The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-03-30

WASHINGTON, March 20, 1875
THE POST TRADERsHIP Observation-Disclosures
MoNY OF GENERAL ousTER-THE ExAcr1oNs
OF BELKNAP AND THE CAMPAIGN COMMIT
TEE" FROM THE POOR soLDIRRs-oPPosI-
T1oN OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO THE Ac-
TON OF THE COMMITTEES
The testimony concerning post traderships gets
drtier all the time and it all leads TO suspicion that
the law taking these places out OF the hands of the post
officers giving the appointments to the Secretary
of War a deliberate job intended 10 rob the sold
officers for the benefit Mr. Belknaps friends
and Mr.. Belknap himself
General Custer testified to-day that post trader
told him when the Ring broke that out of his profits
of $4,000 one third went to General Hedrick and
another part to General Rice, and that he had
always supposed that Belknap got share Custer
testified that he had called Belknap's attention to
abuses but with result and after giving account
which says in substance that the sale of post trader
ships regular business and that Belknaps aten-
ion had been called to the abuses at different times
he expressed the opinion, which Is becoming general
here that these things could have taken place If
The Secretary OF War had not connlved at them
'But why should not the Secretary connive at
hems ?" asked member OF Congress; "he saw the
President giving such places his brother Orv and
as it was the fashion he followed It, and
that Robson too, has been lending ST. 900 of the
governments money to bolster up a falling banking
firm It's all Of piece, and these people have for
years used the peoples money though all
belonged to them, and when Delano Is forced by public
Indignation to resign, the President gives him cera-
;ate Of character and when BelKnap resigns tells
him officially that he's very sorry"
The sale Of post traderships was a peculiarly mean
piece OF robbery for all the money that got OF
such bargains whether by Orvil Grant by BeIknap
or by any Of his friends forced OF the pockets
Of poor soldiers Out Of their SIS month these poor
fellows had to pay Beknap and Marsh $12, 900 year.
and in many other cases the traders testify that
besides the blackma which they paid to
Belknap's friends, they had to pay heavy
political assessments 'ior the good Of the
party" Two men testified to-day that they had paid
e4oo each "for political purposes" which was of
course, ground out Of soldiers s13 a month. One Of
these, by the way, that had taken for part
ner, Bower of Keokuk, brother-n-law Of BeIknap SO
that the business gets another uustra-
tion ard said who listened this testimony:
mo wonder Grant parted from Belknap with regret"
Iowa men greatly favored with post traderships
The Investigations proceed and with increasing useful
ness Witnesses more willing TO testify,
and one discovery gives tho key to others The work
OF the committees is moro and more systematHed,
and the only hindranco to n toerably complete
for been going here and all the country
In the Senae's reluctance to pass the bill granting
immunity to Witnesses 1t ought to be understood by
the country that this delay in itself defeats the ends of
Justice, for it gives time to corrupt to deal with
and witnesses and TO conceal other evidences
OF their guilt is certain that II bill law
considerable amount Of very important testimony
could be got at once and It is probable that If does
not become law in the next ten days number ofwit
will disappear
One hears unrequently just now complaints that
these investigations useless they are costing
good DEAL that they partisan; but these things
were said also about the whskey fraud Investigations
and prosecutions and by the kind OF people The
truth is the Investigations necessary, conducted
with discretion, and they would cost
nearly much as they do II the administration gave
Its sealous to the committee as ought TO
do and as, with very small exceptions It does do,
and for very good reasons But in spite OF tho dull
opposition to inquiry in quarters and the alert
and vigorous opposition in Others the Investigations
mako Roadway and will continue to do So and the
politicians who meant hoist 'the bloody shirt' in
the fall campaign begin to that there may an
Issue that will make the bloody shirt unavailable.
INVESTIGATION AT A STAND sTuL-DELAY OF
THE SENATE IN EXTENDING IMMUNITY TO
WITNESSES.
House have to stop because the Senate delays
10 pass the bill giving immunity to witnesses There
are numbers OF witnesses who ready testify but
who object that they will eliminate themselves,
ind by their evidence subject themselves to vim
iictve persecution at the hands OF men who have
power and influence and whom their testimony would
expose 1t is be hoped the Senate will hasten
10 pass the bill.
THE REMOVAL OF ARMY HEADQUARTERS TO
WASHINGTON.
1t is understood that General Sherman viii probably
Remove his headquarters to Washington again, and
that he WILL General Of the Army have once more
the control OF the Adjutant Generals Department with
which he will probably be content, as this gives him
the proper military control of the detail discipline
Of the army The other departments he does not It is
understood want to control they necessary
his proper control ofthe army.