The New York herald., 1868-06-11
SOLDIERS BUSINESS, MESSENGER AND De-
SPATCH COMPANY.

A Benevolent InstitutiOn-Shoddy Revived
Large Salaries to Officers and Small Pny
10 Men--A Smell Potato "J0b''-The Value
OF Crippled Soldier-What the Public
Should DO.
From written statements which within few days
have been placed In our hands by responsible par.
ties we have been led to the conclusion that the
organization known and patronized by business
men and others, on purely charitable grounds, as
the "Soldiers' Messenger and Despatch Company -
is an imposition on the public and means by
which wholly selfish men seek to build up their for
tunes at the expense Of those who by the hardshps
OF war, while serving their country, have been made
physically incapable Of earning their living inde-
pendent Of such eeemosynary assistance as pa
triotic community may extend to them.
When the Soldiers Despatch Company was
organized nearly two years ago, the public were In
formed that the purpose Of the movers was to give
employment to such persons as he'd served in the
ranks OF the army during the rebellion, and were in
straltened circumstances or because OF permanent
injuries were unable to support themselves in the
usual Industrial walks OF life. The press and the
people pleased with the idea, regarding it as
every way worthy Of support, and while the former
urged tho claims OF the soldiers the latter at
engaged them fully In the line Of employment for
which II was ayerred they were best lifted.
Within the past year the usefulness Of this Soldiers
bureau to the community has been greatly extended
out lnsJeau OF lnuflnR 10 tne Oenent OF the manned
employed in meeting and fully and satisfactorily car
ryng out the wishes Of the community 1t has simply
added to the incomes OF the gentlemen "who run the
machine"-and a very pretty as well as profitable
contrivance II has turned out for them.
As VIII be seen, not only are the soldiers employed
defrauded In measure Of their earnings, but they
compelled TO purchase their clothing from the
company" which charges them several hundred
per cent advance on garments that are really
not superior In quality OF cloth or make TO
those on sale at the slop-shops. For example, an
overcoat that can be had at retail store for s5 the
benefcent soldiers Business Messenger ana De-
spatch Company charge their employees 50 80, and
the same concern. while agreeing to pay each man
81 so per week for taking care OF certain booths
placed In various parts OF the city, hnd it impossible
TO live under salaries less than $1,000 for the super
secretary and 81, 400 for Inspector OF twenty-five
booths. But this is not all. The poor fellows en-
gagged for the booths at as has been stated, 81 30
have recently experienced reduction Of 81 per
week, the company, In its extreme beneyolence.
being wholly unable 10 pay more, exclusive OF uni
form.
or course men who had sought .'reputaton at the
cannon's MOUTH were not to be thus treated with
impupity and struck for higher wages. The vete-
rams, 10 seems to us, have made out fair case-one
TO which we are persuaded every right thinking man
viii subscribe. Their declarations are ia substance
as fonows:-Ccrtain OF them contracted with the
very charitable soldiers Company 10 take charge
OF tile twenty-five booths TO inspect which benevo-
ently inclined gentleman receives the pitiable
muneraiion of 400 per annuin) at 81 so week per
keeper: but IL was found that 81 so a week was
equal TO sS2 month and that was altogether too
much money TO eNpend upon cripple and clothe him.
aud consequently a few days ago AN order was pro-
by the president, at $1,000 per annum TO 'strike-
81 per week from each mans wages until the
amount OF S23 should have been paid for garments
furnished them, and which would cost probably
about $40 at u retail store. Commenting on this
general charge" on the veterans "a correspondent
at So 30, an undress flannel sack, can be bought In
Broadway for ST. and the cap valued at 81 ~, would
he dear at scNeny-nve cents" The annexed is mis-