Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-17
The Post Traderships Scandal.
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY TO-DAY
Gen. BabcOck and OryflIe Grant.

4
war department met at II O'Clock to day.
Gov. Campbell, TIL ird Assistant Secretary
OF state, at bis own request appeared before
the committee in explanation of a charge
made against him in the New York HerGIi
relative TO his securing the appoin tment OF
post traderships. He denied every reelection
upon him contained in the article. He said
he had in 10 manner been connected with
me sale OF post traderships, nor hal any one
q. What is the name OF your brother?
A. i. n. Campbell, he was appointed a pOSt
trader under the old system by Gen AuCur
on the 18th of April, 1870, at Fort Fet;er-
man. He was appointed on my recon men
dalton. The appointment was to take effect
on the 10Th OF July, and three days after he
received II IL was revoked, and he never
took the post l don't know, but don't
think my brother was ever interested in any
other post traderships. / have made recon-
mendatlons for post traders at every post in
Wyoming some time or other. think there
was an appointment made In Wyoming on my
recommendation. AT Fort -. A Russell j.
ID. WOoley was appointed. / recommended
his appointment. He is still at the post. l
don't know whether my recommendation
Seentlon Of Csrer a. Fort RTISser the
q. Isn't IL true that under the present sys-
fem of post traderships the soldiers are sys.
tematicaIly def. auded.
A. Well, suppose that is so: but IL IS also
the practice in all armies.
Mr. Robbins.-Well, we want to break II
up so far as our army is concerned.
e. n. Peek, swOrn.-ReSides at keokuk,
Iowa; am member of the firm Of Durfse &
Peck; the partnership was formed eight or
niue years ago; the tiIm is still Durlee X
Peck, Durfee's estate still holding an inter
est. The business was TO transport goods
from st. Louis to Fort Benton. The firm
held the tIaderships at Fort Sully, Fort Rice,
Fort Stevenson and Fort BQford. Tie firm
was appointed TO these posts under the old
law, prior to $50. AT that time the law was
changed and the appointments were vested
In the Secretary OF War. We were the IN
dian traders at Cheyenne, Standing Rock
and Fort Berthold. The firm do not hold
the posts now. After the law OF 1870 was
passed Ort BufOrd was taken from us and
given to A. c. Layton. We made an effort
TO sell our goods 10 Layton; but we had to
sacrifice our goods and abandon our build
lngs; 1t was soon after the passage OF the law
of 1870 relating 10 traderships. had several
conversations with Layton about transfer
ring our goods and building.
q. Did Layton tell you through whom he
got the appointment?
A. think he said through Gen HeIrIck.
He did not tell me he paid him any money
but L am advised that Hedrick is his part
ner at the post. l don't know that Lay ton
paid any money To the Secretary of War or
any one else for the post; 1 never heard him
teTeSted in the post.
q. Did OTvilie Grant ever tell you he had
al interest in the post?
A. ntver spoke To him in my life.
q Wfat was the next post taken away
from you?
A. Fort Stevenson. We were succeeded
he never took the post. l saw him in Wash
iDgtOn and he wanted : 900 10 allow us to
hold the post. We held il until spring. /
then went 10 the Secretary of War and told
him ii was time to buy goods, and | wanted
10 know whether / should go ahead and buy
He said Vaughn had never notified him that
he had accepted the post, and fOI Durfee 4
Peck TO remain. The next year a. W. Marsh
was appointed ost-trader. The law required
that post traders should live at the post. He
Iominally held the place but Durtee x Peck
iS cb in
profits. We were finally succeeded b : A. ".
BOIattln, understand that he was ap lOiulel
on the recommendation of Orville Grant.
q What post were You next relieved fro n
a. FOrt Rice. Henry ]. Miller, under the
law requiring post traders TO live ct The
postre represented DuTfee & Peck. We CHANGE
III year or two, and appointed VIM. Ha.-
man. Then there was appointed Mr.. FitZ.
/ met him in st. Louis. He said a brother OF
Mrs. BelkDap, Mr.. Tomlinson, had inter
ested himself in securing the app0intmel a
for him. Durfce & Peck ran ire business
with him until spring. F1tz was ON In
ground, aud We gave hum ore fourth of Ia
profits. He had told me that he had shown
great kindpess TO the brother iu-law Of n,
Secretary OF W ar and received the appoint
ment at Fort Rice through his idiluence. In
the spring OF 1874 "A parry named Smith, oi
Cincinnati, went in partnership with Fitz
snd Durfee & Peck sold him their goods. The
next post We were relieved from was Fort
Sully. One Athey was appointed. was ad-
vised OF his appointment by an inquiry |
made at TIE War department. l was here in
the summer of 1874. made no special effort
Q. Did the Secretary of War tell you why
you were relieved?
A. He said it was no reason OF hts that
Athey was appointed by the order OF Presi-
dent Grant Athey had been q clerK in the
office OF G. w. Babcock, surveyor general Of
Kansas. c. w. Babcock is n brother OF Gen.
o. f. Babcock. Fort Sully was one of tue
best posts we had. The ordinary profits OF a
year, skillfully managed, would amount to
about $4,000 year.
jecJ of your TemOvaR
A. We entered into contract with Athey.
He was man without means. We were TO
employ him at $500 uAtil he could get
means, or have some one 90 In partnership
with him who could buy our goods.
q. Was IL a written contract?
A. IL was; IL was drawn up by C.. w Bah
cock. Athey subsequently got means to buy
US out. / can't recall the name OF the party
he got the assistance from.
q. Did you know from any other source
the influence through which he got this post?
A. Through General BabcOck. It was I'M
derstood between Athey and myself tuat
Gen. Babcock got him the place.
q: BY whom were you appointed Inii an
trader at Cheyenne?
A. The license came from the Indian de-
partment. We remained there until 1874.
q Who was appointed in your place al
A. Geo: w. Felt. We sold out our stock in
q. Under what circumstances was the sale
made?
A Under ordinary circumstances We
made very satisfactory sale. / understand
that cit was appointed on the recommen-
dstion of OIville Grant
q. What was the value OF that post to
your firm?
A. Eight to ten thousand dollars a year
possibly. Durfee & Peck paid no bonus
when they were the traders at Cheyenne.
We were the agents at Standing Rock until
the summer of 1874. We were relieved by
Bonaffin and Casseberry. Mr.. Hartman was
in charge OF our business there. He took the
paper OF Bonaffin, or at least paper endorl ed
by BonaffiD. One of the notes has gone to
protest, and suit has been brought against IL.
q. What was Standing Rock worth?
A. About the same as Cn yenne - say
$4,000 year.
q. Do you know who was interested with
BOnaffin?
A. Nothing further than Orville Grant.
Q--Have you any other knowledge why
you were disposed from all these offices, ex-
cept through the influence OF Orv1lle Grant?
Al have not. L was in the Interior de-
| partnent, and asked II there was any charges
| against the firm OF Durfee & Peck. The Sec
| tary said all our licenses had been re-
yOlzed. That there were no charge against
| the hrm, but that orr licenses had been re-