The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-14
STATEMENT FROM GEN. MILES
INVESTIGATORS CRITICISED FOR
PERMITTING ABUSIVE LANGUAGE.
Congressional Inquiry POssibIe-Let-
Woods Testimony as to Beef.
speeial to the 1ndIananollg Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-The army scan
dal was the sole topic of conversation to-
day. The action of the war investigating
commission in returning General Eagan's
statement to him has not materially
changed the situation. This action is re-
garded rather as rejecting on the commits
sien itself than upon Eagan. General Eagan
was a witness testifying under oath, and he
had an undoubted right to say what he be-
lieved to be true, so long as the tribunal
before which he was testifying did not stop
him, and the tribunal had right to stop
him only on the ground that his language
was not respectful to the tribunal itself
Now, the commission listened to him to the
end. He was not called to order for his
superheated expressions relating to General
Miles. He was permitted to make them
without rebuke at the time 1t is recog-
nized on all sides that the affair has as
sumed the proportions of a grave scandal
affecting the honor of the entire army. 1t
is an unprecedented situation. 1t is diff
cult to see how court OF inquiry is to be
avoided. and General Miles is criticised for
not demanding one. If an investigation by
such court be not ordered, there is a
probability that Congress will order an in
its own account, for senators and repre-
sentatives are very much worked up over
the scandalous affair. If a congressional
investigation be had the committee conduct
ing it will be authorized to sit during the
recess and report at the next session, as it
would be impossible to make such an in
vestigation in the time left to this Congress.
General Eagan is a smaller man than
nh " h1If col
dierly carriage makes him look larger than
he really is. He was born in Ireland, but
came to this country while quite young
He found his way to the Pacific coast at an
early age. 1t is believed he was engaged in
flibustering in Mexico in the early fifties,
when expeditions of that nature were rather
common. He located in Washington Terri
tory and entered the army from there dur
ing the civil war, coming out as first lieu
tenant. He was commissioned in the Ninth
regular infantry after the civil war, was
transferred to the commissary department.
years ago as a captain, and was promoted
in the ordinary course of events He was
made brigadier general and chief of the
commissary department last spring. If he
meets with no bad luck he will not retire
until 1906.
General Eagan consented to be inter
viewed tonight. When the subject of his
testimony before the investigation commits
sion was broached General Eagan first made
clear the fact that he and he alone was
responsible for the statements, both as to
facts and language Il had my own griev-
ance," General Eagan said. "A terrible
charge was brought against me. l was ac-
cused of cheating-no, 1 mean 1 was ac-
cused of poisoning soldiers under the pre-
tense of experiment. If it had not been
for that charge 1 might not have spoken
before the commission as 1 did For three
weeks L chafed under the charge Of having
poisoned soldiers under the pretense, yes,
under the pretense of experimenting with
the chemicals. If it had not been for this
charge perhaps would not have used such
language before the commission. Let those
that criticised my language be placed in the
position in which 1 was placed; let them
be charged as I was charged and they will
understand my language better. 1t is the
gored bull that feels the pain"