The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-25
EAGAN'S EXPLANATION.


Says the Packers We're Responsible
for the Meat Until it was Delivered
to the Government.
WASHINGTON, Feb 2i-Fermcr
Commissary General Charles p. Eagan
to.day resumed his testimony before
the court of inquiry, investigating the
beef charges. He wore the fatigue uni
form OF a brlgadler general. Recurring
to the contract requirements he ex-
plained that Swift 6 Company were
wholly responsible for the beef until de-
llvered TO the government officials at
the points designated by the depart
ment. The clause requiring beef to
keep seventy-tw0 hours after leaving
the refrigerator, was inserted, he said,
at his instance after the concerns de-
clared they could prepare It so as to
keep that long. Explaining further he
said:
Suppose Il commfssary should make
requlsition at Santiago for 10000
pounds OF beef. should secure it from
the ship and take proper care of It, re-
tanning 1t in the shade and 1t should
spoil within sevcnty-two hours, the con-
tractors would not be paid for IT.
Many vouchers for beef had been
paid. he said and he presumed dcduc-
tions for spoiled beef had been made.
though he did not know. He understood
through Colonel Osgood that beef had
been rejected by commands when in
fact 1t was sweet and perfectly good.
Speaking of arrangements for the
Porto Rlcan expedition. General Eagan
said he understood General Brooke was
to command 1t and he accordingly con-
suited General Brooke. reaching Il com
plete and satisfactory understanding as
to refrigerated beef. Subsequently he
learned that General Miles assumed
command. but he never consulted with
him and he did not know that General
Miles knew of the beef arrangements.
Replying to Colonel Davis. he said
that Colonel Sharp. chief commissary
for that expedition. was furnished
something like S2j0.OOO credits on the
United States, and an offer was made to
send cash but declined This statement
was intended to bear upon General
Miles statement that funds for pur-
chase OF supplies in Porto Rico were not
available.
Here were read kilograms between
General Eagan and Colonel Weston, the
iHNbcl IL dlilp.t, ltlNliNt W lue StllulIE
by packing firm of beef refrigerated
to Tampa to test how long it would
keep after removal from the ice boxes.
with n view to the making of contracts
after the breaking out OF the war. The
beef when removed from the Ice box
and hung UP was declared serviceable
within forty-eight hours. whereas that
left in the box after the ice disappeared
could not be used after eighteen hours.
Frozen beef was tested but adversely
reported upon. Canned roast bee: was
declared by eommissarr officials at
Tampa as the best solution of the fresh
beef problem until circumstances were
such as would admit the prompt deliv-
cry and use OF refrigerated beef.
II Ample and complete" declared Cen
Eugan. was the authority of the COM
missarics IN Cuba and Porto Rico to
purchase beef on the hoof for any emer-
genclcs or ut the will OF their respective
commanders. Reports received. he said,
showed. lie thought without exception.
that the native beef WAS not nearly so
satisfactory rs the refrigerated beef
The latter tends 10 displace beef on the
hoof wherever both are equally avail
nh