Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-09-14
SOLDIERS's EXTRA BOUNTIES-
WHY THEY ARE NOT PAID.

Congress, just before it adjourned, says
the Detroit Post, passed bill giving extra
bounty to soldiers. That law was intended
to pay these bounties Immediately. 1t made
every necessary provision for so doing.
Immediately after its passage, the Secre-
tary of War appointed board, with Gener-
al Candy as its President, to decide upon the
proper construction of the law. and to frame
rules to govern the different departments in
paying the expected claims. This board,
it is stated in the dispatches from Wash
ington, has finished its report. The report
declares that the law is explicit, that the
bounti es ought to be paid and also present
ing the required rules for carrying it into
I'm mediate effect This report, it is stated
by the New York Tribone'S correspondent,
has been suppressed by the Presidents direc-
ton. An order was issued, at the same
time, to the Second Auditor of the Treasu-
~, not to pay the bounties until further or
ders. The New York Herald correspond
ent-a johnson man-says he is authorized
to state that the bounties will not be paid
for several months.
The soldiers interested viii naturally ask
acAy the intentions of Congress are thus de-
feated and their just claims postponed. The
correspondent of the Chicago Tribune an
swers these questions, as follows:
1.-THE contradiction telegraphed over the
country last night, to the effect that the
Secretary of the Treasury had not issued an
order forbidding the payment of bounties
under the late act of Congress is in itself
unfounded Such an order was in the pos
session of the Second Auditor last week
The further statement that the Treasury
Department is awaiting the conclusion of
the report of the commission appointed by
the Secretary Of War, to ascertain if the law
would Justify the payment of the bounties,
and to frame rules governing tie dishurse-
ments, is also a misstatement The facts
are as stated in these dispatches two nights
since The report of The commission lcds
ready to be made on Monday, and instead,
At aoas loithheld 5y the President The re-
port acas IN fdcor Of the payment of the
bounties. The Whole thing scds intended as
a secret attempt to prercnt the payment Of
am boamties till after the elections, and IN
the meantime to create the impression that
Congress did not really intend any payment,
but simply passed some unmeaning words
BY which to deceive soldiers and obtain their
votes. The chances are that the unexpect-
ed exposure of this transaction will secure
the publication Of the report. 1t is said,
however, that there IS a settled dete-miaa-
ton IN Administration circles to prcrent the
Republican party from receiring any Of the
goodtoiH that seould spring from the pay
meat of booalties before the elections"
The soldiers can thus see how they were
to be duped, if possible, into supporting
my policy, by Withholding their bounties.
These bounties are only due to privates and
non-commissioned officers Gen. Custer ana
the other officers who support the Philadel-
phia scheme, and are trying to lead the sol
diers into the Copperhead camp, are not in
terested in the bounty law They do not
lose anything by the delay in paying the
bounties; consequently they can well afford
to support the President, who holds in his
hands the power of promotion; but the
keeping back of the poor private well
earned bounty for three or four months, for
political effect, rs cruel injustice and, in
many cases, a great hardship. Congress
voted him the money; he is fairly entitled to
it Immediately; and it is meanness of the
most despicable sort to withhold it, for the
sake Of depriving the Republican party of
the political credit Of having shown itself
the friend of the soldier.