New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-26
PROM WASHINGTON.
The Allotment syateu.

| winch concerns the welfare OF our troops, L nave
prepared short account of the manner in which the
allotment system s being carried out among them.
The Commissioners appointed by the President,
Messrs. Theodore Roosevelt William 4. Dodge, jr.,
and Theodore b. Bronson, have found many difficult
lies thrown in their way both by those who desire
that the soldier should spend his money in camp and
by the wilful neglect or carcessness Of the officers.
The Commissioners visit the different regiments, ex-
plain the law TO the officers, and then generally have
each company drawn up separately, and speak to the
men Of their families, the duties they owe TO them,
and of the necessity of cuivating habits of economy
in their expenditures and morality in their conduct,
and to the single men of the many reasons why they
should now be laying aside monthly portion Of that
money which merely tends TO Inject them to tempta-
ton in camp the roll is then called ard each
answers TO bis name he states what portion if any he
win send home. A very large majority of those they
see agree to allot, and give their and amount,
OF which the Commissioners take memorandum
this they then band to the officer Of tie company,
who il to make out and forw ard The roll 10 the Pay
master. General.
The opposition then for the first time shows itself
the suffers or their agents sometimes persuade the
induce them if possible no, to sigu the roll; some
instances this end is attempted by placards warning
the soldiers Of tie alleged attempt to deprive them OF
their liberty, by pamphlets setting the matter forth
more in detail The clfcers IRE frequently careless
as to their interest in the men and therefore do not
give sufficient attention to making out the rols and
seeing that they are properly forwarded to the ray
uas,er's Department and thus it sometimes occurs
ths, whole days labor OF the Commissioners s loet
entirely, which is douby disheartenng when they
have been for several hours ut time exposed TO the
incomency Of the weather and to the inconvenience
of standing ankle deep in the mud, endeavorng 20
explain the law and 10 urge upon the men the pro-
pretty Of their awaiting themselves of its advantages.
! Tie Psynasters Department, upon which
additional labor is thrown, look upon it with no
especial favor; and lastly, the Common Council OF
the City of New-YoFk has appointed agents, or those
who repiesent themselves as such, who, even after
the soldiers have made their alotments, endeavor to
impar their confidence in its trustworihiness by
inducing them to change their allotmenis to the
system they propose, which places their money IN
the charge Of the City Government, who agree 10
attend to lie proper distribution through system OF
ward yisitors. 81. The recent allotment law II
fortunately 70 simple that notwithstanding all these
difficulties, even on this coming payday the first on
which the ys,em Lar been perfected, II will be tie
mean. Of bringing much money back 10 the families
Of our c,y and STATE, and saving much demoralizing
/ influence IN the camp.
! Tie law simply provides that the Paymaster ut
the pay table shall give to each soldier who has al
lotted ha, amount in check on the Assistant Treas
urer Of the United States, in New-iork City, to the
order Of the party 10 whom he has made his allOt-
ment TLis check the soldier indorses himself in a
letter which he scnds home, and should the ct eek he
lo.t or miscarlied before 1t is paid the proper eyi-
den,e # the fact, The PaymasierC eneral agrees TO
.,ive Il duplicate. OF course, checks on New-Yoik
City are at par or at premium out of the city, all
REX and expense being sayed to the soldier. There
il Il liue suspicion OF course, especially IN tie minds
OF toreigners with regard 10 any law by which no
one i. benefited but Themselves. In the course Of
TWO or three pay-days. however. they its sue
ce,sfnl worsrg. his will be entirely abviaied. Many
avail Themselves OF the facilities of The law, in order
10 place Themselves out oi temptation, MS they fire.
ouenty confess hat after the last payday they got
on spree and the money they had Intended to send
4 home -lipped iucontinenty through their fingers.
Others again sen 40 means OF identification, 20 as
to enable heir families to receive their pay in care
thcy should be TAX n prisoner. The Puynastor-Gen-
eral has drawn ,ne attention Of the Commissioner
10 iii. POINT which ia Of great importance TO those
soldier who have families dependent upon them.
All ilose who have friends IN the army, should write
IN them 10 take advantage Of this system. IL would
aim. donbiv benefit those interested. the soldier
l.. GOD from Ia
which lie would be otherwise subjected. The court
marfials are principally occupied by deNnquencles,
canned bv iudscr.uons committed just after payday,
winch dsy is generally regarded with apprehension
by the officers in liz effects on tie men.
Tie two great cures Of cur army are whisky and
rambling. scarcely know which is the greater.
Sometimes men receive presents OF turkeys stuffed
with bottle OF WHISKY, or butter with substratum
of ,yhi.kv IN IA tin c.tc. In one division respecta
bic looking nan with u cloak, was observed to he
very popular and being examined, it was discovered
,hot he WINS incaaed in tia contIyance lttug TO In
4 body filed with whisky One wagon in Gen. Frank
Inns Division was conhsca'od with all ts supply OF
usetu articles ia consequence Of false bottom being
discovered containing over 20 bottles Of whisky.
Men are seen standing on barrels for hours, othsr'
with saddles Oh their backs walking up and down
"a n punishment for drunkenness, while those wh'
have repeated the otiense are more severely deal
with in the guard-house. "A many IA from fifty e
a hundred men will sometimes be in the guaTd-hous'
after payday for this oiicnse.
Gambling is even more difficult to control an'
equally pernicious with drinking. Some men c'ui'
not make alIotnenis because they owed gambhn'
debt. that would take all their pay for months Il
come and the observation was made iauchingly iron
one to another after a number had allotted IN
more poker for M boys Experienced gambler