The New York herald., 1876-03-03
THE PRESIDENT FoREwARNED.

journed til Saturday night
THE PRESIDENT FOREWARNED
CHARGES OF CORRUPTION AGAINST BELKNAP
SENT To THE PRESIDENT IN 1873 AND
1ST4-HE IGNORES THEM THE ACCUSING
OFFICER PLACED UNDER ARREST.
BALTIMORE, March 2 1876
Captain George T. Robinson, formerly of the Tenth
United States cavalry and living in this city fur
nshes the following additional information concerning
ex-Secretarv Beknaps corrupt partnership in the
profits Of post traderships the frontier Captain
Robinson early IN the present session of Congress pre-
ferred the charges of corruption before the Military
Committee against Secretary Beknap, which have led
to the recent startling Developments DR.. Marsh was
subpenaed by the committee in accordance with sug.
gcstions made by Robinson, who has probably
been more familiar with General Beknaps corrupt
practices than any one else In lS6S Robinson or
dered with his regiment to the Indian Territory
gineer OF the military district He selected the site
of Fort Sill and superiniended the erection of the
fort. By of his continued residence at
this post for nearly years he became familiar with
the details of military service the frontier. As
member of post council of administration, and for a
time its president IL devoved upon Captain Robinson
TO inquire into the prices charged for merchandise by
leadership Fort Sill controlled by the firm OF j.
S Evans Co. Complaint having been made to the
firm that exorbitan prices charged they replied
that the difficulty could not be remedied, for the
privilege Of trading at the post
FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR
had to be paid TO W. W. Beknap, Secretary War This
shown, was the contract price. The post council
through Captain Robinson, then demanded that the
statement of Evans Co should be put in the form OF
aindavt This was promptly done and the affidavit
to in the presence of several officers of the
Tenth cavalry. 1t is file in the records of the
council together with other ntary evidence OF
a similar character 1t afterward appeared from state
ments OF Evans Co. that the annual payment at the
end of three years reduced to Sl2 0O0
This amount by agreement payable monthly in
advance. II Is known by statements of j. $. Evans
TO Captain Robinson that the monthly payments were
continued up to March, 1875. The accuracy OF these
statements un9uestioned among the Officers OF the
Tenth cavalry and Sixth United States infantry and
the facts have for several years been notorious among
army officers generally. That like amount was paid
annually to Secretary Belknap by the post trader at
Camp supply, Indian Territory is stated on
less authority than that q General B. W. Hazen,
General Hazen evnced disposition to criticse
corrupt practices of mis- chief, he was ordered to
more remote point the frontier While tho proof
may be lacking in some instances there is every
reason to believe that General Belknap since be-
coming a member OF the Cabinet, has generally
participated in the PROFITS of the post raderships.
About twenty of them very profitable and 1t Is
that the thrifty Secretary has reaped a rich
harvest The method OF conducting the business has
been to sell the traderships a middleman who 1t
seems, several instances. Marsh or Dr.
Marsh Of New York Marsh then sold the privileges
TO the highest bidder
GUILTY KNOWLEDGE IMPUTED TO PRESIDENT
The country will be startled however when il is
known that President Grant has for time been
OF irregularities, exposed for the first time
and more. that the articles 0 war and rules Of pro
cedure have been disregarded and trlmplcd upon by
the doughty Belknap in the promotion his personal
interests. Soon after the discovery Of the
frauds at Fort Sill, Captain Robinson, Presl.
dent OF the Post Council aud in the
line of his duty, reported the corruption
to the President through the customary channels
The only result his transfer the position OF Su
peryisor OF the Issuing Of Indian supplies in 1873
more formal report Of the irregularities made
when Captain Robinson at ordered on
recruiting service at Philadelphia He was soon after
ordered TO this city and placed in command OF the
recruiting post here From Baltimore during the
latter part Of 1874, he preferred
FORMAL CHARGES CORRUPTION AGAINST SECRETARY
BELKNAP
and forwarded proofs and specifications TO President
Grant AS result or this act he at placed
under military arrest September IL, 1874.
PETTY TYRANNY
It's provided by the act OF Congress that formal
charges must be preferred against officer Of The
within ten days after his Failing to do
this, ii is provided he shall be Immediately set
at liberty. Captain Robinson. however, by specai
order Of Secretary Beknap, placed under ar
rest and no liberty was allowed him. nor were any
charges preferred against him until the following
spring, when he was sent to ST. Louis for trial by
commission organized for the avowed purpose OF con-
yction. The pous Bclknap authortativcly re.
ported saying the timc "If this commission don't
convict Captain Robinson then, by God
will FIX that Wilt" The charges
finally preferred consisted of alleged frauds
the preferrng Of unounded charges agansta superior
officer, &c General Beknaps commission, however
did its appointed work. aud Captain Robinson dis
missed the service To shog the irregular Of
the St. Louis commission 1t is only necessary state
that Eve Of It's members promoted by the dis
missal Of Captain Robinson The articles Of pro-
vide that officer shall only be tried by his equals
superors In rank
In this way is shown how the officers OF the army
while cognzant OF Secretary Belknap's corruptions
dared protest against them for fear Of prosecutions
which would at have been Instituted. II cannot
doubted that President Grant stated above, has
long been familiar with the corrupt practices of General
Belknap. With him, however,
THE INTEREST PARTY
was paramount and his JsdHs Aesates shielded 1t