, 1876-03-06

Washington 1nu called 4t tho haf DCpa1L11tnE.
whore, upon making known Ills mlEHton, ho WaH
directed to sec . man named Iron. lie did SO.
and Iron opaned negotiations With him. which led
to tho appointment Of Deck sud tho payment Of
S3,900 to Iron.
CEN. M'cOOK.
T1Ews OF AN OLD ANhT OFFICER.
81. Louu Globe Democrat, Iarehl,
In probing for nows. bt Military Headquarters
yesterday, q Giobe-D Democrat representative mot
with Con. AcCool, tho most recont acquisition
to Gen. 8hernan'a staff. Gen, McCook (GonorAl
by bfeves) In an old army officer, ''grown graz In
tho ssrvico," who has eeou, perhaps, n score Of
yesrs Of actlyo military life, large shnlo Of
which havo been devoted to teaching Lo the cf1l-
cacY Of powder and bali, and the beauties Of civ
isiza:Ion, at ono md tho same timo. He has
travarsol the territory from the head watc1s Of
tho Missouri to tho Clio Grauds, timo and tilno
ngaio. and having boon 10 long engaged in fron-
tlor service ia goporal!y regarded "a sound
| authority upon all matters relating thereto.
"Your long sorsice on the frontier may havo
| givon you Insight into these postttading trans
actions that will provo Of interest 70 the public
! II you should 500 at to make any ssatomont per
| taiuiug therato."
~ Confidently expected tho exposure, aud
knew that It must come aooner or latss."
"Do you mean to sa7 that tho ffsuds alleged
wore known TO you "
"Ycs to mo aud to oyery officer who has had
gas1laon duty to perform in the Wost. for several
Years past. II IL not matter OF Wondermeut to
me, nor do think II will bo 10 them, that thia
zdao; wlao;spet'Ad corruption should hav' b'sn "1-
"Dut, IN your opinion, docs tha corruption OK
| tend beyond tho post-tradershlp 1t Fott Bill,
which Ia hlegod to have been marketed hWny?"
''Thete ako 1875 posts yet to hear from. aud
ros+ assured tho RETURNS have not begun
| to come in jet. Dropping the Guostiou Of fact,
| Why should Fort Bill bo m exception IN this
gamo Of barter and trade that has been going
| ou ? Does any ono presume TINT this fort anorua
the only corrupt exception, md that q rule Of
| lIoatst management MS to traderships prevailed
elsewhere? Why should Rort Sill have boeu
alone choBon for transaction OF tho character
alleged, when othor pos.s may bo aa readily
| manipulated bv thoBe 1t tho hoad OF tho Wst
Department !? -"
"These nra all grave questions. no doubt, but,
Gonoral, let mo underutand. DO You behave
that tho doubtful transactions shown to have
boon engaged in By tho Secretary Of War extend
| TO posts other than Fort Sill
lido believe 90 2 Yea, do. Nny. think
might with psopricty say that know 50. fow
that this investigation haa boen commenced b.
Congress. II thoro is really a issse to lift mat
ters 10 tho vary bottom, let them eoud for tho
post-tradeB In ail quarters, and thara will ba
suoh revelations OF cortuot!on AZ vii! dwaEl
tho cane already revealed into nothioRneas
This Is but the entering wodgo. "htch. II Sivon
tho so.ce necessary, viii rond tha eutro Byuton
OF poat-trading ns now conducted.
"Tho massor Of appointing possssadcts, thea,
ltos with tho Secretary Of War 2"
~ ''Entiroly. Formerly. tho Council OF Admin
/ istraton at : po6t-this Council Was maxi
h up Of tho three oQicora nsxt In rank be,
low tho commanding oiilcer-ohose a mnu
lot tho poaltion of post-aut!er. Their collection
was man OF chn1actor,-ono who had .
reputation for honesty that he ralaed ono who
| vta thcir equal, and with whom they conld 1850.
ciate on torna Of in:imacy., This solection waz
approved by the commanding officer. and, tha
n,,atsor be!ng properly Eofcrrod TO the Var Do.
pa1tnlcnt, the appointment was made"
"Whht Ia the ptoceas now Z" .
"In the yenr 1869, Mr. Hugh Campbell. OF
st. Louis, moat reputable gentleman. recon.
rnondsd . coFtaln party fos the suterahip at
Fort Laramie. TIE candidate had Al abundance
OF good words spoken for him his case was
considered by the Council Of Administration,
was approved by h4o commanding ofloor, and
eventually bo was appointed. Ho came to s.
Louia and, procurinR atock Of goods, had Il
/ forwarded TO tho Fort, but, before ho could bo
come sotted In Ills now position. along comos .
MOSAIC gentleman With fresh commission o!
WAS scarcely dry"
"Was this representative from tho Wax Do
patsncnt 7"
Precisely. But tbs officers, NTH ono accord
promises that alould 10 respected, And took stop
to uphold tho man whom they had recommended
Tho cAse wAa laid hofoso Con. Sherman. who
with customary rzonptness iBsuod An ordo
upholing tho first appoinseo, md leaving 4i
wouid.bs succeasar no rocouras navo through sh'
| War Department"
"Aud did tint termtnase tho mat.cr 2"
.uJ no mcaus. This may DO psointly sat'
to have bson tho commencement OF tic sroubl
between sherman and Delkpap to which IL due
~ much Is to anythng the present location G
military headquarters Ut ". Louis. 1ha issuo q
thst Hlight contest for tho p0at-tIaaorship q
| Fort LarAulie showed to Secretary Bolhnap til
fact that he waB not without restriction, and thn
"a matters then stood, tho marketing Of post pc
; ; sitiona was not FREQ from tho danger OF o.
, posuro. Therefore, something muss ho dont
, . Accordingly, Ia 1870, he secured tho passage b
. Congress- Of an act transferring from our hand
> altogether tho power to choose, recommend, 0
: sppoint lost-ttadesB. and giving It into th
hauda Of tho Secretary Of War, without III
check or baapce-Wheol 10 p1oycnk that COL
corning which ths law Il 50 explicit In its mar
. dates."
"You moan, presume. concerning the "a
"rreciaoly, Thnt Divine command. Tho
! | shalt net STEAL IL no mora plain, no moro 81
I pllct. than Ia the law pertaining 10 aud Kotert
log the !lIlIng Of these post positions Yos lu !.
fraction IL tho ruio and its observance tla ekoo1
!. tien. Tbs law speaks in unmsasskahlo term
h kEalp8t the farming out OF these post poai
tionA, and yet may say that, In the ms1ont
Of easos tho perbou appointed se!aom' II orc.
:. | traders ana sus!ors aso thoso who cnn ana w
y pay tho .noat for tbs opportunity TO specalat
4 on the uecesujktos Ut tho soldier, and. % clA3
!! ttcy ase sot Of sAeves. aud, instead Of b'eas
y iuR, Aro bane to tho aorFlce."
= bfsrmln9 out that You can msntlou-that Il
. In saaislon to tne csss Of Mnss, sh'ah has bss
"I shouil pos ha.s 70 70 \ ktsAs vsy-..ns
r puhM4 Of ths City ot 81. LoniA. 1htss u