The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-14
mIGT AMEND HIS TESTIMONY.
,.s ,1TIPERATIVE LANGUAGE
NOT TO BE CONSIDERED.

-.o..,,eut Returned to Him by
d" commission - OmciaI CoGni-
win he Taken of His
cnarres Against NIiles-MiIes Says
couId Have Told still More.
.cvelt says Meat was Bad,
nood says 1t Was Good.
--.-s,rg,oa Jan. l8.-The war investi-
o,mr1.ssion to-day took prompt ac-
e, the sensational testimony submit
,aitvesterday by Commissary General
T,-,, and sent the statement incorporat-
40 his testimony back to him, with the
-.,as5e of resubmitting it, if he chooses
:, revise lis language.
rr-,ter tnau this, the commission deter
mined il could not and should not pro-
,sal The commission regrets that Gen.
r.gan proceeded as far as he did, and
d is evpainel to-day that the vitupera-
rive nature OF the testimony was a COM
riets slrprise 10 the commission, and that
but for the rapidity with which Gen.
Tag3n read his long statement and the
absorbing veueimence of its delivery, he
would have been checked at the time.
The matter was taken up in executive
session BIZ the commission yesterday i'm
msliattly after Gen. Eagan had closed,
and ex-Gov Woodbury. of Vermont intro
ducei d motion substantially like that
made public to-day. The rejection of the
testimony as it stands was unanimously
voted at The executive session preceding
to-iay's public session.
At the time of the creation of the COM
mission the President, in instructing the
commission, verbally assured the MEM
hers that all Witnesses would be immune
from punishment for what they might say
before that body, but members of the COM
mission say it was never intended to in
Il duge such language as that given utter
Fl anre 10 Yesterday. Following is the COM
& MISSIONS letter to Gen. Eagan:
The Letter sent to Eagan.
Washington. Jan. 10, 1899.-Brig. Gen.
c P, Eagan, Commissary General. War
Department. sir-We respectfully inform
u you that after your testimony was read
+ yesterday the following resolution was
pnm.mouI passed Moved, That the
4 commission receive Gen. Eagans testi-
4 nany without comment; that it be not
printed at once, but held for the consider
alon Of the commission. Carried
Having now considered the questions
involved we have determined that in
many Instances the vituperative language
used by You was not such as ought to
nave been addressed as a witness to this
i h0aid W. thi7lS that tha personal efl.7-l-s,.
and irrelevant statements contained in the
i papers submitted should be eliminated and
before receiving it as testimony we re,
guest that You VIII revise its language.
ana II You choose submit it for orr CON
n sderation
We herewith return your papers. Very
Charles DENLY,
Vice President"
mere was no abatement in the interest
eAn.o''el mere to-day in all the incidents
S9-iNV'e' with the occurrence of yester-
& AS might have been expected a mat
N oi tAls official consequence was spre
1.IasI 'he attention of the President.
all 'ne greater part of the session of the
ton ~ SO 0oiislu ld-
VIII Take Official Notice.
IL is almost certain that official cogni-
a sooa. Aiia''er very
htart,.l2an 1gu La2an gave no sign to-day of any
1,Nu tbe .@ on his part 10 avail himself of
.lt .t. oler made by the board His friands,
~ Ho- hesitate to intimate that he would
Ayunse the obiecuonal language bl,t he
,,. Goud say nothing for himself ana anv
fonluon fr on that score must be obtained
"yn lne board itself
4 o war department officials are not vet
B r,.S 1' as TO what would be the effect of n
Fl rs-. ."aI or modification of the state
n H. V'e clement holds that, officially
Il -,1o'u falling to show that any oh
q ya,i3 i,'5'e language had been used. there
tbe,sYe Ye no legal offense. Another takes
S slster, mat while the amendment of the
orar.1 would mitigate Gen. Eagan' s
4 sG srs il would not wipe it out.
n irg aspect of the case is the brinp
4 v6i.. '-"aid Of the plea of. EXEMPTION
Il prsst5 was guaranteed in the name of the
tss 10 all of the witnesses before
4 thew '' from the consequences of what
n Won, 5 say. But again the officials
n he , i'''' and this was also true of
Il eyo~S,' ''...eIs Of the cabinet as to whether
ular " could be claimed in this partic-
'"G On the War Department.
vail vaie'"aiIe Cen. Miles is apparent1v
81 taR-r .ot The war department 20 act.
uron =, position that it is Incumbent
t., H ana The war commission. to pro-
Gsr army from such attacks
q caI q,,'' WAen asked to-day what off
irg G,r i any, would be taken, regard
had p,, -'-ah S attack replied that he
!ec- s,5 "'"r' any statement on the sub
pro.ae..' ''l not intend TO forecast the