Evening star., 1899-03-27
AGAIN IN SESSION |
Reassembling of the Beef Court Of
Inquiry.
E. c. SWIFT GOES ON THE STAND
Generals Miles and Eagan May Be
Recalled.
ONE WITNESS HEARD TODAY

The court of inquiry appointed by the
President to examine into the character OF
the beef furnished the army has returned
to Washington after its trip around the
country, during which it secured some of
the most important testimony that has
been brought before it. 1t is generally be-
lieved that the taking of testimony by the
court will be concluded within the next ten
days, during which time an effort will be
made, 1t Is understood. on the part of the
beef interests, to counteract some of the
evidence that has been presented Several
important witnesses that have testified will
again be placed on the stand. Gen. Eagan
will be among these, and 1t is expected Gen.
Miles will again be heard. Gen. Eagan's
testimony, in view of developments since he
was examined, is looked forward to with
the greatest interest.
Sessions Resumed This Afternoon.
The court resumed it's sessions at 2
O'Clock today, in the Lemon building, oc-
crpying the large apartment adjoining the
room it us ed for its meetings before leaving
the city.
The subject for special inquiry when the
court met was in reference to the beef con-
tracts with Swift & Co. Mr.. E. C. Swift,
who represented Swift & Co. in that con-
tract, and Col Geo. B. Davis of the COM
missary department, who assisted Gen.
Eagan in representing the government,
were to testify.
There was tendency to confusion in the
names of members of the court and wit
nesses this afternoon. Col. Geo. B. Davis
was recorder of the court, while another
Col. Geo. B. Davis of the commissary de-
partment was placed on the stand.
Mr.. Swift Testifes.
n, II tIo fyx-ity Ill
ed on the stand. Mr.. Swift is vice president
of the Swift Company, and said he repre-
sented that company in making contracts
for furnishing beef for the army in Cuba
and Porto Rico during the late war with
Spain.
He hal been instructed by the president
of Swift & Co. that Gen. Eagan wished
sc me officer of that company to cali on
Kim in regard to making contracts. He
came to Washington June %, and saw Gen.
Eagan, Swift & Co. having been the low
est bidders.
Mr.. Swifts testimony was drawn out by
questions and he confined his replies very
largely to replying to specific questions.
He is a large. fine-looking man, and was
deliberate and self-possessed in manner.
He did not know whether the government
or Swift & Co. was to place the refriger-
ating plant on the ships to take the beef
abroad. On this first visit to Washington,
lIe "liHeSS SdIi, IeHeIdl EdSdn SGiu
did not care to go into the details of the
contract further than preliminary talk
until he had more fully looked into the
matter of ships. etc.
He saw Gen. Eagan again on June 90.
when the contract was again taken up.
Mr.. Swift personally looked after the con-
tract for beef at Santiago only
'All our discussion said Mr.. Swift was
that we should supply beef to seacoast cit
les. Gen Eagan said that interior points
would be furnished with beef from freshly
slaughtered cattle on the island.
1t was agreed that the refrgerators
should be sufficient for seyenty-two hours
supply, and that was the maximum time
that beef was to be kept on the response
bility of the contractors, except that they
would be responsible for twentyfour hours
beyond that with reasonable care on the
part of the government.
Gen. Eagan told him that a refrigerator
plant would be wanted in Santiago very
shortly, he expected that city would
soon be in the possession of the Americans