The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-01
CONTRADICTED
GENERAL EAGAN.
Beef Men Tell Of What He Told Them
as to Ayers instructions,
SPECIFICATION WERE VAGUE.
The General Showed a Tendency To
Change His Mind-"Politicai Pres
sure" Caused Him to Give Rc-
frigerated Beef Trial.


Of the witnesses before the Army Beef
Inquiry to-day were members OF the
medical stan Of the army, who were In
service in Cuba during the Spanish war
The other two witnesses were George
Giddings and General ]. IL Sypher, who
had been interested in securing contracts
for supplying beef on the hoof and on the
block for the army In Cuba.
They testified thar General Eagan had
told them that the Secretary OF War had
asked him 10 give the refrigerator beef a
trial while MIR. Sypher said that General
Eagan had created the impression upon
him that he preferred the beef on the
block TO the refrigerator beef. The tes-
timony throughout was contradictory 70
General Eagans testimony and Mr.. Gid
dings said that Congressman Hawley was
present at several OF his conferences with
General Eagan.
4 majority of tbs army surgeons ex-
pressed the opinion that canned beef was
unsatisfactory for food for the troops,
that some OF them thought IT more harm.
ful than any other meat In the Cuban
climate.
VAGUE SPECIFICATIONS.
Mr.. George GiJdings. OF San Antonio.
Texas. in reply to request from Major
Lee. detailed the particulars OF his va
rous interviews with General Eagan
concerning the letting OF the contract
for beef The drst conversation referred
10 the specification for bids at which Mr.
Giddings had called attention 10 the fact
that they wers vague. General Eagan
had then said that the specifications were
necessarily vague as he could not NJ
that time give any specific Information.
General Eagan had at that time said
that his preference would be for refrig-
orator beef IF he had any confidence in
It. but he did not think the refrigerator
beef could be made available In the Cuban
climate"
81 had been IN Cuba several times
myself" said the witness. II agreed
with him that II would be impossible to
keep the refrigerated beef In that climate
without refrigei ators."
Mr. Giddings then told Of his visit 10
the Commissary General on the first Of
July when the latter told him that the
Secretary Of War had sent for him the
night before ard had said that owing 70
the difference in price they had bette
give The refrigerator beef trial. and
that he would have 10 do this
WOULD UPSET 1T.
Il then asked General Eagan u lie had
any confidence In the proposition and he
replied that he had very little but that
tho refrigerator men We're prepared 10
give a bond TO keep the beef good for
seventy-twc hours after leaving the re-
frigerator He also stated that they
had preservative process by which they
expected to he able to keep the beef in
condition. But he said that II there was
any dissatisfaction after the contract
went into effect he would upset 1t and
give the Texas cattlemen chance"
With reference 10 General Eagan's a.
fusion 10 a preservative process Mr.. Gid
dings said tha, the General had told hin
that Swift and COmany. who had made
the lowest bio on refrigerator beef had
a process which would enable them 10
keep the beef for seventy-two hour az
ter being taken from the refrigerator.
do YOU believe it," J asked Genera.
Eagan.' said MI Giddincs. to which h.
replied I've got 10 believe IL I've got &c
give il q trial
General J. Hale sypher. an attorne>
for the Texas cattlemen confirmed what
Mr.. GiddIngs had said. lie said thai
while he had not visited General Eaean
|
quently and talked fully with him or
this subject in the interest OF the Texas
men. General Eagan" said the wit
ness. conveyed the impression to me that
he distinctly and positively preferred beef
on the block to refrigerator beef and ]
so informed my people. sending for some
Of them to come here
CHANGED HIS MIND.
General Sypher eaid that he had first
discovered a tendency TO change his mind
On the part Of General EaEan soon after
the bids were opened.
He disclosed 10 me then said tbs
witness. that the refrigerator men had
volunteered to give bond for NE pre-.
servation of their meat for seventy-two
hours after leaving The refrigerator. J
asked him II he thought II possible 70
do this and he replied: I cont believe II.
unless they put up cold storage plants. "
Continuing. General sypher said tha'
something was SAID by General Esgar
at this iuncture concerning preservative
process. but that he gave IL vesy Htile
attention.
Some DAYS later" General Syphef
sad General Eagan informed mo thSt
owing 70 the great difference 90 price
hs would have 10 give the Refrigerator
beef n trial"
The witness said in reply 10 question
put by Major Les that Genera! Eaear
hac SAID something about "pohtca; pres
sure" as the reason tor the necessity FOR
making tho trial and tina, he had ssit
something about his conference with the
Secretary OF War As 70 Just what h
had said on this latter pon, he fSvpher.
could rot remember but he thought MI
n.1TfVo. had Grated IA correctly.