The daily gazette., 1876-03-04

test against them for fear OF the per-
section which would at once have been
instituted. 1t cannot be doubted that
President Grant has long been fami-
liar with the corrupt practices of Cen
eral Belknap. 1t seems certain that,
save for the investigations of Demo
cratic Congress, the thifty habits OF
our Centennial Secretary of War
would have remained hiddea for an
indefinite period. Captain Robinson
is about to demand an investigation
of his case by the military committee
of the House, and to ask for rein
statement in the service. 1t is thought
that the recent developments will en-
courage the officers of the army to di-
vulge whatever information they may
possess concering the corruption of
the War Department, and thus render
material aid in purifying the one de-
partment of the government which has
been thought to be free from blemish.
MR.. MARsH's STATEMENT.
In reply to your question would
state that in the summer OF 1870 my
self and wife spent some weeks at
Long Branch, and on our return to
New York Mr.. Belknap and Mrs.
Bowers, by our invitation, came for a
visit to our house; Mrs. Belknap was
ill during this visit, some three or
four weeks, and suppose in corsequ-
ence of our kindness to her she felt
under some obligation, for she asked
me one day, in the course of conver-
satisn, why l did not apply for post
leadership on the frontier; l asked
what they were, aud was told that
there were many very lucrative offices
or positions in the gift of the Secretary
of War, and that if wanted one she
would ask the Secretary for one for
me; upon my replying that 1 thought
such offices belonged to disabled sold
iers, and besides that was without
political influence, she anwered that
politicians got such places, sc.
Mrs. Belknap and Mrs. Bowers re.
turned to Washington, and a few
weeks thereafter Mrs. Belknap sent
me word to come over; did so; she
then told me that the posttradersEip
Mt Fort Sill was vacant; that it was q
valuable post, as she understood, and
that she had either asked for it fer me
or had prevailed upon the Secretary OF
War to agree to give it to me; at all
events, called upon the Secretary Of
War, and as near as | can remember,
made. application for this post on 9
regular printed from; the Secretary
said he would appoint me if | could
) bring proper recommendiatory letters
and this | said l could do; either
: Mrs. Belknap or the Secretary told
me that the present trader at the posi-
Ono. $. Evans) was an applicant Of
reappointmcnt, and that had better
see him.
saw Evans and found him alarmed
at the prospect of losing the place;
! remember that he said that firm o
Western post traders, who claimed ,
good deal of Influence with the Secre
tary of War, had promised to have
him appointed, but he found. on com
ing to Washington, this firm to be en-
tirely without influence; Mr.. Evans
first proposed partnership which
declined; and then bond of cer-
: tain portion of the profits if 1 would
allow him 10 hold the position and
continue the business; we finally
agreed upon $4,000 per year; Mr.
Evans and myself went on to New
| OIh tORttutT, WuOiC tHb COHiiuC1
was made and execute which is here
with submitted (paper naked A); dur
our trip over, however, Mr.. Evans
, saw something in the Arny and NdU9
Journal, which led me to think tina
!; some of the troops were to be removed
from the fort, and he had offered too
large sum, and before the contrac
was drawn it was reduced by agree
ment to $4,000, the same being pay
able quarterly in advance; when tn,
!. first remittance came to me, say pro
badly, in November, 1870, sem
one half thereof to Mrs. Belknap
either l presume by certificate OF de
posit or bank notes by express.
Question by Mr.. Blackburn Car
you state the sum, in the aggregate
received by you under the contract
: with Mr.. Evans, and what portion
thereof you have paid to the Secretary
of War, including the first and last
payments, which you have stauted
were not paid him? A have nc
memorandum, whatever, on which tc
make answer; it is very simple cal
culation; the first payment to me by
Evans was made in the fall of 1870 al
the rate of $4,000 a year; he paid al
that rate about a year and half ol
two years, and since then at the rate
Of SO, 600 year; it would aggregate
about $40, 600, the one half of which
have disposed of as above stated.