The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-22
DISHONEST Contractors.

The incompetence of the War De-
partment in a commercial point OF view
is arousing considerable indignation
among the families of the men who
suffer from it, and, by and by, this in
dignation will become widespread.
Leaving out of the question the dis
graceful and horrible condition of the
transports which convey our wounded
soldiers TO this country, there have
been unnumbered complaints that the
clothing, the food, the socks, the shoes
of the volunteers are a shame to the
nation 1t is perfectly evident that the
contracts for supplying these articles
have been given TO dishonest men.
and that the officials responsible for
the deal are more or less Indifferent 10
the consequences. Eight thousand
men went barefoot as a result OF
their first long march, during the NOV
ing of Camp Alger. Their shoes had
been supplied by some dishonest mid
dleman. who pocketed a fortune out OF
the peoples money. Uniforms have
come to pieces after a few weeks wear;
food has been unfit for human con-
sumption; within one hundred and
twenty-five miles of New York sick
soldiers in hospital, unable to take any
nourshment but milk, were given but
one glass a day, and sometimes that
was sour.
There are old soldiers and other peo-
pie who will say, But the same thing
happened during the Civil War" THY
did; but in thirty-five years one would
suppose there might be some improve
ment in conditions. Moreover, Pres
dent Lincoln, although he could not
personally look into every case of in
competency and dishonesty from which
soldiers suffered, did look into great
many, and always with salutary effect.
1t is related that while he was visit ng
a camp he heard a man using some
very lively explosives in tent The
soldier had just taken off his boots,
and the socks came with thsm in Sec
tons. Mr.. Lincolns head presently
came in between the tent-faps. and he
mildly inquired, Don't you think you
are using rather strong language?
The man saluted, and held up what
was left of the socks. The Presid Mt
locked interested and solemn. Have
YOU another pair that has not been
worm" he asked. The soldier secured
a pair. and Mr.. Lincoln pocketed the
offending articles and went back to the
White House. Not long after that the
contractor who made the socks and
the inspector who passed them, both
found themselves in prison. Another
story is told in connection with the
hospital service, which was at one time
infested with men whose chief object
seemed to be to draw their pay and
drink the brandy sent to the soldiers.
An energetic woman with will Of her
own was appointed matron of one of
the hospitals. She found a subordinate
too drunk to attend to his duties, one
day, and caused his shoulder-straps
to come off in very short order. The
subordinate had a pull, however, and
an order came not long afterward dis
missing the matron- She went to the
White House and saw Lincoln. Her
honest Indignation and fervent patriot
ism impressed him, and with his usual
penetration, he saw that she was not
a woman likely to lie about the matter.
He sent her to one of the physicians
whom he personally knew, with card,
on which was written:
Please investigate, and see if this woman's
story is true, and if it is true, send her back,
and pray for twenty more such women.
1t is in President McKinley's power
TO convict and punish the men who
are responsible for the criminal mis-
management of the War Department.
If he does not investigate, he may rest
| assured that Congress Will, and the
investigation will not be pleasant
one for him. He will do well to i'm
prove his opportunity for getting some
credit out of the administration of JUS
tice