The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-03-25
osu. Essan Should Explain.

QtsphtOuto tune AoaHaoA
General Eagan intended TO 60 TO the
Pacific coast. whence be would sail for
Hawaii to remain thers indefi'
nitely. Nothing could b more de-
lightful than hong sojourn In the
Island, With nothing 10 do but satoy
the ease. and lnxury whichl liberal
salary win provids. Since the an
nouncement Of his excursion was made,
however, some rather unusual testimony
has been taken by the War Department
court Of inquiry In regard to the army
beef contracts, and. before General
Eagan begins to enjoy his vacation on
full pay for six years.it might be well
for him TO explain statements made by
competent witnesses about canned beef
contracts, directly 10 conflict with his
own declarations upon this subject
II has been shown that nearly 5000, :
600 pounds Of canned boiled beef were
bought in Chicago by Col. o. NJ. Smith,
the hasing commissary Of the gov
eminent in that city. upon orders from
Commissary. General Eagan. This
was some Of the meat which the sol
diers could not eat Another order for
the purchase Of beef did not pass
through Colonel Smiths office, but was
sent from Washington TO the eat-pack-
ing firms This beef was not selected
OF even inspected by the agent OF the
government at Chicago. IL is also
alleged that the purchase Of the old
canned beef which had been shipped TO
Liverpool was ordered from Washing
ton On the whole, the evidence ap-
pareutly indicates that general Eagau
had much wider and direct connec-
ton with the contracts for beef than he
admitted in his testimony before the
war investigating commission. Further
more, he has been fatty contradicted
by the representative OF one OF the meat
packing firms upon a very important
point General Esgan stated that the
contracts for refrigerated beef provided
that 1t should be good and sound for
seventy-two hours after Ii had been taken
from the refrigerating vessels He eI-
pressed surprise that some Of the con.
tracts reduced the limit to twenty four
hours and insisted that a blunder had
been committed by some one without
his knowledge Mr.. Gardner, Of Swift
q Co.. has since testified that the TWEEN
ty-four-hour clause was inserted by
General Eagan personally at the request
Of the firm.
I Without prejudging the case against
General Eagan in the light Of the new
evidence, it may be said that unlecs
he can make a satisfactory explanation
the offense for which be was court
martialed and retired from active duty
will be regarded as even less heinons
than what is intimated in the testimony
before the War Department court OF in
quiry. General Eagan should be given
an opportunity to answer the damaging
statements which have been made, or
otherwise the War Department will
find itself in q most awkward. situation.
While the evidence taken in Washing
ton by the court OF inquiry established
beyond question the truth. OF the charges
against the canned meat, the devlop-
ments since the court has held SEES
sons in the West have been far more
astounding. Under the circumstances.
therefore. it would seem to DO an i'm
possibility for the court to render any
other verdict than guilty as charged
IN the indictment Enough has been
developed to substantiate General Miles
statements In regard TO the canned beef
upon every essential point. The cir
cumstances under which contracts were
made with the packets and the alleged
absence in some cases OF any inspection
Of the food supplied BY them for the
soldiers constitute one Of the gravest
scandals in the history Of this country.
General Eagan will probably be called
upon for further explanations, for 1t
seems to be impossible that the War
Department will be willing to let the
matter drop. in view Of the remarkable
allegations which have been made under
oath. OF course, all fairminded per-
sons want General Eagan to be treated
with exact justice, and the feet that he
has been court martialed for vilifying
General Miles is not evidence that
he was guilty Of any improperly In
dischsrging the duties Of his position
as commisssry- general.