New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-15
GEN. EAGAN MAY BACK DOWN.
BELIEVED TO BE REVISING HIS OBJEC
TIONABLE STATEMENT.

THE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY ALGER SAID
TO RE STILL UNDECIDED AS TO WHAT
COURSE TO PURSUE GENERAL
MILEs's POSITION UNCHANGED.
Washington. Jan 4.-Commissary-General
Pagan denied himself TO visitors this afternoon
and was closeted with two officers OF his corps,
the belief being that he was revising his state
ment made before the Investigating Commission.
The officials Of the War De partment give no init
nation of their intentions respecting the matter.
although il Is suspected that the President has
in mind some method of'indicatng his dspleas-
ure with the occurrence.
The key to the solution Of the difficulty be-
tween General Eagan and General Miles Is In
the hands OF the former. The Commission hav-
ing called upon him to modify his statement,
nothing can be done until he either has revised
his declaration or has informed the Commission
ers OF his refusal 10 do so. 1t is confidently ex-
pected by the best-informed officials that the
Commissary General will modify his statement
10 meet the criticisms Of the Commission. He
himself Will mako no statement touching his
purposes. To-day he was asked the plain ques-
ton as to whether~or not he would comply with
the Commissions suggestion. He declined TO
reply. limiting his answer 10 the statement that
ne had so far taken no action. Nevertheless, as
already indicated there iS'the best reason TO be-
lieve he will amend the statement. The docu-
ment is long. and the mer-mechanical work in
volved In altering It would consume some time
so that II was not 10 he expected that IL could
be returned TO the Commission to-day. suppos
ing General Eagan disposed 10 amend II.
Opinions stn vary whether the with
drawal Of the offensive statements will end the
incident. The weight OF opinion seems 10 be
that the President and Secretary Alger. in
whose hands the Cabinet Isit the whole matter
after It's consideration yesterday, have not yet
made up their minds as to what course they
shall pursue.
General Miles came early TO his office but he
had nothing 10 say about tie controversy. His
position s. as already stated, that the matter is
'one for the War Department 10 deal with and
that II is not incumbent on him To make any
movement al this stage.
There were no new developments ir the affair
at the office of the Investigating Commission
to-day. Great interest was taken by the mem
bers Of the Commission in the published state
ments which have form ID the aftermath OF the
sensational scene OF last Thursday unoffciaiiy
word has reached the Commission that General
Eagan is carefully eXpunging the vituperative
and Objectionable portions Of his statement. ana
will soon send II back 10 the Commission Wnen
received il will be carefully scrutinlZea, ana IL
all the Objectionable language is elilliliialeu
will oe voted upon i'm executive session aho
nrohahly accented. The memoirs or the CoIn-
mission feel the structures that have been mace
on the use of such language before theni' out
believe that the course they pursued. In view OF
the possibiity Of a controversy arising as
sequence 10 any interference with the deuVery
os The statement was the most dignified and
the best that could have been adopted