Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-25

Washington, d. c., February "a
After a session of little more than two
hours. the court of inquiry Investigate
ing the beef charges, adjourned until
Monday, pending. tie arrival of Wit
nesses who have been summoned.
Former Commissary General Eagan
to-day concluded his testimony. ex-
planning the provisions Of contracts for
beef supplies to the armies in Porto
Rico, Cuba and the Philippines. He
very vigorously denied any knowledge
of any chemical treatment OF beef to
preserve it and disavowed any connec-
ton whatever of the government with
any such treatment. He further de-
Tended the canned roast beef, explain
ing why it had been sent to the troops
and when Col. Davis, the recorder. ask
ed him if any food had been used rs an
experim, 1t or pretense of experiment,
suggesting Gems Miles famous allega-
ton that precipitated the Eagan court
ma ~tial, the former eommissary gem
eral, with great dignity and emphasis,
replied sweepingly in the negative,
Gen. Eagan was followed by Major
General S. NJ. b. Young and other Off
GERS who were in the Santiago cam
paign. and by officers Of the subsistence
department The refrigerated beef
was commended. while tho canned
roast beef on the whole rather suffered
as a sequence to the days testimony.
Next week probably fifteen witnesses
will be heard, among them perhaps
Governor Roosevelt, OF New York, and
it is expected that DR.. w H. DAILY will
be examined later in the week when~1
the beef concerns will have Ihelr rem
resentatives here ~ hcapAe Yitneya
repeat charges that the refrigerated
beef was treated chemically. The beef
concerns had not been notified to-day
when TO appear Col. Davis saying IL
had not develc- I'd fully from the evil
dence who furnished the beef at jack
sonville. Tampa, Chiclamauga and
Porto Rico. which was attacked, and
until the origin of the beef was ascer-
tained notification to the beef concerns
would be impossible. Some time next
week, according to present expocta-
lions the court will leave for the West,
going first to Chicago to inspect the
plants of the concerns that furnished
beef during the war and later 10
Omaha, Kansas City and perhaps st.
Louis. ~
Former Comnf General Eagan
wore the fatlgueluniforrn Of a Bfigadicr
General. Recurring q the contract re-
oulrements. he explaik he'd that Swift q
Co. we're wholly responsible for the
beef until delivered to the gkayerpment
officials at the points designated by ebs
department The clause requiring beef
to keep seventy-two hours after leaving
the refrigerator. was inserted. he said,
at his instance after the concerns de-
clared they could prepare 1t so az to
keep that long. Explaining further be
said:
Suppose a commissary should make
reouisition at Santiago for 20 1000 pounds
Of beef. should secure It from the ship
and take proper care Of It, retaining II
in the shade, and it should spoil within
seventy-two hours, the contractors
would not be paid for It,"
Many vouchers for beef had been
paid, he said, and he presumed deduc-
lions for spoiled beef had been made.
though he did not know He 4der-
stood through Col. osgood that beef
had been rejected by commands when
In fact it was sweet ana perfectly good.
Speaking Of arrangements for the
Porto Riean expedition. Gen. Eagar
said he understood Gen. Brooke was d
command 1t and he accordingly con
suited with Gen. Brooke reaching
complete and satisfactory understa7
ing as to refrigerated beef Sub
uuently he learned that Gen. Niles
surned command, but he never cons
ed with him and he did not knbw
Gen. Miles knew Of the beef IRA
meuts.
Replying to Col. Davis, he
Col. shaTn. chiasSaaI,-.ary
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