The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-19
now soME orrrcERs MANAGE
The Ways In which they Dcfrand The Govern
meut and the Enlisted Men.

meut aud the Enlisted Men.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir. I will
show few ways IN which some officers OF the
army defraud the Government and the enlisted
men. ana prove that they think nothing OF GER
tlfying on honor TO . lie
These cases may appear Of a petty nature, but
take them collectively throughout the army, and
they will acquire great magnitude.
The empl oy ntnt Of fodiers as servants and
to 90 chambermaids work ty officers, In direct
violation OF law, IL an abuse which has caused a
great deal OF discomfort and desertion In the
army, and which defrauds tho Government an
nually Of about sl3.OC0 Witch money should he
deducted from the officers pay. but which de-
ductton they evade by system OF false returns
b'ok at the morning reports " the command
ing ofilcer of n compan v and YOU will never
return made Of three or four men as on daily
duty as SERVANT, or to perform the FUNCTIONS OF
chamtefmaids, yet many soldiers will actually
be on such duty
Another abuse is the system the officers have
o. dropping property from their returns 10y
chargtng the same against fnou who have de
serted. ] have personally know a an oncer to
order the first sorgea Il Of a company to charge
deserted, 50 "a TO enable him to nave them al
tered into sporting rihes, which lie could claim
rs private property. these rifles are now In the
hands ~ civilian, presented BY the uihcer,
while lnngushing at Alcatrgz Military Prison IL
q poor soldier serving a sentence Of five wears
for desertion and theft Of a musket stolen by
htl commander.
Another abuse Ia the way officers have 81 COM
pellinR men to take 81 thing a. Of new issue
when the same has been so frequently used by
the officer That 1t has become threadhare.
have seen n soldier compelled to take blankets
rs new when they had teen In use for a year
under his uhrcr's carpets. II the soldier should
obiect or make any COMPLAINT he would he con-
hned In the guard house. Not only in the mat
ter Of blankets Is this done, tut IN all kinds Of
enlisted mems clothing, providing the officers
get !; for nothing. "a they generally 40.
The procedure Of courts nartial-two codes
OF law ana punishInents, one for the ulcers.
the other for the enlisted men--is 'ong the
worst aouses IN the army. Offences which would
be only misdcmeauors III a civil court. and pun
ished hv small ilne. are here punished by a
long imprisonment aud forfeiture OF all ray
and allowances ia the case of an enlisted man.
but let an oihcer be tried for the same offence
aud he IS let OG with reprinland, rarely roceiv-
lng confinement or forfeiture Of pay as a SEN
tence.
Ia the summer II 1873. while on the survey OF
the Northern Pacific RAILROAD. | saw the COM
mhndinR officer OF the expedition carried to hts
tent IN a heasily state of intoxic ton amid the
Jetrs and laughter Of his subordInatcs, and this
IA hostile Indian country. lnis cirrum stance
has never been made public, Notwithstanding
tue same campaign two enlisted men were tied
behind wagons for the same offence, only they
were Eutlty Ia lesser degree.
One - the meanest aud I'm fact the most
shameful abuse me officers guilty Of toward
tue enlls ed man IL the method they have OF
1orrowinR suusistence stores from tue soldiers
kitchen, and always forgetting 10 return them.
have served At military post In wyoming,
where there were about thirty Ave officers with
their families, and the average sales ny the
missarv 10 each otic,r did net amount to more
than u month, ana tnis In place where they
could purcntso from commi.slr only.
Nov, now did they livey Certainly the above
amount Of stores would nc kepu hon / viii
answer. Why. 10y haf feeding their men. ana
continually borrowing a portion Of the soldiers
rauons. ms "a done IN nine cases out & ten In
the army: aud when troops are IN active SER
wee ]. l. done hy the officers messing at the
company kitchen.
! know ~ an Cfiicer. who Is now serving I'm
OAK 1ti who i something OF an author AID
SCENT wh0, while IN con rifnd ~ n clmuauv
81 infantry. expended shout $40 Of his company
ihnd for writing material Ne would give the
rst sergeant hait qu're Of paper to issue To
MS soldiers the remainder would 20 for his
manuscuit. In settling the account current
with the company h. had this item CHARGED as
mess furniture. ~ 2 charge q stationery would
not stand AZ the A. ut sut-General's once.
San FRANCISCO, tal Jan. :. ALCAIRAZ.