Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-16
COURT-M MARTIAL LIKELY
Action in the Eagan Case Expected at the
War Department.
The Presidents Course Decided-Gen.
Mflc3 i'm New York The
u Current Gossip.

Eagan. This was the conclusion of the in
dtvidual cabinet members at the meeting
last. Friday, announced in The Star at that
time. the opinion then being that court
martial would result. At the White House
today nothing could be gathered as to the
line of action to be taken by the President
Opinion is divided between a court-martiaI
court of inquiry and public reprimand.
secretary Alger conferred with the Presi-
dent this morning, but declined to say any
tn1ng about the pending question. The
whole matter is in the hands of the PreSi-
dent, who will finstruct the Secretary of
var as TO the steps to be taken.
Gen. Miles Not to Make Charges.
General Miles left town last night for
new YORK on a personal errand, and it
was said at army Headquarters would re-
turn tonight. 1t YVES stated that General
Miles would not prefer charges against
General Eagan for the utterances delivered
by him before the war investigating COM
mission last Friday, but intends to let the
war department deal with the matter in
IT'S own way. Touching these charges, it
IS SAID that there is really no absolute ne
cesslty that any one shall follow them,
although the judge advocate general of the
var Department would be called upon to
put them in shape if it should be decided
10 order court-martiaI. 1t is suggested
tnat the war investigating commission has
deprived itself of the power to make out
q iSshh ie6dl pFeSentlnenC against General
Easan, II 1t were so disposed, by return
ing the Objectionable paper to him.
% iar as rs known, the statement deliv
ered iast Friday is now in the hands of the
commission, and the judge advocate. who
would prosecute Gen. Eagan in case of a
court martial, might be under the necessity
OF taxing secondary evidence in the shape
OF newspaper publications of his statement,
ali OF which are admittedly nothing more
than abstracts. Perhaps this fact would
not have much weight with a court-mar-
ual but in ordinary legal practice it would
place the prosecution at a very great dis
advantage.
AT noon Secretary Alger stated that no
action had been taken, and declined to in
innate what his intentions were. In view
of tie fact that the Objectionable statement
was presented only last Friday it is felt
by the officials of the War Department.
that they are not subject to the criticism
that they have been tardy in acting in this
matter. They say that the department is
bound to act with deliberation in any course
it takes.
Chief Clerk De Caindry's Resignation
One of the surprises in connection with
the scandal is the resignation of William
A. De Caindry, chief clerk of the com
missary generals office. The only ex-
PLANTATION made of this action is that
the powersle andn. responsibilities of the
office have Been greatly reduced of late
and that Mr.. DE Caindry did not care to re-
main there any longer under the crcum-
stances. Cox George 4. Davis has been
given practical supervision and control of
the work that formerly devolved on the
chief clerk. Mr.. DE Caindry has been in
the office for over ten years and was re-
garded as a valuable official.
He declines to discuss his action bur he
mas written a statement for publication. in
which he admits that he mailed his resig-
nation to the SECRETARY of War through
General Eagan ON the morning after the
submission of the iatter's paper to the
war investigating commission. He SAYS in
the report that the tender of ii was due to
the action of.General Eagan in giving prac-
teal supervision and control of the office of
chief clerk 10 his military assistant can
only be surmtse. stIis card continues: The
reason Ter the presence of every provision
IN the contracts made by him General
Eagan), with Swift and Company, for
chilled, refrigerated frozen fresh beef
Tor the army can be explained by me: and
not being aware of any Investigation nv
General Eagan ''as to who drew IN the con
tracts. there is no dissatisfaction on nv
part about the matter"
The Prevailing Topic.
The Miles-Egan controversy continues to
be the all-absorbing topic of conversation
in official as well as in private circles. Par
tcuiar interest is now conferred in the
course which viii be followed by the Sec
rotary of War for the discipline of Gen
Eagan for his unmilitary and grossly in
decent language before the investigating
commission with reference to the major
general commanding the army
There was no material change in the
situation today, and Gen. Eagan was on
duty at the War Department as usuaI II
is now said that Secretary AIger to whom
the President referred the matter decided
10 withhold action until after Gen Earan
revised mis- statement in accordance with
the suggestion of the war investigating
commission, although it is not apparent
how the elimination of the abusive and
Vituperatiye language from the statement
VIII affect the fact of their public use be-
fore the commission and the further fart
that copies of the statement as originally
prepared were supplied to the press assoc
Citations for general circulation
General Eagan has many strong friends
but SO far as aScertained not one of them
is prepared to excuse or defend his coarse
method of expression before the war COM
mission, even admitting that the proyoca-
ton was great
Gen. Eagan is probably the Youngest bu-
reau chief in the War Department In the
ordinary course of events he will retain his
present responsible position at the head of
the subsistence department until January
1909, when he will retire by operation NJ
law by reason of reaching sixty-four years
of age.
Under the law, he cannot be retired ex-
cept on his own applca ton or on acconnr
of physical disability before 1903 AS he
will then be sixty-two years of age the
President could, If disposed, retire him
from act1ce service at that time regardless
of his own wishes in the matter The only
other way he can be relieved of his present
duties is through court-martial proceedings
on charges of violating the articles of war
Court-MartiaI Considered Likely.
Although not officially announced at the
War Department it is tacitly admitted in
official circles today that the President has
decided to order Brig. Gen. Eagan before a
court-martial for trial ON charges of scan
dalous conduct prejudical to good order
and military discipline and of conduct nm
becoming an officer and a gentleman. in his
statements before the war investigating
board last Friday.
Owing to the fact that the President and
Secretary of War were in attendance AT the
funeral services misrepresentation DingIev
at the Capitolf1his afternoon, it was din.
cult to obtain definite informal ton on the
subject. o
Gen Corbin said that he had received no
orders on the subject, and consequently
was not prepared TO say what action had
been or would be taken in the matter. Not
withstandng these diplomatic statements.
there is reason toIbelieve that the Prest-
dent has decided that the case calls for the
trial of Gen Eagani before a properly con-
stituted military tribunal.
Such a court wOa1d necessarily be COM
posed of officests ofa the highest rank. and
RI de-