The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-28
THE COURT OF INQUIRY
Has Resumed It's Beef Investi-
CATION in Washington.
EAGAN WILL BE RECALLED
Swift Asserts That the "a Hours Limit
Was Not a Clerical Error as
Testified To by the Ex-Com-
missary General.

I Washington March 27-The military
court of inquiry appointed by the pres
1dent to make an investigation of the
beef furnished the army during the
Spanish war has returned to Washing
ton. and at 2 o'clock to-day resumed
its sittings here. The members of the
commission are hopeful that they will
be able to cosclude their work with
in the next 10 days and expect to have
some important witnesses before them
in that time, including General Pagan,
who will be recalled. 1t is also expect
ed that General Miles will be given an
opportunity TO testify.
E. c. Swift. president of the
Swift Packing company, was the first
witness who appeared. He is resident
of Lowell, Mass, and gives special at
tention ito the eastern interests of the
company. He assisted in preparing the
contract for supplying beef for Cuba
during the war, coming to Washington
Tor tnat purpose, first on June 80
Mr.. swift stated that he started to
Washington in response to request
from General Eagan, when it appeared
that his firm had made the lowest bid,
The conversation with General Eagau
on this occasion was somewhat general.
relating to the conduct of business. He
was here only a day and was told
before he left that the contract would
be awarded to his firm. General Eagan
had. however, stated at that time shat
he could not go into details with him
until he could make some necessary in
Fest1gat1on as to suitable ships. Mr.
ri Ia
ing'ton the Goth of June. when the CON
tract was submitted to him. He had
then made some objections to the terms
q the agreement as presented to him.
one of these objections was to the
terms which he thought might require
the beef company to deliver beef by
lighter, he complaining that the compa-
ny could not reasonably be expected to
deliver at only such points as had rail-
road tracks alongside the wharves. 1t
was also understood that beef was to
pc supplied only to the port towns, the
inland points to be furnished with beef
killed in the country. They were to
keep on hand sufficient supply for 70
hours consumption, this time to be eX-
tended "a hours under special eNamina-
tions. Shore refrigeration was con-
remplated in all the conversation and
with this understanding that this was
to be had the company had agreed that
the quality of the beef should be main
fained for three days and nights.
In response to a question from Ma
1or Lee, Mr. Swift stated that General
Eagan had during the interview with
aim, mentioned that he had received
some suggestion of a process for pre-
serving meat. but General Eagan did
not go into details, giving no names of
the inventor or of the process
Major Lee then stated that General
Esagan had said in his testimony before
the board that the company had guar
anteed that the beef should be kept
good for y hours after leaving the re-
fr1gerator, either on shipboard or on
shore.
Il can only say" responded Mr..
Swift. that General Eagan. at the time
of the interview, seemed to have the
same understanding of the contract
that I had. In view OF his Testimony,
! can only say that he was mistaken"
Major Lee: Then the insertion of
the clause limiting to "a hours the time
for fresh beef after being taken out of
the refrigerator was not a clerical err
ror as suggested by the genera1?"
MIR. Swift: THAT cannot be so. He
said his agents would take care to pre-
serve the meat from the sun and I as
sured him that if this were done the
meat would be good for "a hours after
taken from the refrigera tor
Mr.. Swift continued by saying that
refrigerated beef in torrid climate
would keep good longer than an ordn-
AIRY person would think it good, on ac-
count of the outside appearance, AS a |
consequence of his representations. the |
first draft of the contract had been
changed by General Eagan in several
particulars. Mr.. Swift said, in reply to |,
question. that dressed beef export
lcit
pense of the expectation of live cattle |
There was, he said, super-demand |
abroad for refrigerated beef, and in
London this beef was supplied to the
best trade
Charles E. Barry, travelling salesman
for Swift & Co. followed Mr.. Swift, He
testified to his participation in the ne
Gotiations with General Eagan TO Sc
cure the army contract saying he had
met the general several times on this
subject, the first meeting in May of
last year, before the issuance of the ad-
tertisement for bids. He also under
stood that the 72-hour clause applied
only to the time that the beef was to |
be kept in the refrigerators on shore.
There was an especial understanding |
with General Eagan as to the 24-ho1lr |
clause limiting the time during which |
the beef could be kept out of the re |
frigerator. he agreeing that it should |
be kept considerably under cover.
Mr.. Barry related that on one day
when he was in General Eagan's office