The New York herald., 1876-03-16

every particle Of corruption IN Official places - un
earthed dont care who Il touches even " u were
myseit l say go on with the invtstlRa.lons anu, anu
think Is tho duty OF every citizen 70 AID the commit
Ices all he Every who knows OF anything
wrong having been committed by officers civil OF mil.
tell OF IL
have known for years past thai the sutlerships
were being sold; that the whole system was iuii ,!
fraud Every officer IN the army has known tnis, Du'
we did not know who responsible for IT, and worse,
we could not remedy H. The entire army mas known
that the sutlerships were
BRING sPRcULArED rPoS,
In iact sold TO the highest bidder AMI we have all SUI
Tered from IL IL Is wonder that this matter has not
attracted public attention before 0acers and soldiers
made no secret Of their knowledge OF these facts and
have frequently complained OF the kardshps imposed
upon them by the fraudulent system OF buying and sell
Ing the sutlcrships. OF knew that the more
these men paid Tor the privilege OF trading with us the
more they charged US for goods But Us said,
We were poweress TO help ourselves. Under the OLD
system OF appointing suffers that existed, suppose,
since the organization OF regular army until letO,
when the new law was passed, had troubles every
thing went along swimmngly The officers ct each
post selected through the Council OF Administration
sutler and he was always appointed by the secretary
OF War Under the new law the officers were deprived
OF n voice In the matter, and frequently the sutler
would establish himself at post before the officers and
troops were aware that any change had been made.
Under the old law a sutler really he'd his position Tor
life on the condition OF good behavior and upright con
duct True his license was renewed every i've years,
but no change made as long as tho sutler made
himself acceptable Under the new law the privilege
was sold to the highest bidder. and each suter, not
other. endeavored make all he could while he held
the place The officers and soldiers Ind bear the
burien OF this state OF Affairs the profits came out of
their pay.
UNDER THE OLD SYSTEM
suter made only fair profit and from years oil busi-
ness could only save a competency. Under the new
system suffers have realized a fortune within three
years besides paying for their privileges since 1871
instead OF having men appointed as suffers VINO were
acceptable TO the officers, IN many instances the
scurvicst knavcs TO be found have obtained appoint
incn!s At Fort Lincoln Colonel Robert Wilson, Inc
gentleman who had held the sutershp for years, was
displaced without any reason, and a man named
Dckey brother To member OF Congress at that time,
appointed Before anybody at the fort or even wilson
himself knew that any change was contemplated,
opened business Colonel Wilson subsequently, DIS
covered the manner in which these appointments were
being sold. and something over two years ago pub
lished an erp)se OF the whole thing in the Bismarck
Tribune, but It did not attract any attention.
OPINIONS ARMY OFFICERS.
Major Hale, Major Clemens aud other officers al the
Arsenal corroboratcd General Sturges' statements in
regard to the shameful abuses practsed 1915
upon the army in the appointments of suffers, whS
permitted to charge the exorbltant prices
for goods.
The officers unanimously express qualification at th'
result OF the Congressional investigation aud desire
1t progress They gratihed at the prospect o
having army relieved OF the odum that has
upon in consequence of the appointment OF unscrupu
lous to various positions connected with It, The!
evnce some hestancy in condemning Belknap before
he given hearing but this hestancy is attributable
almost entirely to the soldiers desire TO avoid politics
rather than belief in the late secrotarys innocence