The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-05
MASS OF CORRUPTIoN.
How the soldiers and the Treasury arc
Robbed Under Grant and Belknap.


Robbed Under Grant and Belknap.
An old Brooklyn army officer. who has
had six years experience on the frontier,
sad TO Arols reporter yesterday that
the statements already printed with respect
70 post raiders do not begin to htly represent
tbe actual frauds perpetrated. Up to 1871 the
post traders were appointed by the command
ing Off er. on the recommend ations OF the Post
Council Of Administration. which consisted OF
the three officers next in rank TO the Com
mander. One OF the duties OF the Council was
20 nS the prices which the trader should charge
for his merchandise. He was generally allowed
from 25 10 20 per cent. profit. Now, however,
the traders are responsible to the Secretary Of
War alone, and II they have influence with the
Secretary the officers are poweriess. He recalled
one instance where the commanding ON er ot a
post in Arizona rem nstrnted with the trader
white gloves, and smoking tobacco. lie was
charging sl a pair for comm m white glove
worth a dollar dozen. His tarr on smoking
tobacco was e. a pound for the poorest kind.
The commander repres ented the injustice OF
the charges, ana gave ne t5ader DER sehedulS SE ol
trader refused and his store was closed. He
sppealed to Washington, aud In two months
post and the trader was selling a, the same old
exorbitsnt figures But there are other and
present post trading system. The traders sell
iiquor to the enlisted men, despite the orders
ofthe ofhcers. 1his interferes with proper dis
The onicer was asked how. even allowing for
the enormous profits on their goods, tire post
traders could afford 70 pay such rye subsidies.
That's easily expl4ined,' ne replied: "The
sale Of goods at the store Is only small p IT OF
the business. The real profits come In on the
contracts which he is enabled to secure. At
every military post the Quartermaster and Com
mlssary have to make numerous contracts every
wear and on many Occasions they have TO pur.
chase supples IN open market. The trader is
.there on the ground he knows what will be
ne gets tho contract By hook or by crook. II
the otficer Is unfathtul. the trader is posted
Is to the lowest bid made. and bids little low
or. II the contract is at too small price TO
make a large profit the contract Is unfulhlled,
and the supplies are purchased in-npen market.
Then 10 comes the contractor, Snder another
name, and sells at much advanced price the
goods he had contracted to deliver. II any
other competitors appear they are either bought
en by the trader, or the ocer rejects their oi ds
on account Of inform ty; II the oticer ia
faithful to his trust, and will not enter into the
traders nefarious schemes, he Is sent on to
some other post and more plant individual
influence enough at Washington to make things
warm for them, and they arc very naturally
chsry Of doing anything that the trader OBJ
What do you think OF the proposed investi-
cation Of the Quertermaster's Department.
fraud, he replied. The Quartermaster's De-
the lowest A. A. Q. NJ. to the moguls at Wash
sngion every one is on the make. IL Is
tAYlng IN the army tnat III you want inc 0OVeTn
nent to look on you as thief, get A. 2. NJ. puI
after your name | know men who have been
1alaTies Of tlSO0. Every Quartermaster or Com
Inssary expects every contractor u 'cqmf
down II tie records cf tto s"-=.arn ster's
pspTtment are thoroughly searched, 1t will bt
1ound that Government properly and supplies
have been squandered most reck lessly. lremem
ber case where some scows loace I'd with supp ei
were sunk In the Columbia river, and don't DO
coast that didnt ale aftidayits that lot Of III,
bfopery for which he was responsible " 5 los
on thoss scors. There was as much property
sworn To as would have loaned 800 scows o
the same size. i know an o1lcer who got Is
sons OF bay 81 his papers oy getting his CORA
iIast-. 10 lido to winoY rd Of hve ton stacl
apark from the cigar blew into the hay, the stacl
Burned up, and the officer filed atildavits that al
fhis l5O were burned up and destroyed through
NO fault II his. IL they get TO work In the righ
way they'll end that 2. 81 d. good place L
turn up rasCalS,,'