The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-30
Swore the Soldiers Should
Eat his Beef.
FINEST IN THE COUNTRY
THEREFORE, THEY SHOULD
HAVE IT, HE FUMED.
WAS HANNA MIXED UP IN THIS MATTER
An Unexpected Reference to Him by Maj II
Lee Draws from General Eagan the
Reply that he Does Not Know
The Senator.

the Senator.
Washington, March 29-The military
court appointed to inquire into General
Miles charges concerning the beef sup
had former Commissary General Eagan
before it to-day ON recall, and also
heard the testimony of Rear Admiral
Stewart and Paymaster Colby, of the
navy. and Major Black and Captain
pomeroy. volunteer officers, who were
engaged in the commissary service at
Ponce during General Miles Porto Ri
can campaign.
General Eagan's testimony was not
startling. He stated that Messrs. Ar
mour and Company had put in bid to
supply beef to be preserved by pro-
cess of their own, but that he had not
considered it. He also modified a for
mer statement to the effect that the
twenty-four hour clause in the beef con-
tract had crept i'll as a clerical error.
saying that in the multitude of matters
which had been demanding his attention
at the time he had forgotten its in
sertion. His understanding was that
the beef was to keep in good condition
~ hours after being taken from the
ships refrigerator.
His principal reason for inserting the
clause stipulating that the beef should
be good "A hours after leaving the re-
frigerator was that he did not wish the
troops to know that the contract called
for beef that would keep - hours,
for fear that it would not keep so long.
There was an apparent effort ON the
part of Major Lee, representing General
Miles. to show that Senator Hanna had
sought to influence the contracts, but
General Eagan asserted that he did not
know the Senator and no explanation
was made of the introduction of his
name. General Eagan made frequent
reference during the giving of his testi-
mony to the numerous demands upon
his time during the war, making this
herring details.
Major Black and Captain Pomeroy
gave the details concerning the condi-
ton of the beef brought to Porto Rico
Oh thu steamer Manitoba. Captain
lomeroy stated that of 21,0000 pounds
receipted for at Ponce. 10000 pounds
had been condemned. They also detailed
the objections made by the men to the
roast canned beef.
Major Black, who was chief commits
sary on General Miles staff during
the Porto Rican campaign, was asked
by Major Lee to detail conversation
he had with General Eagan at that time
commissary general, after his tBlack's)
return to Washington last fall. The
statement he made proved to be some
what sensational. Il called upon Gen
eral Eagan," Major Black began by
saying, Ito confer with him concerning
the conduct of our affairs at Ponce.
lie asked ME why the refrigerator beef
was not issued at Ponce, and | replied
that it was because the issue commits
saries did not want it, as they were
getting native beef. Thereupon General
Eagan became very much excited and
exclaimed God damn them, they have
no right to refuse it. | consider it the
best beef in the United States, and God
damn them | will make them take it,
At Major Lees request Captain
Pomeroy of the volunteer subsistence
department related a conversation with
Colonel Smith who was for time chief
commissary and who had told him that
the beef was guaranteed to keep Il
hours on shore, because of a process for
preserving it. The Colonel had, how
ever, stated that he did not know what
the process was.
Captain Pomeroy said he had handled
probably 100000 pounds of canned beef
during his occupancy of the office of
depot comnissary, but that he had great
difficulty in getting the men to take it.
.@Ihey complained" he said ''tnat this
beef was repulsive in appearance, I'M
appetiZing, tasteless and not nutritious.
Not to exceed ten per cent of it was
taken, and when the men did accept it
they generally threw it away. They
tried to sell this canned beef to the ma
tives and succeeded for time, but not
long. As matter of fact, the canned
roast beef and also the canned boiled
beef sent to Ponce was of very little
value. The men complained that The
meat made them sick
He also mentioned a preserved meat
secured from Kansas City, which he
said the troops liked This meat was
not cooked. burt he did not know the
process of its preservation.
Admiral Stewart and Paymaster Col
by testified to the use of canned roas.
beef in the navy. On the whole It gave
satisfaction.
The court adjourned for the day with
the understanding that some witnesses
in General Miles behalf would be heard
tomorrow.
SESSInN nIS THIN CApJNLyp