The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-16
RATIONS FLOOD THE MARKET.
BRUNSWICK MERCHANTS FEEL THE
EFFECTS OF cur PRICES.

What Appeared as an Army steal
Turns ont to BE n Legitimate Bus
mess of Military Comprehensive
ings of Allotted Nations sold at
Remarkably Low PriceS-Great
Quantities sent to Brunswick
From Florida CampS-An Invcsti-
cation on 10 Trace the source OF
SuppIy-Mcrchnnts Badly HRndi-
capped by the Business.
Brunswick, Ga, Aug. 15.--For the past
twenty-four hours the Morning News cor
respondent has been working on what at
one time promised to be big army SEN
sation, il not, in fact. an army scandal
of huge proportions. Developments, how
ever made after an official Investigation,
now point to the matter turning into only
a breach Of army rules, which win hardly
result seriously TO those implicated The
story relates 10 the selling of large guam
titles of army rations to various parties.
and a big kick which the merchants are
preparing to make to the war department
or proper authorities. 1t was at first
thought that the story related to whole
sale stealing on the part of some one con-
theory that an official investigation has
been made. This investigation now seems
to disclose only facts that the army ra
tons sold were not stolen, but were the
savings of various companies from what
the government allows them. The vast
quantities of army rations that are being
offered for sale. however, gave the thing
such a suspicious tinge that the charges
of thieUng are being whispered around
very generally. It seems that for several
days parties in Brunswick have had army
rations offered them as reduced rates.
These offers came in such a way and Of
fered such liberal inducements for staple
goods that the merchants grew suspicious
Later il became evident that much of
the stuff was being placed on the market
that the regular merchants would suffer
from the cut prices
One of the best known young business
men in this city said to the Morning News
correspondent yesterday, during the
course of the investigation; II do not
know whether there Is any stealing going
on in the commissary department of the
army or not, but ! do know that we are
now called upon to compete with the prices
of flour and other staples from army store
houses such as no man can make and
come by them in the legitimate walks of
trade. l know also that we have been
offered large quantities of flour, and 9TH
er goods, by men in Florida at prices that
make one wonder where the goods come
from. All of these things you must know
makes one very suspicious, and We natur-
ally are beginning to think that there
is something rotten in the way things are
going in the army commlssary. Our eX-
| z1.,t ta do &c
and while we are making no charges
against anyone, it is well known to many
people that the goods have been coming
in large quantities via the Florida routes.
] have not yet met with any competition
with my city trade but 1 have reason to
expect trouble next week and hope that
| the supply will cease. We cannot COM
| pete with men who get their goods from
| the government al such low prices to
| enable them to slash prices on staples
away below actual cost TO the millers and
! manufacturers" 1t was but natural that
! reports of these matters should spread and
a thorough search was begun for the facts
| in the case. AS none of the implied
| charges related TO the st, Smons camp,
| the Morning News correspondent could
not ask for information from Col Bur
! gwyn except in a general way. He did
not know anything of the reports and did
not think that anyone has the right to
! sell army stores to anyone at any cost
At Mai Taylors headquarters an Off
Ger was found in consultation with Sheriff
| w. II. Berrie in regard to the rumors Of
stolen army rations being sold in compe-
tition with regular merchants. Maj. Tay-
Tor said: Il have head the reports you
| speak of and viii be in Brunswick to-
morrow morning to investigate the matter.
| The sheriff and myself viii go on an In
spectng tour, and ! will be pleased to tell
you the result of my findings If they
should be such as can be made public"
To-day, when Maj. Taylor reached
! Brunswick he stated that from the best
information then in hand 1t seemed that
there had been no stealing, but that the
Florida boys had probably been eating
| less than the government allowed and
were saving and selling what they saved
for the benefit of the companies
This can be DONE" said Maj Taylor
! land | have known one regiment TO save
| over 1000 pounds of flour out OF their ra-
lions in one months time. If they do with
out this -four and other stuff, then
! they sell what is saved and
/ turn the proceeds into The company
treasury. I do not know that this Is done
| in all instances, but it is more than prob
! able that this IS at the bottom OF the
| trouble complained Of When I started
| this investigation [ thought that some of
the goods were coming from our camp.
| but as il seems they are from Florida
guess you can find the explanation in
| what / have stated TO you"
The fact remains, however. that the
| merchants are now in position where
! they must meet competition in the shape
| OF army ratons. one tells OF how twenty
/ 200 pound sacks Of fine -four was offered
/ him at a sacrifice and other tales Of Of
f.rs in larger proportion are being swiftly
! noised abroad
ADVANCE IN PIG IRON.