The times., 1899-04-08
GENERAL WASHINGTON
News AND GOSSIP.


There is seridns talk of another court
martial for foriner Commissary General
Charles P. Eagan and incidentally all the
other officers of the Army who are in
volved in the .embalmed beef contracts.
The strongest point made in Eagan,s- favor
at the time OF his court-martial a few
weeks ago was that he had no knowledge
or the embalming of beef shipped to the
Government and that he was naturally
very much incensed over the allegation
that he had been experimenting" and
endangering the lives of the soldiers of
the Army in the field by sending them
beef prepared under a new process. The
claim was made that Eagan was an inno-
cent party; that he had never up to the
time the matter became a subject for in
vestigation, heard that there was such a
thing as ''embalmed beef However, the
letter from the agent of Armour & Co.,
which has been made public, making
proposal for supplying a chemically pre-
pared beef throws some additional light
on the subject. 1t shows that Eagan had
personal knowledge OF the so-called ex
pertinent and that he was not entitled
to enjoy the Indignation of injured inno-
cence.
The impression which obtains in Army
circles is that Eagan will have to face
another court-martial in very short time
Eagan is believed to be slated for dis
missal from the service. but the chances
are that he will have plenty of company
General Miles and his friends have not
been idle during the past few weeks.
They have, in fact, been extremely active,
and they are believed to be in position
to defend themselves against attack and
give the Aiger combination very lively
t,.a.Hg hn
War Department ring would do well. 1t
is suggested, to keep this fact in mind.
THE President" said an army officer
last night, "can do no less under the cir
cumstances than order another court-mar-
tial for Eagan. The evidence adduced
before the Miles Court of Enquiry shows
conclusively that Eagan had personal
knowledge of the rotten beef contracts,
and was indirectly party TO them.
Whether he benefited pecuniarily from
the transactions is not important. There
is excuse for the theory that he must have
done so but the point first to be considered
is the extent of Eagan's personal respon-
sibility for the letting of the beef con-
tracts. My prediction is that Eagan VIII
be brought before another court-martial
and that he will be dismissed from the
service within the next thirty days.
There is reason to believe that the Pres
ident regrets having commuted Eagan S
recent sentence Of dismissal to mere sus-
pension with full pay. He has, / am ad-
vised, been deeply impressed by the COM
ment in the leading newspapers OF the
country on the subject. Mr.. Mckinley, as
everybody knows. is keenly sensitive to
newspaper criticism. His one desire, ap-
parentIy, is to keep in touch with the pub
lie sentiment of the country
ii
Another Alaskan Expedition.-Rep-
resentatives Payne of New York, Dalzell
of Pennsylvania, and Steele of Indiana are
planning a trip to Alaska this summer.
They will start, it is understood. some time
in May and will probably be absent for
six weeks or two months. Mr.. Payne sue
ceeded the late Nelson Dingley on the
Joint High Commission that has been en-
gagged in trying to adjust the boundary
disputes between Canada and the United
States and arrange reciprocity treaty.
The Commission got into a deadlock few
weeks ago over the Klondike boundary and
adjourned to meet some time in the au-
tumn. 1t has been asserted that the nego-
tiations were of and that they would not
be resumed on account OF the extravagant
claims of the Canadian Commissioners
Payne, Dalzell, and Steele will it is under
stood, make an independent investigation
and submit report to the Joint High
Commission when it reconvenes in the fall
They are not going in a strictly official
as each one will, it is under
stood, defray his expenses out of his own
pocket.
Mr.. Germans Prospects. - Arthur
Pue German" said Maryland politician,
'is serious Presidential quantity. Make
no mistake about that. Mr. German will be
an important factor in the Democratic Ma
tional convention next year. and if he does
not carry off the first prize himself he will
have something to say about the naming of
the ticket. Mr. German is the logical can
didate of the Democratic party for Presi- I
dent He represents more than any other
man the Democracy of jefferson and Jack
son. The combination that is most talked |
about on the Democratic side for next
years contest. tamong the Democrats who
are opposed to Bryan, is German and
Harrison. They would certainly make a
strong team. The chances are that the
New York Democrats will make German
their first choice. The mayoralty election
in Baltimore. which will occur on May 2, |
will. no doubt. have somSs bearing on the |
situation. II indications are
that the Democrats will cM ry the city, and |
If they do they will carry the State in all |
probability for President in 1900. Mr.. Cor !
man should not be dismissed lightly by the |
political prophets. The opposition 10 Bryan |
which is gaining ground every day, is likely |
10 center on German, and in that event he |
will, of course, become a formidable COM |
petitor with Mr.. Bryan for the Democratic |
The Industrial Labor Commission.-I
The Industrial Labor Commission is going |
to find out all about trusts; whether they |
are beneficial or a menace to society. |
The contract which the Commissioners |
have taken is pretty big one, but they |
do not appear TO be scared in the least |
bit. I'VE will investigate the trust prob |
lem thoroughly" said a member of the |
yesterday. "and when We pre-
pare our report ! am satisfied that il will |
furnish interesting reading. The Commits
sion is not biased one way or the other |
on the subject. l presume that majority |
of Commissioners, however are inclined |
TO oppose trusts from the fact that they |
are poor men; but / can assert positively !
that with scarcely an exception they are |
all open to conviction on the subject In |
my judgment the Industrial problem is the |
most important question that confronts |
the American people today. We are not |
trying to make political capital for eny |
party as the Industrial Commission is a |
body. We intend TO hear |
both sides and will then form our own
We will be ready TO make
report by the time Congress meets in
December, and it cannot fail TO attract at
tention as trusts are likely to be one of