The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-25
EAGAN Is MILDER.
Testifes Before the Miles Court of
Inquiry.

inquiry.
Washington, Feb. 25-Forrner Com
missary General Charles p. Eagan tes-
titled yesterday before the court of in
quiry investigating the beef charges.
He wore the fatigue uniform Of a brig
adler general. Recurring to the con-
tract requirements, he explained that
Swift & Co. were wholly responsible
for the beef until delivered to the gov
mated by the department. The clause
requiring beef to keep seventy two
hours after leaving the refrigerator was
inserted, he said at his instance, after
the concerns declared they could pre-
pare it so as to keep that long. Elk
planning further, he said:
Suppose a cOmmissary should make
requisition at Santiago for 20 900 pounds
of beef, should secure it from the ship.
and take proper care of it, retaining it
in the shade, and it should spoil within
seventy-two hours, the contractors
would not be paid for it,
Many vouchers for beef had been
paid, and he presumed reductions for
spoiled beef had been made. though he
Col. Osgood that beef had been rejected
by commands when in fact it was per-
fectly good.
Speaking of arrangements for the
Porto Rican expedition, Gen. Eagan
said he understood Gen. Brooke was to
command it and he accordingly con-
suited with Gen. Brooke, reaching a
complete and satisfactory understand
Subsequently he learned that Gen.
Miles assumed command, but he never
consulted with him, and he did not
know that Gen. Miles knew of the beef
arrangements.
Replying to Col. Davis, he said that
Col. Sharp, chief commiSsary for that
expedition, was furnished something
like $3.50, 900 credits on the United States
and an offer to send cash was made but
declined. This statement was intended
to bear upon Gen. Miles statement
that funds for the purchase of supplies
in Porto Rico were not available
Here were read kilograms between
Gen. Eagan and Col. Weston, the latter
in Tampa, relative to the sending by a
packing firm of beef refrigerated to
Tampa to test how long 1t would keep
after removal from ice boxes, with a
view of making contracts after the
breaking out of the war.
The beef when removed from the ice
box and hung up was declared service
able within orty-eight hours, whereas
that left in the box after ice disap-
peared could not be used after eighteen
hours. Frozen beef was declared by
commissary officials at Tampa as the
best solution of the fresh beef prob
lem until circumstances were such as
would admit the prompt delivery and
use of refrigerated beef.
Ample and complete declared Gen.
Eagan, was the authority of the COM
missaries in Cuba and Porto Rico to
purchase beef on the hoof for any
tive commanders Reports received, he
said, showed, he thought, without ex-
ception, that the native beef was not
nearly satisfactory as the refriger-
ated beef The latter tends to displace
beef on the hoof wherever both are
equally available.
Were any rations of any kind"
asked Col. Davis, sent to the troops as
an experiment."
Five thousand pounds of the Dole
beef" responded Gen. Eagan, "a canned
preparation that made a nice Hamburg
er steak, were sent. It found its way to
Porto Rico, was used and everybody
was delighted with it. It was very ex-
pensive and was not purchased any
further"
He then reviewed the first shipment
of refrigerated beef to Santiago which
he considered as experimental. because
the value of refrigerated beef had not
then been established finally. Aside
from these, absolutely no other expert
mental shipments were made, Gen.
Eagan declared, with great emphasis.
"On the contrary he added, Il fought
all the time against it,
Was anything furnished on the pre-
tense of an experiment.? asked Col.
Davis, suggesting Gen. Miles notable
allegation.
mo, sir; never, not to the value of
penny" replied Gen. Eagan, without in
dicating consciousness Of the Query's
SuggeStivenesS.