Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-28
SAYS EAGAN WAS MISTAKEN.
Mr.. Swift, the Meat Contractor Be-
fore the Board.

SAYS THE MEAT WAS TO KEEP
GOOD FOR -FOUR
HOURS AFTER LEAVING THE
REFRIGERATORS. PROVIDED
CARE WAS TAKEN TO KEEP 1T
OUT OF THE SUN-IT WAS TO
BE FURNISHED TO COAST
TOWNS, AND NATIVE BEEF
WAS TO BE KILLED FOR USE
IN THE INTERIOR.
Washington, March 27.-The mill
tary court of inquiry appointed by the
President to make an investigation Of
the beef furnished the army during
the Spanish war, has returned TO Wash
ington, and at o'clock to-day resum-
ed its sittings in the Lemon building.
The members of the commission are
hopeful that they will be able TO con-
clude tl.eir work within the next ten
days and hope TO have important wit
nesseS before them in that time. in
Guiding Gen. Eagan. who will be re-
called. 1t is also expected Gen. Miles
will be given an opportunity TO testify.
Mr.. E. c. Swift. vice president of the
Swift Packing Company, appeared.
Mr. Swift stated that he started to
Washington in response to request
from Gen. Eagan, when it appeared
that his firm had made the lowest bid.
The conversation with Gen. Eagan on
this occasion was somewhat general
relating to the conduct OF the business.
1t was understood that beef was to be
supplied only to the port towns, the
fula inr 70 he M ich q
killed in the country. They were to
keep on hand a sufficient supply for
~ hours consumption, this time to be
extended a hours under special con-
ditions Shore refrigeration was con-
templated 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
tanned for three days and nights.
In response to a question from Major
Lee, Mr.. Swift stated that Gen. Eagan
had during the interview with him
mentioned that he had received some
suggestion of process for preserving
meat, but Gen .Eagan did not go into
details giving no name Of the inventor
or OF. the process.
Major Lee then stated that Gen. Eag-
an had said in his testimony before the
board that the company had guaran-
teed that the beef should be kept good
for Y hours after leaving the refrigera-
tor either on ship or on shore.
Il can only say" responded Mr..
Swift, that Gen .Eagan at the time Of
the interview seemed to have the same
understanding Of the contract that 1
had. In view of his testimony l can
only say that he was mistaken"
Major Lee-Then the insertion Of the
clause limiting TO "a hours the time
meat should be fresh after taking out
of the refrigerator was not a clerical
error as suggested by the general?"
Mr. Swift-"That cannot be so. He
said his agents would take good care
to protect the meat from the sun and
assured him that if this was done
the meat would be good p hours after
being taken from the refrigerator.
Mr.. Swift continued by saying thas
refrigerator beef in a torrid country
would keep longer than an ordinary
person would think il good on account
Of the outside appearance.
AS a consequence of his representa-
tons the first draft OF the contract had
been changed by Gen .Eagan in several
particulars.
Mr.. Swift said in reply to q question
that the dressed beef export business
was growing rapidly at the expense OF
the expectation of live cattle. There
was, he said, a superior demand abroad
for the refrigerator beef and in London
this was supplied 10 the best trade.