Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-01-14

eraI with Leave for Him to Cut Out the
Objectionable Matter and Resubmit-
Beef Issue Gets Gen. Wood and Gov.
Roosevelt into an Unpleasant Position
Speculation Upon What Will BE Done
Next-Cabinet Is Concerned.
Washington, Jan. 14.-There was no
abatement in the interest exhibited here
yesterday in all the incidents connected
with the bitter attack made Thursday
by Commissary General Eagan upon
General Nelson A. Miles. The principals
in the case of Generals Miles and Eagan.
contributed little during the day to the
controversy. but the war investigating
commission acted promptly to redress
the affront put upon the board itself
as the members regarded it-contained
in the language used by General Eagan.
The commission in note signed by
Charles DENLY. vice president, tol1
Eagan that his statement would not be
entered in the record; that the lam
guage was not such as a witness should
have used before the commission, and
that Easan might revise it, leave out
the irrelevant matter and resubmit it
TO the commission. With the note the
statement was returned to Eagan
Commission Taken by SURPRISE
The commission regrets that General
Eagan proceeded as far as he did, and it
is explained that the vituperative nat
ure OF the testimony was a complete
surprise to the commission, and that
but for the rapidity with which General
Eagan read his long statement and the
absorbing vehemence of it's delivery he
would have been checked at the time
AT the time of the creation of the COM
nrGCI6a1f In inc I.
members verbally assured them that all
witnesses should be immune from
punishment for what they might say.
but members of the commission say il
never was intended to indulge such Ian
guage as that given utterance to Thurs
day What further steps may be taken
In the matter. save as to the acceptance
or rejection of a revised statement If
one is submitted lies without the SCOPE
OF the commission. If the statement is
returned with the vituperative and OBJ
jectionable language entirely stricken
out the commission will accept it and
consider IT as any other testimony.
Eagan and Miles Not Talking.
General Eagan himself gave no sign
or any intention on his part to avail!
of the offer made by the board
HIS friends did not hesitate to intimate
thathe would expunge the Objectionable
language, bat he would say nothing for
himself. The war department officials
are noe vet clear as to what would be
the effect of a withdrawal or modifica-
tion of the statement. One element
holds that officially the record failing to
show that any Objectionable language
mad been used there would be no legal
onense. Another takes the view that
while the amendment would mitigate
General Eagan's offense, 1t would not
wipe II out. Another aspect OF the case
is the bringing forward of the plea of
exemption which was guaranteed in the |
name OF the president all witnesses be- |
fore the board from what they might |
say, but again the officials were di- |
vided. and this was also true of the |
members of the cabinet as to whether |
the exemption could be claimed in this |
particular case. Meanwhile General |
Miles is apparently waiting for the war
department. to act, taking the position |
hat it is incumbent upon it and the |
war commission to protect the army |
rom such attacks.
Cabinet Talked of the Matter.
AL the cabinet meeting yesterday a
arse part of the time was taken up in
discussing General Eagan's case. The
,abinet members, however, were
reticent with regard
70 what was said, and de-
,lined to express any opinion as to
what, if anything, would be done in the
natter. which is now in the hands of
he president and Secretary Alger. New
,rtheless, all the members of the cabi-
let commend the action Of the COM
mission in declining to receive the man
lscript of General Eagans testimony
Until the Objectionable epithets have
'een expunged. There is no doubt that
ne president deeply regrets the Incl
lent. and il is almost certain that official
,ognizance will be taken of the matter
iery soon.