The New York herald., 1876-02-09
Treasury Department Senator Ferry. his colleague
oaicated as groomsman.
FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT.

Upward and onward seems 20 be the motto OF the
spirit OF reform which began months ago by attacking
the corruptonsts and consprators against the national
revenue, selecting the objects OF ITS first attacks
few Insignificant dstlers aferward evelng its blows
most effectively against minor revenue officials then
gathering Its powers for general assault against the
leaders of the ring OF robbers and punderers
OF the public purse The ayengng axe Is seen to de-
scend simultaneously in ST. Louis, Chicago Milwaukee,
indianapolis and Washington, bearing down beneath II
leading editor and prominent citizen in the person OF
Mckee intimate friend and conhdant OF tho Presi
dent in the person OF McDonaldi leader OF local poll
tics the person Of Hesng the Boss Of Chicago and
last the private secretary and intimate friend of the
President in the person OF Babcock.
Tho public, through the press, has often expressed
its regret that fraud and corruption should be charged
In such high places, but the end is yet "one by
the flowers fade" and this time the blow is aimed
at no less parsonage than member of the Cabinet.
The saying that must draw the line somewhere as
Blaine remarked when he his line at Jen Davis,
seems not to hold good in the effort to determine
where the line which separates honesty from corruption
lays.
For months vague rumors have reached the Capitol
from the West particularly from the frontier that
an immense amount OF money was being
contributed regularly by the suffers at the
various military posts the frontier, and
that this money a forced tax which
the holder Of every army sutershp In the West had to
pay, illegally. OF course, in order to retain his po-
siton The public will be astonished when 1t learns
the vast fund which in this way has been squeezed out
OF the pockets of every officer and soldier on the
frontier who is compelled tC purchase from these taxed
suffers. Lately, however, these vague rumors have
assumed denniteness in names, amounts and details
which render them longer capable Of being smoth
cred All traders at military posts the frontier are
new appointees and hold their appointments at the
pleasure OF the Secretary of War Formerly they were
only appointed upon the recommendation OF the
officers at the several posts No other Sec
retary Of War than the present incumbent
of that Office has taken the personal
interest and direct supervision OF these appointments.
lie removes ana appoints who and when he pleases,
ard exercises supreme contro-supreme because 1t is
known that the President his only superior, has
taken the slightest interest those matters.
The charge is made openly, by parties who claim
possession OF facts that the Secretary of
War has for long time been party the barter and
sale OF the privileges Of suffers at army forts through
out the West and has in this way accumulated hand
some fortune. According TO one prominent journal
published in Western city tnere is not soldier on
tho frontier who takes his bitters buys pair Of
gloves at the suters store who does not know
that doing he is obliged to pay tax to the Secre-
tary OF War" The journal goes TO state that
every army officer the frontier knows this to be
true. Among some OF the posts at which this tax is
imposed upon the sutler the benefit of some one
the old man in the country, perhaps-the following
have been published. with the amounts set opposite
each -
Lee & Reynolds suffers at Camp Supply, Indian Ter
rtory pay $4,000 year. of which 5000 collected
every six months.
=. W. Evans Brothers, suffers at Fort Sill Indian
Territory, pay An annual blackmail of $4,000
Paul Curtlett sutler at Fort Larnel Kansas, pays
annual blackmail OF 81, 800.
r. NJ. Wright, Fort Dodge, Kansas, pays annual
blackmail of 81, 800
1t Ia further stated that the Fort Union sutlership
New Mexico, is owned by one OF the Dent family, who
IS exempt from payment OF this tax, and that tho
Fort Wallace sutlership, Kansas, owned by relative
Of Babcock, who is also ID H." dead headed 1t is
claimed that this tribute collected by Iowa men,
of whom BieTce by name reported to be o resident
Keokuk The chief of the collectors is said to be
claim agent in this city, formerly brevet brgadier
general OF vol1nteers He has charge of the home
office and looks after things at headquarters.
For instance, If person wants position as
trader any military post he usually ap-
pears at Washington armed with bushel OF
letters from "inauentia" persons. After work
Ing away for few weeks he nnds that
he is making Roadway. If he has In the meanwhile
developed the proper characteristics he will receive
hint that he had better call upon General who has
particular influence with the Secretary Of War. In
cGrdance with this hint he will call upon the 'Gen-
eraL" This functionary strictly of business
aud words. He is always apprised before
hand OF the visit knows his man at and proceeds
10 business without delay
''You have the leadership. Sign a contract
agreeing to pay me s. every six months and 1t Is
yours"
The price is fixed according the Importance OF the
post Sometimes the terms are half Of profits
and again percentage tho gross receipts 1t may
be necessary to state that this is vague
unfounded assertion. The evidence support OF 1t Is
ready and will be placed at the disposal OF Congress
early day.
These retainers of Secretary Beknap not
allowed to away in dleness during the interim
between collecting days They usually put in that
time in filling government contracts, OF which they
have almost a monopoly They have little trouble in
running competitors of the track. These contracts
let to the lowest bidder. II competition is spirited
Belknap's man puts in very low bd-lowcr than the
supplies can be furnished for. He receives the
tract, commences delivery and suddenly suspends
The in such a requires the quartermaster to
buy in open market and charge the tho
price to the contractor When such charge
Is about to be madc against one of Belknap's men
from the Secretary OF War take such
action Then he goes in TO al the balance OF
at the market price BY this time no has arranged
control the for that article thus he gets
his own price, instead Of tho cry low price OF mis-
contract
A late depot quartcrmaster at Lcavenworth is au-
thorty Tor tho statement that he paid Bierce upon
tho percmplory order of Bolknap large Of money
for supplies that wero furnished.
The HERALD correspondent has conversed with
great many officers the army who have served in the
West upon this subject regard to the existence and
collection OF this tax and they nearly all them
selves quite positively that here Is scarcely doubt in
regard u the that sucrs throughout the frontier
and been regularly subjected TO heavy tax,
all Of which added the prices OF goods and comes
out Of the pockets OF the soldiers As 10 who oventu
ally receives the benefit Of thus tax they are