The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-13
BLEEDING THE ARMY.
How suffers are Compelled to Divide with
the Administration Ring.

WAsuINGroN, Feb. 0.-Some members OF
the Military Committee have been entertained
with grevOus complaints from the friends Of
the suffers, who charge that perfect JobOing
system Is carried on la that peculiar part OF the
service and the facts 20 to point that some one
a. high In authority as Belknap Is responsible
for the more Migrant features OF II. II Is Qharg-
ed that money Is demanded from the suffers at
tue various military posts ON the frontier for a
fund 10 be contributed to some central author
ity. supposed to he at Washington. IL IL were
only the suffers who were muicted. there would
be no cause for action. but since the soldiers IN
the UutpOsts are compelled, in measure, to get
nOuri-hng food from these suffers, II Is the
sJldiery that suffers. ana not others.
Ihe present traders at tho miitary posts on
the frontier are new appointees, aud hold their
appointments at the pleasure OF the Secretary
" War Formerly they were oniy appointed on
the recommend ttiOn OF the officers uf the sew
cral posts. No other secretary OF war than the
present incumbent OF that Office has taken per
eonal Interest IN aud direct supervision Of these
appointments. lie removes ana appoints whom
and when he rlcasos, and exercises supreme
control. Certain ex- uMcers here. who inform
the committee that they have the facts To- urove
II, declare that the Secretary Of War has, either
personally or through his fvOrlte- collected a
perca utage OF those ill-gottcn gains, and that
the nne style which he puts on ia Washington
comes from thu tax Levied on tie unfortunate
soldiers and officers 1T the outpusts. y friend
Of Belknap, Pierce, - instanced as among the
most Outrageous extortioneis among tue sol
dlery.
1t ia charged that in New Mexico member OF
the Dent family las a sutlership az Fort unlon,
rs well as that at Fort Wallace, Kan, wnicn Is
In the hauus Of knsman of BAbcook. All Of
these persons hold their places through q rogl-
lar process Of fNOritism, certain part ular
friends OF Delknap holding monopoly Of the
recOmm eudatiuua aud Hppointn cnts. y regul lr
schedule u prices Is handed To applicants and
the percentages due per aunum. II IS charged,
too, ia t lielkn. -. like Robes II, has peculiar
system Il blind bids fnr contracts. and that Ger
tain fayHf.tes carry on the rich plums.
These contracts are let u tue lowest bidder.
II cnmretitian o. spirited, Bekuaps man puts
Ia very low Did, lower than ne supp.ies. can he
mcuces the delivery, and suddenly suspends.
Tie law Ia such case requires the quarter
master 20 buy in open market aud charge the
excess over The contract price TO the contractor.
When SUCH charge Is about Co be made against
one 81 Beihutp's men, an order comes from the
Secretary n war To take no such action. Then
he goes in To MI the balance OF the contract AT
tue market price. by tAis tine he has arranged
To control the ma l,rt for that article, aui thus
he gets his own lrice instead OF the very low
price of his contract. Tue same difficulty In
working UP these frauds Is met hy the inves l.
gatoia as lnfrOuts tie cleAriug up Of RDbesOn' =
thetis. Papers are concealed ul hului, ANA all
manner OF delays Invented 10 bafle the iuNestl-
cation.