The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-01-17
Gen. Eagan Eliminates the 0bjec-
tionable and Abusive Language
from His Statement.
He APOLOGIES TO The COMMISSION.
Explains That He Was Goaded to Des-
perntion-War Investigating Com
mission, After Secret Session, De-
cides Not to Publish the Amended
Statement-Gen. Eagan's Letter.

Washington, Jan. 16.-Commissary
General Eagan Monday sent to the war
investigating commission revised
statement in place of that originally
made in response to Gen. Miles charges.
The revised statement is about 33 per
cent. shorter than that which was or
dered withdrawn because of its violent
and abusive character. The commits
sion, after its receipt, went into secret
session to read the document and de-
eide whether in it's present form it had
been expurgated sufficiently to permit
it to be made a part of the commissions
records.
The commission, after brief secret
session, decided for the present to
make public only Gen. Eagan's letter
and not the statement accompanying
it.
Following is the text of the letter:
"Of1ce of Commissary General of Sub
sistence, Washington, JAN a. 1S99-To the
Commission Appointed by the President to
Investigate the Conduct of the War with
Spain-Gentlemen: I have the honor to
hand you herewith my testimony which
is now resubmitted and revised in accord
ance with the views expressed by you in
your letter to me on January 13, 1899 The
Objectionable feature, and what Is con-
sidered irrelevant matter by you, in which
opinion 1 entirely agree, are eliminated.
In this connection I desire to state that
there was never thought or intention on
my part Of any disrespect whatsoever to
your commission, but in explanation of
the language used by me heretofore beg
to invite the attention of the commission
to the fact that have been accused prac-
tically of feeding the soldiers with poi
soned beef which made them sick-'em-
balmed beef so-caled;-that l have fur
nished meat to the army under the pre-
tense of experiment. which charge in effect
Is corruption and worse, because 1t jeop-s
ardizes the lives of soldiers sent to the
front in trOpical climates and w whosWere
dependent on such food as as SEttts them;
that these statements have gonegtoa the
whole country uncontradicted;th that they
have been published and / have been
pillored in the press of the country al a
man who had fed the army on poisoned
meat and corruptly so; that for about
three weeks time l have kept silent for
the reason that I was debarred after talk
ing with the honorable secretary of war
from preparing charges, because of the
immunity granted by the president to wit
nesses before your commission, notwith-
standing the gravity of the accusations;
that it is unreasonable to believe that
such monstrouS charges could have any
other effect than to work upon an honor
able man in such way as to goad him to
a species of desperation, and that it was
but natural. when the proper opportu-
nifty was given him to meet and refute
the charges, that he should characterize
them in harsh language, and in terms that
are deemed improper, no matter what the
provocation. l therefore withdraw the
language and matter SO Objectionable, and
resubmit to you now my sworn statement
with the abiding faith that your commits
sion, having all the facts before you. will
decide the points at issue justly.
(Sgned) 'CHARLES p. EAGAN,
"Commissary General of Subsistence.''