Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-09-23
and it was done, and then I considered
they did not have enough.

they did not have enough.
Second. Regarding the contract for
bread, I have to say that the charge as
made in the Call is false. At the time
Of camp the price of wheat was up above
81 per bushel and -four went with it, and
in feeding 700 men a large amount of
bread would be necessary, and in max
ing arrangements for such a large amount
the price alone is not the only thing to
consider. The first thing to consider is
the ability to furnish the amount when
needed and not to be compelled to wait.
1t can be appreciated at this time what
a kick wouldbe raised if anything should
60 wrong whereby the men would suffer
or be neglected. I just mention this 80
one can see how a person in charge Of
the welfare Il so many men must look at
things, but it is not necessary for me to
say this to justify my notions regarding
the bread contract because there were
no bids asked for and no firm offered to
furnish bread for three cents, and no
contract was let for seven cents per
pound, as the voucher on file will prove.
I paid four and one-half and five cents
for all bread furnished while I had
charge, and after Lieutenant Albright
took charge I still had to furnish for the
officers mess, which took but a few
pounds per day., paid six cents. See
voucher No. 29517 on file with state
auditor. After I gave up the supply de-
partment on May 9th to Lieutenant Al
bright the same person continued to fur
nish bread for the camp, and under gov
eminent and army rules, which are
strict, and he paid six and six and one-
half cents for all bread used until the
troops left. II another party was so low
why didn't he get this contract from
Lieut.. Albright when the party that fur
nished me raised from four and five to
six and six and one-half7 Nov it might
not be out Of order to answer a few of
the things mentioned and the way they
we're mentioned in the Journalo Of the 9Th
inst. It says that at first only 5000 of
state funds were to be expended: that
vouchers o. KID SO far amount to over
$1,000. First. No state funds are ex-
pended for the mobilization Of the vol
unteers. They simply advanced what is
necessary toconduct the camp on author
ity Of the government. Second. No
idea Of the amount to be expended could
be arrived at, because no one knew how
long the troops would be in camp and
how long we would be in control. The
instructions from Washington were,
"Use what is necessary" Third. The
amount O KID is not $1,000, but nearer
$1,000. As for the little slur regarding
the bill for tobacco, I have to say that
the night before the boys left ]. sug-
gested to Col. Phelps that the boys were
about to take q long, tiresome ride and a
great many took comfort in good smoke
and that it would be the proper thing to
supply'them with material, as up to that
time none had been issued by me, and
the army regulations provide for q regu-
lar issue. So MI. Phelps called with me
on G.. W. Haggart and I bought what /
thought was enough for the regiment for
the trip-sixty pounds Of tobacco and
twenty-five dozen cob pipes. Mr.. Hag-
CART, the dealer, sold them to me atabout
cost price. As the regiment was divided
between the a, p. and the G.5N, rail