro
gress, he refused this improper course
unless he had evidence that It was su-
thorized as It should have been by the
seen that II this sort Of ex parte exami-
nation Is made and ex -parte reports are
solicited, no mans reputation Is safe
every mans character may be put In
jeopardy; designing people might ruin
Christ even, II He were here today. But
Believing that It was trap to producs
just such refusal as Col Smith made,
replied to Col Smith, saying: you
will not stand on regulations. but you
will allow meats and every article OF
| On bsistenoe stores to be inspected by
Guild aid II necessary to be inspected
| twenty times q day. Furnish copy OF
this despatch to every oommissary in
Cub Cub. for their guidance in similar
| "I had no right" Gen. Eagan ex-
planned, Ito send that despatch, but tool
| IL upon myself to send out this authority,
| fearing refusal would be interpreted by
the world as showing that the depart
ment was afraid OF any investigation.
When informed the secretary OF War anc
he realised that the inspector general
doubtless at the insti gations OF the senior
major general Of the army, was inauRu
rating a system of inspection not autho
rized by proper authority, he informed
/ mo he would not have approved my
course. although he thought perhaps
was right
"Inspector General Breckenridge has re
Gently addressed letters direct to orioeri
| Of my department, calling for reports t.
him about the various articles OF fooC
furnished during the past year TO thu
army. He does this without the authori
" OF the secretary OF war. In effect, w
have in these two officers Of the al my
Gen. Miles and Gen. BreckenridRe-wht
| take upon themselves to investigate
matters pertaining solely and exclusively
to the secretary of war; to call for ex
parte reports and to do this directly ant
without the knowledge Of the secretary
or the adtutant general Of the army.
"Having trMveFsed Gen. Miles's state
msnts." be said, "hsving shown him u
Won N bo n liar and demougt rated the