New-York tribune., 1896-11-22
fcNlSHING OFFICERS FOR DEBT
iOiSM OF ARMY COURTs-MARTIAL
CALLED FOR THIS PURPOs[CAV-
AIRY HORSES CONDEMNED

'7 oiuerlhg OF court martial to try the charges
s'' rHst Lieutenant William NJ. Williams, of
'''e army for negccing II pay certain debts con-
u','eu ny MIN has aroused criticism among officers
Vi 'he Army who have studied law on the practice
VI 'upsttuting courts-martal for the ordinary
methods Of the civil law for collecting debts cor
""c'ed ny persons in the Army and Navy The Off
ee'S VINO nave raised this question are no more de-
SIT nus than others to retain officers on the rolls who
are guilty of dishonorabe acts but they assert that
IN several cases Of trial and punishment not dis
honorable motive has been proven in the contract
ms OF debts. of a dishonorabe act in failing or
hssiecting to pay the creditor. 1t is asserted that
many officers have been tried and dsgracefully dis
missed Tor the mere non-payment of debts without
other allegation Of acts showing dishonor or tar
n'sh to the individuals reputation. 1t is also as
serted that the charges and procedure-ntei roga-
lions. etc, of court-martia-are often influenced
by the popularity or unpopularity OF the officer who
Is so unfortunate as not to provide for ne payment
OF debts contracted: and that there some officers
and of high rank. too. who are as liable to charges
as some others, but that favoritsm stands by them
One of the recent cases of delinquency in meet
Ing just debts is that of Captain William S John
soa VINO had been in the service since 1861, and had
suffered for years from wound received in the Civil
war. lie was charged with neglecting to pay 500
to Bills Brothers. Of Denver. Col. notwithstanding
the fact that he had frequently been asked for It.
and was disholorably dismissed from the Army
unDcCOminC
oihcer and a gentleman; but 1t has been averred
many times by counsel OF officers under charges
and by other officers that the offence which this
language Is made 10 cover is not such this part
of the sXty-frst Article of War contemplated or
originally expressed. When an argument was made
before the Judge ge-Adyocate-Genera OF the Army
this point recently. he replied that officers
tried for mere failure. neglect or Inability promptly
to pay debts honorably contracted. but that they
were tried for dishonorable acts committed in
avoiding the payment Of such debts" case is
referred TO an injustice to an officer and scan
dalous and Infamous to the service. who. 1t was
shown in the Official circular of the War Depart
ment. merely neglected 10 reply to the Interrogation
Of the Assistant Adjutant-General respecting the
claim OF a creditor and his failure pay such in
significant Indebtedness amounting to $40. There
WAS no allegation of any dshonorable act. but the
officer tried convicted and sentenced to forfeit
all pay for year; that f.. 10 pay fine. pracu
cally Of over s2.o0o part of the punishment for
neslecting to pay Indebtedness of SO As he had
been unable to pay the SO it was problem 10 him
and his friends to how ne WAS 10 be any better
able TO pay il after his entire pay was taken from
him II Is admitted thdi an officer VINO may CON
tract debt and Intentionally delays meeting II Is
guilty Of unoiicer-like conduct and should be pun
sned; and on the other hand. II Is aNeffea rec mar
officers are unjusilr punished by dismissal from the
service through the mere word OF creditors, and
upon which the officer Is cnarSed with misstatc-
.nts respecting his debts. II l. intimated that
petition Is to be presented 20 Congress 10 have rosu
atons SO drawn as VIII protect officers from pcrse-
cution and at the same time provide way tor
officers Of the Army have frequently had their
views preselied in The Tribune tor couple OF
years 70 the best Wy Of obtaining horses for the
Army after a proper inspection Secretary Lamont
has just given decision which Will be read by
these officers with interest. and which meets the
re concentrations made b.. lnsFcctor General Brcck
enridge. 1t is probable tnat the decision was
prompted bv the fact that there has recently been
4 larae numbc" Of cavalry horses valued at about
S-cpoH condemned vicious and intractable The
Secretary says: Let Department commanders be
informed that during the last year 30 cavalry porses
have been condemned. and among tnem 81 for
vlcousness and III for being intractabe Reports OF
inspectors general indicate that many OF these
vicious animals originally gentle and ;ractahle
and that the so-callcd vicious habits ION account
of which they haze been cOndemned) are the result
OF treatment ana training. 1t is suggested that In
spection reports condemnins cavalry horses for
being vicious. unmalagcable In RANKS. etc. should
not hereafter De approved except IL rare cases"
The delay in beginning the constru,.)n work at
the Army posts at Seattle. Wash. and Bis
marck y. D.. Is explained at tho War Department
being due to tn fact that clear titles the pro-
posed sites have not yet been given % the Govern
ment. Until clear titles arc issued and filed at the
War Department the work OF construction cannot
DO undertaken.