New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-26
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuSE.l

t'bV-N'si'
MEL HGEs
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRTDuSEl
WASHINGTON May 2j.-THE TRIBUNE's DIS
closures of tho gambling practices of army officers
in Washington have excited a great deal OF COM
mcnt although little surprise here where the exist
ence of the evil has been known to many persons
for months past, and has been deeply deplored
among the better class of officers themselves, who
have had opportunities to know something OF lts
perniclOus and, sometimes disastrous effects upon
the Younger officers.
Considerable sympathy and great deal OF pity
are felt and expressed for Colonel Morrow, VINO
came to Washington with high reputation both
as a gallant soldier and man of spotless honor
and integrity. He had won his brevet OF Colonel IN
the regular Army by " conspicuous gallantry IN
action" and his detail az aide-dc-camp TO
the General of the Army gave HIM the
pay of his brevet rank. THIS place he had filled ten
years TO the perfect satisfaction his chef VINO re-
posed perfect confidence in him. Colonel Morrows
paw amounts to 81, 800 a year, sum which is
ample to maintain comfortablyan officer of his rank
even in Washington. Upon inquiry at the
War Department to-day it was learned
that no Official information had been
received showing that Colonel Morrow had been
guilty of signing duplicate pay accounts for the
same period and obtaining money upon them, but
il was admitted that there had been official cOrre-
spondence respecting his Indebtedness 1t Is, now
ever stated by Army officers and Others in way to
know the facts that not only Colonel Morrow, but
other Army officers in Washington have fallen
into the hands of money-lendcrs, and that IN at
tempting 10 tide over pecuniary emDaTassmehts'
they have signed several sets OF pay accounts ior the
same month and obtained money upon thcm' IL ~
asserted that three different Washington bankers
have now vouchers for the same months pay OF
eight diilercLt officers.
The case of Liculenant-C Colonel Igcs, of the 18TH
Infantry, is also IN point. Some time ago he ten
dered his resignation, TO take effect number OF
months afterward. IL was discovered that he had
obtained money duplicate pay accounts, ana he
was informed by the Secretary OF war that ms
resignation must take effect Immediately or ne
wouid be compelled to stand court-martal. He
recalled and amended his resignation and again ior-
warded it. To-day Adiutant-Generai Drum received
a telegram from Colonel Ilges recalling his resigna-
ton
IL appears that this is not the first offence OF the
kind committed by Colonel Ilges. In 1873 he was
tried by court-martial for obtaining money on
dunlicote nay accounts, second offence and was
ent,nced 10 be d ,mlssed from the service. In con-
sideratiou OF ms excellent military record, the
sentence was mitigatcd 10 suspension from rank
and from onc-hall Of his pay proper Tor one year
! and a rcpr.inaud IN general orders.
Great SORROW Is expressed by a majority OF the
Army officers in Washington on account OF The
! mrtherdi,c.osurcs which seem to bc impending; bat
many of them say that publicity appears TO be the
| only cure tor the evil.
| "Nl this trouble comes from the poker
plavinq habits o( a few old officers whose
| ,vample has produced terribly dcmoralzing -
! frct not only IN Washington nat throughout the
! Aunvn said prominent staH oihcei t0dAy; Nheh
10 * known that pokef-plaN III" lui hgh H'tNcS -
| regular practice among officers OF hl2h rams IIsht
| n,r, ,yilhlu tic very shadow ot tue w ar Depart
rueut officers OF lower rank al frontier posts wheie
tnrt IA t tie work To be done and lew or no icgil-
| mate aiuusrmeuie, social or oihriWise' easily Iii
under me temptations of the card table. lhe glN-
,n, AT duulcato paV accounts ~ not he only wrong
| th.t follows Take young lieutenant VINO Is Gc-
tai ed as acting assistant cominSsdry or quarter
master at a military post anq VINO
| ,cuulrcs the habit OF gambling. lie mas
-, ma po.scsson IA few hundred or several thousand
| dollars of punlic money. lie loses ms own money
al the poker table; the next tmng he does Is 10 use
the pubic money III the same way, III INC VAIN nope
of retrieving his losses; disgrace ana dlSh"hor loi-
| law I'm the ARMY too. the influence OF example 10y
| snp,rior officers upon their juniors IS all potent.
| You might bung INTO thls room "a huhNIeu o. lle
| hest Young officers IN the service men Ot pure
| morals sober and temperate, yOdng men VINO never
| niaved a game of cards Tor money. venture to
,nv that NOT A dozen of them would not gladly ac-
cept an invitation from mo TO drink 9I p!ay poh !
| with NE. or do almost any !hlng else mlsut ASK
| The Army seems to have struck pad lead Iate-
Iv sad another staff officer despondlnBly. lie con-
! tJnred: - am sorry for the exposures winch ap-
nrnred 70 bo inevitable, but | am AFRAID they are
necessary This vice Of gambling has become 50
nrcyaent and deeply rooted, and IL controls 50 many
nacers nj hlph rank and influence in the army, that
6rroe measures are necessary TO destroy it,
!