The times., 1899-01-15
GENERAL POLITICAL
NOTES AND GOSSIP.

The Army scnndsl w n Not Down.
The attempt to suppress the embalmed
beef scandal by compelling Commissary
General Charles Patrick Eagan to revise
his testimony and strike out the objec-
tionable portions will notai it is believed
be successful. The time has gone by for
any such scheme to work. Eagan's state
nent was made deliberately, and it was
received by the members of the Alger Re
lief Commission without murmur of
protest. All that was printable of it has
been published in the newspapers. Even
if Eagan should withdraw and Officially"
disavow every word contained in his re-
markable deiiverance it would not alter
the situation in the least If anything. it
would only serve to involve the War De-
partment the more deeply in the rotten
ness that has been disclosed. 1t is point
ed out that vulgar, unseemly, as General
Eagan's statement was it amounted to a
denial, and that any qualification OF it
would be construed as practical confes-
sion of guilt. The American public are
not especially concerned over Eagan's ex-
hbition of bad manners and vulgarity
The army regulations make ample pro-
vision for the treatment Of such offenseS,
and there is no occasion for anyone-not
even Mr.. Alger--to get unduly excited
over that phase of the matter. The
charges made by General Miles thst the
War Department furnished the American
soldiers in the field-in Porto Rico and
elsewhere-with putrd beef. that was not
only unfit to eat, but a positive menace
TO the lives of the men partaking of it,
have not been successfully refuted.
Miles's allegations are supported by s,o-es
of officers and surgeons of the highest
standing. Nituperation of General Miles
by Eagan does not disprove anything
that he has said; in fact it Cnly confirms
it. The matter now must be probed to tee
bottom. The public will be satisfied with
nothing short of that. Mr. Mckinley, it
was said yesterday, has about awakened 10
realization of this fact. further at
tempt will probably be made to evade
meeting the issue squarely by the Admin
istration, and to shield certain official
pets. but the upshot of it all will b.. t is
believed. thorough and complete vSnt.la
tion of the whole subject. The RESPONSE
bility for the whole wretched business will
be placed where it belongs.
General Eagan is understood to be COM
planning at the treatment he is receiving
from his former associates and CO.
parceners. He does not intend, it is sad.
to be made scapegoat of if he can help
it. He resents the return of his ''testi
mony" by the Alger Relief Commission.
1t was delivered under cath, and could rot
be used against him, according to the
terms of the Presidents promise when the
so-called investigation was started By
having his copy" thrown back upon his
hands Eagan is placed in a very awkward
position. The protecting arm of the com
mission has been removed from him. Ac-
cording to the gossip last night Eagan in
tends to stand by his original statement
as the safest course for him to pursue.
There is a bare possibility that he may
make use of his interesting vocabulary TO
ger. If he does, it will be time for all
self-respecting citizens to take to the
woods until the storm blows over.