The daily gazette., 1876-03-04
MORE AND WORSE,
Whnt Arnly officers Haze long
RnOsCn Of ReiEhdp'S
Corruption.
Special Dispatch to The Time.

(OJTNDttOH.
Special Dispatch to The Time.
BALTIMoRE, March 2.-Capt. George
I. Robinson, formerly of the Tenth
United States calvary, and now living
in this city, furnishes the following ad-
information concerning ex-
Secretary Belknap's corrupt partner
ship in the profits of post traderships
on the frontier; Captain Robinson
early in the present session of Congress
preferred the charges of corruption
before the military committee against |
Secretary Bclknap which have led to
the recent startling developments
Doctor Marsh was subpGnaed by the
committee in accordance with sugges-
tions made by Robinson, who has pro- |
badly been more familiar with Gen. |
Belknap's corrupt practices than any
one else. In 1868 Robinson was order
ed, with his regiment, to the Indian
territory. AS engineer of the military
district he selected the site of Fort Sill
and superin:ended the erection of the
fort. BY his continued residence at
this post for six years he became fa-
miliar with the details of military SER
vice On the frontier AS member of
the post council of Administration land
for time its president, it devolved
upon Captain Robinson to inquire into
the prices charged for merchandise by
the post traders. AT this time, 1868
and 1869, the post leadership ut Fort
, Sill was controlled by J. s. Evans &
Co. Complaint having been made to
! the firm that exorbitant prices were
charged. they replied that the difficulty
could not be remedied. AS for the
privilege of trading at the post, fifteen
thousand dollars per year had to be
paid to w. w. Belknap, Secretary OF
War, this, as was shown was the con-
tract price. The post council through
Captain Robinson, then demanded that
/ the statement of Evans 81 Co., should
be put in the form OF an aflidavit.This
was promptly done, and the affidavit
was sworn to in the presence of several
officers of the Tenth calvary. 1t is now
on file in the records of the council,
with other documentary evidence of a
similar character. 1t afterwards ap-
peared from statements of Evans u
Co. that the annual payment at the
end of three years was reduced to
twelve Thousand dsllars. This amount
was, by agreement, payable monthly,
in advance 1t is known, by staten ents
of J. S. Evans TO Captain Robinson.
that the monthly payments were con-
tined up to March, 1875. The accuracy
of there statements was unquestioned
among the Tenth Calvary and Sixth
United States Infantry, and the facts
have for several years been notorious
among army officers generally. That
Il like amount was paid annually to
Secretary Belknap by the post trader
at Camp Supply, Indian Territory, is
stated on the authority of General w.
B. Hazen. When Gen HaZen evinced a
disposition to criticise the corrupt prac.
ticesof his chief hewas ordered to amore
remote point on the frontier. While
the proof may be lacking in some in
stances, there is every reason to believe
that General Belknap since becoming
a member of the Cabinet, has generally
participated in the profits of the
post traderships. About twenty
of them are very profitable, and the
Secretary has reapcd rich harvest
The method of conducting the busi-
ness has been to sell the traderships to
a middle man, who, it seems in several
instances, was one Marsh, or DIR.
| Marsh, of New York. Marsh then sold
the privileges to the highest bidder
The country will be startled, however,
when it was known that Mr.. Grant
has for some time been aware of the
Irregularities now exposed fer the first
time, and that the articles of war, and
rules of procedure have been disregar-
ded by Belknap in the promotion of
his personal interests.
Soon after the discovery of the
frauds at Fort Sill, Captain Robinson,
as president of the post council, and in
the line of his duty, reported the cor
rdptien to the President through the
was his transfer to the position of sup
Iervisor of the issuing of Indian sup
plies. In 1878 more formal report of
the irregularities was made, when
Captain Robinson was at once ordered
on receiving service at Philadelphia.
He was soon afterward ordered to this
city, and put in command of the receiv-
iag pest here. From Baltimore, during
the latter part of 1874, he preferred
formal charges of corruption against
Secretary Belknap, and forwarded
proofs and specifications to President
Grant. AS a result of this act, he was
placed under military arrest on Sep
tenber IL, 1874. 1t is provided by the
act of Congress that charges must be
preferred against an officer of the army
within ten days after his arrest; failing
to do this, it is further provided that
he shall Immediately be set at liberty.
Captain Robinson, however, by spec .al
order of Secretary Belknap, was put
under close arrest, and no liberty was
allowed him, nor were any charges
preferred until the following spring,
when he was sent to st. Louis fer trial
by commission organized for the
avOwed purpose ofconviction. Belknap
was authoritatively reported as saying
at the time: "If this commission don't
convict Captain Robinson, then, by
I I will f;y ana that will - The