The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-24
VOL. XLllL-N0. 1913.
THE WAR OFFICE SCANDAL
THE POST TRiDLRS ASSESSED FOR
pOLITICIdNS' PURPOSES


r0ect of Corrupt Example on the Army.
WAsutNoroN, March 23.--Mr. G. X. Peck
Wns 10 day called by the Committee on ENpen-
ditures In the War Department. lie TESTIFIED
that post traders were assessed for poliiicai
PURPOSES, and that during the last Presidential
tleotlon he paid from $1,000 TO 5000 Ito
thought he rcmltted the money to tho Chair
mSs Of the Republican National Executive
Committee at Washington. ile and his part
ncr, Durfoc, held four military posts ana SIX
Indian trading posts. Ho thought tho amount
of contributions from the military posts was
dpsignatcd I'm proportion to the number OF
traders there.
Mr. nnss, the Republican member OF the com
mltt,e, cross-examined pctk sharply. Win
view to make him say these payments were
made Voluntarily, instead of being assessments
Uhe witness said he did not consider they were
obliged to pay. but they wcre notified that CON
tribuilpns would be acceptable.
~ Mr Dlactbirn w.uld eu u We -sut the monei II
~ h,d ff Oh oI.hi that the ilufo - 80 wo9l r.
iuli dlsas,rou-y you as M ohccholier? Al pre-
tunic not.
JJ. Fisher was recalled. and testified that the
afm Of Evans s. Co.,, post traders, contributed
money for political purposes In pursuance OF a
request contained IN n printed circular. lie did
not und ,fstand the contribution was compul-
sory but he thought II wal the safer way to pay
The morey.
nv Mr. which side dii you pay 70. A.-The
Republic ,ns / believe tiry " -ra IN iowcr
psnlotr,,, wanted II js,i a, uc iau ht'rj
MIR Ci,mer-Yes. i6ry wnnicd jist as much. but they
nevir got any lLAngmrrl
The witness being asked by whom the circular
soliciting contributions wai signed, turned to
Mr Bass aud cplied: "l think by Senator Har-
Ian"
Mr. Evans was re allied, aud being asked
whether he contributed money during the last
Presidential canvass, slii that no had. In com
r. 1
BOO to the Republican Executive Committee in
Washington. and lie hao p'!i $50 70 tho same
committee within tho last six months. TIE
circular was nrst sent to mia fricni Marsh, who
referred it TO him. lLaurhterl lie thought II
an outrage that Mash mad not pnid the sJOJ, s
be (Evan. bad been IAyins ou' SO much for his
post. lie would not hive paid tho money II he
had not b,en He'd upon e. DO So Hesent the
Check for the money o. Postmaster fdmunds.
1ie had, however been hle,d uiich ana often
thAt ho wos getting us. d to it. lLauehterl
" Ut a ss'S scy % ,sof. Sgs{s{'Gs Scons 22G 2e
ilo;;,, h w., s.r onsaie'; .r.,a.rr.,..o.,.
80 paN? A.-lucycr dif. H. uil'ughtcrl
John Fletcher of IL diauapOlis bat formerly Of
Kansas, te-tilet that IN i',l ne made anulica-
tpn for the post leadership az Fori Dodge being
endorsed 10y Lbe Hon. sidn,y arhe. lilo weht
20 Secretary Belknap and asAen for tAs pl ACC.
The Sc retNry told him It had teen promls to
another person. From cgnv rsaiion he hHc
with Mr. Reynolcs, OF the nrm OF Lee X Rsy-
nsids, lie Got the impression that II was neces
The witness asked Reynod. whether the report
was true that he h y IA SloOn 70 procure his
hpp0int nent. Reynolds replied that II CO ST
enough, md that Iowa WIS running the p0st:.
in his interview with Secretary Beiknap. tue
latter dld noi infinite IN any way that money
The example set by Gen. Grant and Gen. Sher-
man IN accepting houses and lots from their
friends has had It's legitimate eject In daierio-
rating the moral II the army. his was plsinly
shown by the revelations made o-day by Gen.
iar Ng1 NJ al n ~ mn pftv
before the Committee on Expenditures In the
War Department. lie ~as called at the in.
stance ~ the Republican members Of the
committee to eXplan certain statements
putpofti as coming from him ia regard to the
that he lad ever .uthor2el any ~ liemtnt TO be
made, but frankly admllted that he, in COM
station "a on the frontier. believed that post
tradersaips were made matter of bargain and
believe this from the fact tnat in every In
stance coming under his personal oo-
administration council u the post was disrs
garded, and strangers who were unknown TO u q
was "a matter IN viii the ofi;e OF post
felt the deepest interest. They were not only
the frontier society IS limited, and they
naturally wanted man for post trader
who wHs gentleman with whom they
could rs ociate. and one, also. who would
not impose upon them or the suldi. m
under their charSe: but Just As soon as he a
Of 1870 was passed, placir the appointment OF
post trader- absolutely In the hands Of the Sec.
rotary Of War, the wishes Of the oncers Of
the posts were no longer regarded. They
frequently recommenisd gsntlemen for
was approved by the commandant and com
nander II the department. bat no attention
whatever was paid to these endorsements BY the
War Deuaftmeut. IN Auniti' - 80 thesr facts
Gen. McC0 K said 1t was su' ject OF unyers >,
eomment among army oaicerl WHO had seen any
were sold 10 the Dencst bidders twas no se.
oret etamong he posttrnde tneI.s selves. They id
not hestat. to talk ahou' T. the officers. II.
heed, tloN were ref 4 : iuf Tn the Onlcers OIL
The post at which thoy were accredited. that
They hld to p.y tor tbs privilege, ard bencs b, d
TO Increase the tiiR ou Their goods Ia order 10
paythe r buts levied upon them.
Ait-f q n; McCook had been examined upon
This point, Mr.. blackburn quietly asked rin II
be bad no. bcen 81 tiiOned IN Texas for several
years. lie replied that ne was ordered there as
general Inspector by Gen. lIAlltck with Gu-
thorltv % Lursue MS iuquifi -- throughout the
nepartncn Mt Of the south. H. the course OF bis
pxAnihauoh he bad to spend considers bic TN G
%r. blackburn then asked him II he had moi
War De, artment concerning grave irregularities
existing IN the army stationed IN Texas. Tho
General replied that IN 1871 he ala make a report
~ regard II certain transactions affecting Gen
J. Reynolds, thru commanding the do
partment. lie head all sorts Of scandal about
an attempt which was made by tho citizens
OF San Antonio to have ths headql srters re
moved thther. lie heard in rticuar about O
sum Of money being raised for that purpose
Xqfre WIS hrm OF contractors named Adami
a. we1s NC MN ma ,Re ne contract for t1snsp yne
tiers. These men were very Intimate with
Hon. Reynolds, and there were many
poandalous rutnors In regard to tn,iI
Intimacy. The contracts for transporta lon
were at that time controlled by the d
Partment commander, he heard tna'
ADAM ". a. .- s.- ar sented mouse anc
lot to Gen. Reynolds and he looked into th(
Enatter ana ascertained that piece OF propert,
had been conveyed to Gen. KeynOlds's vito. III,
was at the expense OF having The decd copied
and forwarded IL to w shington. IL was iron
7. ID. l.. Wicks to Mrs. REYNOLDS, consideration
$1,000, ana was witnessed by Adams
Mr. Bass thought he would make poiut OF
Gen. McCoOk, and asked MIN II he thought il
was bis duty TO gather up such scand Is as this
which Il no other material foundation than
deed that on its o. appeared all regular anc
PtraiRht The General squared himself, ant
looking fair at his questioner. replied, " knew
army officers as rule hadn't $1,000 to put into
nhouse, md Gen. Reynolds was reported before
poor man"
"But' said Bass, In his severest manner
did you think II fair to b.sa a report on mel
Iumor and suspicloui Had YOU no other ev.
dence than this OF tue Transaction beins
crooked2'
"HOthing more save that Cen REYNOLDS ad-
Initted to ms that tho contractors gave him the
house"
This was q settler. Mr.. Bass was very much
disconnected over It..
The General also related the facts about Ten
ML