The times., 1898-09-13
TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 18. 1898.
Is There Corruntfon Rcre.


In most of the abuses that have
wrecked the finest army that has ever
been enlisted by nation. tbs hand of
the robber has not been visible If
there has been anything worse than
appalling incompetency and willful ne
glect in the defects of administration
in the case of the troops in Cuba and in
the American camps, il has been con-
cealed. We have SAID there was reason
to be grateful that the situation had
not been complicated by corruption in
cffioe. a suspicion that somebody had
made money in forbidden ways out of
the pains and deaths of our heroes,
and the anguish of mothers, would
have fired the American people to more
summary methods Of expressing their
horror and detestation.
1t seems as though we are not to
have this one source of satisfaction.
While we are still without positive evil
dencc OF a corrupt motive in the Sc
lection Of Montauk Point as a camping
ground fer the wrecked army, there
are circumstances that point to a deal
out OF which somebody has gained
Sgueezes the poor purse of the soldier
there is conclusive proof. The suspect
ed official corruption is of a kind that
proof acceptable in a court is hard to
get. but the results are such as mere
incompetency and lack of foresight
could hardly produce.
Almost the only spot in this country
at all suitable for a large camp. which
has but single railroad line, is on Long
Island. For years the people and the
press Of New York city have bitterly
complained of the monopoly of the
Long Island Railroad Company That
corporation has taken the fullest ad-
vantage Of its exclusive privileges by
imposing unparalleled rates on passen-
gers and merchandise. 1t has a monop-
oily of the express business as well. and
at all the points where they are profit
able. Of restaurant and store arrange
monts. Appeals have been made for
improved transportation facilities and
more reasonable tariffs and for the
use of safety appliances to prevent the
frequent fatalities. but without effect
Why should terminal point of this
monopoly line have been chosen as the
site Of the camp for the greater part of
our armies? 1t is to be noted that this
corporation owns all the privileges, and
can prevent steamers from Iading or
landing goods and persons at its
wharves. 1t is obvious that in select
ing Montauk Point more than hun
dred miles from any other railroad. line
the Government knowingly conferred
on the monopoly the exclusive right to
transport all supplies-a business which
il Immediately proved itself unable to
do. There was a blockade in the first
few days, and for a week the carpen-
tiers employed to build hospitals for the
sick from Cuba were idle for lack of
material This inability to handle the
supplies. together with the unthink-
able stupidity and neglect of the quar-
termastsr's Department., is one of the
chief causes of the intense suffering of
our soldiers. already reduced in
strength and health by starvation and
needless exposure. The people of the
District have some knowledge of the
delays in the movement of regiments
caused by the inadequacy of the means
ings of our regiment were much less
than common.
In the news of yesterday the pub
lie had information of the merciless
manner in which the corporation takes
advantage of its monopoly at the ex-
pense Of the poorly paid soldiers. From
the beginning the rates charged for
articles sent to the camp were exces-
sive as compared with those of any
other railroad or express company for
the same distance. A poor mother who
had exhausted her means to make up
barrel Of underclothing and other
necessary articles for her sick soldier
boy, wrote to the press that the cor
poration had demanded two dollars and
quarter for carrying the package one