The record-union., 1899-01-17
coMMIssARY GENERAL EAGAN.
REVISES STATEMENT TO WAR
COMMISSION.
Eliminates the Objectionable Fea-
lures and What is Considered
Irrelevant Matter.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-Commis-
sary-General Eagan to-day sent to the
War Investigating Commission re-
vised statement in place of that origi-
nally made in response to General
Miles charges. The revised statement
is about 35 per cent shorter than that
which was ordered withdrawn because
of its violent and abusive character.
The commission went into secret ses-
sion to read the document and to de-
eide whether or not, in it's present form,
it had been expurgated sufficiently to
permit it to be made a part of the COM
missions records.
Following is the text Of the letter sent
by General Eagan to the War Investi-
eating Commission with his amended
statement:
"Office of Commissary of Subsistence,
Washington, January IA, 1899.
ITO the Commission appointed by the
President to investigate the conduct of
the war with Spain-Gentlemen: I have
the honor to hand you herewith my tes-
timony, which is now resubmitted and
revised in accordance with the views
expressed by you in your letter to me
of January 18th. The Objectionable fea-
lures and what is considered irrelevant
matter by you, in which opinion I en-
tirely agree, are eliminated. In this
connection / desire to state that there
was never a thought or intention on
my part Of any disrespect whatsoever
to your commission, but, in explanation
of the language used by me heretofore,
beg to invite the attention of the COM
mission to the fact that I have been
accused practically of feeding the SOL
diers poisoned beef which made them
sick-'embalmed beef so called; that
have furnished meat to the army
under the pretense Of experiment, which
charge, in effect, is corruption and
worse. because it jeopardizes the lives
of soldiers sent to the front in tropical
climates, and who are dependent on
such food as sent them; that these
statements have gone to the whole
country upcontradicted; that they have
been published and I have been pill
loried in the press of the country as a
man who has fed the army on poisoned
meat, and curruptly so; that for about
three weeks time have kept silent for
the reason that was debarred, after
talking with the Honorable Secretary
of War, from preparing charges because
of the immunity granted by the Presi-
dent to witnesses before your commits
sion, notwithstanding the gravity of the
accusations; that it is unreasonable to
believe that such monstrous charges
could have any other effect than to
work upon an honorable man in such
way as to goad him to a species of
desperation, and that it was but nat
ural, when the proper opportunity was
given him, to meet and refute the
charges, that he should characterize
them in harsh language and in terms
that are deemed improper no matter
what the provocation. therefore with
draw the language and matter so OBJ
,jectionable and resubmit to you now
my sworn statement with the abiding
faith that your commission. having all
the facts before you, will decide the
points at issue justly. Very respect
fully, CHARLES p. EAGAN,
..Commissary General of Subsistence. ;"
The commission. after a brief secret
session, decided for the present to make
public only General Eagan's letter and
not the statement accompanying it.