Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-03-18
VIEWS OF ARMY OFFICERS.
Tho Kxtent si the Pest Trader Nsisance...
The Hardship Indicted On the Soldiers.

Tho Rxsent Of the Pest Trader Nsisancs...
The Hardship Iaalcssa On the Soldiers.
A prominent army officer. q dispatch
from Washington tells us. says that he
knows nothing personally OF corrupt
practices In connection with post trader
ships, but has heard, In common with
other army officers, o variety OF rumors
to that effect. Officers and men who
have returned from the frontier posts
say that in many instances the traders
charge double the price OF their goods,
and explain 1t by saying that they have
to pay so much annually for their trader
ships. II was supposed in the army
that these payments were ultimately
mado to Congressman or politicians, but
no ono suspected that the secretary OF
war, or any one high in the confidence
Of the government, had anything to do
with it.
An officer who has recently returned
from the plains says that he has no posi-
tive proof of any sale OF post trader.
ships. The men have often complained,
however, Of high prices, and the post
traders have for long time been indie
pendent OF. the immediate post COM
manders. Prior to 1870 1871 the post
trader was appointed on the recommen-
dation OF the post council OF administra-
ton, consisting OF the three senior off,
GERS next to the commander. The nomi-
nation Of the council was subject to the
approval OF the commander, and to these
two checks was added third in the per-
son Of tho Inspector general, who made
frequent visits to each post without an
nouncing his coming. In the year men,
toned, however, oil this was changed,
and the post trader was appointed direct
ly from Washington. Entire strangers
were sent to many Of the posts, and it
was found impossible for the command
ing officers to enforce their former au-
thority, the traders giving them to
understand that they had influence at
Washington, and must not be meddled
with. In large post in Arizona Q few
years ago, neither the commanding Off
Ger or the general of the district ven.
tured to interfere with the trader, who
sold liquor to the men in such quaint
ties as was subversive to discipline, and
charged whatever prices he pleased for
his goods. The tax on the men caused
by this increase of prices in order to
satisfy the demands of the parties at
Washington was often so severe rs to
cause great discomfort and inconven-
fence. The soldiers worked hard for
their small pittance Of pay, and to be
charged double prices for their neces-
saries in order to buy diamonds and
Worth dresses for ladies in Washington,
was little too much. Besides the crea-
ton of an independent power within o
commanders district was in itself blow
at all discipline. The council of ad.
ministration, to whom belonged right
fully the authority to regulate prices,
etc, had no power over the trader, and
the latter, secure in the good graces of
his powerful friends, could do pretty
much as he pleased. Although it was
generally thought that jobbery of some
kind was going on, no one suspected the
head of the department or any of the
higher officials. It was generally sup
posed to be the result of Congressional
pressure or political influence. The
profits of the traderships in the aggre-
gate was very large, some OF them reach
ing as high as $15, 900 a year. If the
one at Fort Still could afford to pay
$4,000 year to the secretary of war,
there were many others which could be
assessed for from So, 900 to s., 600 annu-
ally. There was nothing that the great
majority of army officers more desired
than thorough and complete investiga-
lion of the entire War department. The
mass of the officers were men of unim-
peachable integrity, and they would
any examination which tended |
10 throw light on the real authors of the |
disgrace which has been cast upon the