New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-05
THE COST OF MILITARY JUSTICE

now enjoys in the shape of Military Commissions.
We took for example the Doubleday Court
Martial in Philadelphia although that body OF
gentlemen is neither better nor worse than the
other commissions that appear to be In session
all over the country. The two great feats Oh
the Doubleday Court. Martial since the begin
ming of the year have been the trial Of Mr.
Cozzens, who was released by the habeas corpus
of Judge Thompson-a trial that lasted from
February to June 10, a period amounting 70
about 40 days-and the further trial OF q man
named Neal, an Arsenal Inspector, which began
MAY %, and is not yet ended. As Nealwili GER
tainly be released by the same Judge Ihomp-
son on similar habeas corpus, it makes little
difference in the interest Of military )ustce
whether the trial ever ends or not The only
question that can possibly arise in any fenn-
sylvana trial is one Of economy. That state
is not under military law. The Rebels have
never been nearer Philadelphia than Gettysburg,
whence, for reasons that We need not explain they
returned to Virginia. The Civil Courts are
there. The Government pays two Judges, a
District Attorney, Marshal, train Of deputies
and Grand Jurors. The Government, never
theless, deems it proper to 'set aside this ma
chinery, and keep q Military Commission
Let us look at this. Commission closely, and SEQ
how much it costs. The names OF its members
are as follows: Abner Doubleday, Major.Gen.
cral, President; C. C. Cresson, Lieut.. Colonel,
I'D Pennsylvania Volunteers; G. Is. Murray
Lieut.. Colonel, l9Sth Pennsylvania Volunteers;
p. B. Stillson, Lieut.. Colonel, Tooth New-York
Volunteers; +. S. Reese, Lieut.. Colonel, 125th
New.York Volunteers; Garrick Mallery, IT,,
Lieut.. Colonel, Veteran Reserve Corps; j. IL.
Piatt, Major, A. ID. c.; Jno. A. Foster,
Colonel, I75th New.York Volunteers, Judge
Advocate.
In addition to this, Col. Olcott is an officer In
charge of War Department detective business,
and j. j. McElhone, an officer of the House OF
Representatives, is reporter at $40 per day.
This, however, is only portion Of the Court.
The Government allows to these officers twenty
servants, whose wages it pays, and whose per-
sons it clothes, as well as thirty-four horses,
each horse receiving IA ID hay and ~ ft oats
per day, and 100 n OF straw per month. As II
the officers, servants, photographer and horses,
did not get enough money, the Government
generously allows 81 IS per day to each officer
additional, with an extra 81 % 10 tho Judge.
Advocate. In addition TO this further allow.
ance, the officers are given quarters and "fuel.'
A Major General has six rooms and Major
four, so that this Court eats, sleeps. smokes and
otherwise lives in forty rooms-$l2 so month
being allowed for the rent Of each room. Our
readers must not suppose that the horses OF the
Court get their oats, hay and straw, and the
Generals nothing to eat. No, indeed! In amili-
tary point of view, q Major-General receives
nineteen rations per day, Colonel eight. O
Lieut.. Colonel seven, and Major ak. Whether
a.Major General on court duty eats three times
as much as q Major wo do not know, but the
Government pays thirty cents day for each
ration, in good, lawful money.
This makes one branch OF expenses. These
"courts" pay each witness SO per diem while
in attendance-that is to say, from the day be
is summoned to the day he is dismissed-as
well as the actual cost Of transportation. II
DAYS officers, ushers, detectives and train OF
small subordnates, as well as the rent OF the
rooms where the meetings are held. The
reader may think that, this being good pay, the
Government must get vast deal Of work out
Of the nine officers, twenty servants, one pho
nographer, thirty.four horses and train Of sub.
ordinates called court"-that they work SC
hard from morning to night that the officers and
horses can only keep life in them by duly eating
their rations, hay, oats and straw. This is q
mistake. No beings in the world have easier
times than the men and horses composing this
"court." "The hours of meeting" says oul
Philadelphia correspondent, "are very irregular.
The general hours are from II in the morning
to 2 in the afternoon. Many days, however,
they are in session but a fe,o minutes-but rarely
if ever after o'clock" So that, taking it at
the best our "court" sits but three hours @
day. And thus it is all the country over. Fol-
easy work and good pay, commend Us to the
courts Of military justice
In order that our readers may eein figure:
how much the Government pays these officers,
servants, photographer and horses, to "try" @
man, we will take this case Of Cozzens-who
was "tried" 80 patiently-senteneed so effect
ually by the Department Of War, and released
so summarily by Pennsylvania judge. The
following table will show each officers pay and
allowances:
M...Gen Colonel Lt.col Ado
Months p.y........sz1o@ $500 $500 $50
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