The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-04

i would state that in the summer OF 1870
myself and wife spent some weeks at Long
Branch and. on our return to New York,
Mrs. Beknap and Mrs. Bowers, by our in
vitation, came for visit to our house.
Mrs. Bslknap was i'll during this visit
some three or four weeks, and ] suppose in
consequence of our kindness to her she
FELT UNDER SOME OBLIGATION,
for she asked me one day. in the course Of
a conversation, why did not apply for a
post-tradership on the frontier. ! asked
what they were, and was told there were
many of them very lucrative offices or posts
in the gift of the secretary of war, and
that If wanted one she would ask the sec
rotary for me.
Upon my replying that | thought such
offices belonged to disabled soldiers, and
besides that l was without political in
fluence, she answered that politicians got
such places. etc. don't remember saying
that If had valuable post of that kind
that | would remember her, but l do re-
member her saying something like this :
eff can prevail upon the secretary of war
to award you post, you must be careful
to say
NOTHING TO HIM ABOUT PRESENTS,
for man once offered him $40 900 for a
leadership of that kind and he told him if
he did not leave the Office he would kick
him down stairs" Remembering as | do
this story, presume the entecedent state
ment to be correct. Mrs. Belknar and
Mrs. Bowers returned to Washington, and
few weeks thereafter Mrs. Belknap sent
me word to come over. | did 80. She
then told me that the post-iradership at
Fort Sill was vacant; that il was
A VALUABLE POST,
az she understood and that she had either
asked for it for me, or had prevailed upon
the secretary of war to agree to give it to
me- At all events | called upon the secre-
taiy of war and as near as can remember
made application for this post on regular
printed form. The secretary SAID he
would appoint me if l could bring proper
recommendatory letters. aud this | SAID !
could do. Either Mrs Belknap or the sec
rotary said that he present trader at the
post, John s. Evans, was an applicant for
reappontment and
THAT HAD BETTER SEE HIM,
he being in the city, as it would not be fair
to turn him out of the office without notice
as he would lose largely on his buildings,
merchandise, ETC., If the office was taken
from him and that it would be proper
and Just for me to make some arrangement
with him for their purchase if / wished to
run the post myself. l saw Evans, and
found him alarmed at the prospect of losing
the place. remember he said that firm
of western post-traders who claimed a good
deal of influence with the secretary of war,
had promised to have him appointed but
he found on coming TO Washington this
firm to be entirely without influence.
Evans first proposed a partnership, which
declined, and then bonus of certain
portion of the profits, if | would allow him
to hold the position and continue the bust
ness. We finally agreed upon $4,000 per
year. Mr.. Evans and myself went on to
New York together,
WHERE THE CONTRACT WAS MADE
and executed, which ia herewith submitted,
| (paper marked A.. During our trip over,
however, Evans saw something in the
| army and Nary Journal which led him 10
think that some of the troops were to be
| removed from the fort, and he
offered too large sum, and before the
contract was drawn it was reduced by
| agreement to Sl2, 900. the same being pay
| able quarterly in advance. When the first
remittance came to me, say probably in
| November, 1870, sent One-half thereof to
Mrs. Belknap, either ! presume by certifi-
cate of deposits on the bank or notes by OK
press. Being in Washington at funeral
some weeks after this had a conversation
with Mrs. Bowers to the following pur.
| port, as far as | can now remember, but
must now say that Just here my memory is
exceedingly indistinct, and | judge in part
perhaps from the details of the converse
ton. | went up stairs into the nursery
with Mrs. Bowers to see the baby. said
to her this child will have money coming
to it before a great while. She said, yes,
the mother gave the child to me and told
me that the money coming from you she
must take and keep for it. / said all right,
and il seems TO me said, 'that perhaps
the
| FATHER OUGHT TO BE CONSULTED"
/ say it seems so, and yet | can give nc
reason for it, for, as far as | know, the
father knew nothing of any money trans.
actions between the mother and myself. /
| have faint recollection of remark OF
Mrs. Bowers that if | sent the money tc
the father, that it belonged to her and tina,
she would get 1t any way. certainly had
some understanding then or subsequently
with her or him, for when the next pay,
ment came due, and was paid, sent the
one-half thereof to the secretary of war
and have continued substantially from that
day forward to the present time to do So
| About, / should say, l. 10 two years after
the commencement of these payments,
reduced the
| AMOUNT TO $4,000
| per annum. The reason of this reduction
was partly because OF combined complaints
on the part Of Evans and his partner, ant
partly, SO far US | now remember, in con
sequence of an article in the newspapers
about that time rejecting on the injustice
done to the soldiers at thi, fort, caused by
the exorbitant charges made necessary or
the part of the traders by reason OF the
payment of this bonus. To the best of my
knowledge and belief the above is true
statement of the facts in the case, and as
complete as l can remember the occur.
rences OF 80 many years ago.
| q. by chairman--State how payments
were made to the secretary of war subse
| quent to the funeral of his then wife, which
you attended in Washington in December
1870.
Answer-The money was sent according
to instructions of the secretary of war
sometimes In bank notes by Adams ex-
press. think on one or more occasions
by certificates of deposit on the national
bank of America in New York. Some.
times have paid him in New York In per
son. Except the first payment in the fall
of 1870 and the last in December, 1872, all
were made to the secretary IN the modes
have stated, unless perhaps on one or two
occasions. At his instance bought gov.
eminent bond with the moneys In my
hands arising from the contract with Evans
L Ii II. La. l1.lA IL