The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-12-21
Gen. HswarA's Report. ~
NV YoRK, Dec. 20.

O~s.f
Gen. Howard in his report states that ON
entering upon the discharge Of his duties, he
separated the Bureau into four divisions, one
OF Lands, another of Financial Affairs, one of
Records, and the fourth the Medical Depart
ment. 10 each ofthese divisions he assigned
an officer and secured the required number
OF clerks by appointment and by, detail from
the ranks of the army. Before the organiza.
ton of the Bureau freedmen affairs had been
entrusted to different officers of Government,
thereby oocasioning division of system in
different localities. A few assistant Commits.
sioners were at once appointed, and sent to
different States to organize the Bureau and
complete the work already begun, and settle
the important question Of labor Just as far
as the safety of agents would alloy, Assistant
Commissioner procured citizen or military
officer for each district, county or parish.
Evident hostility of portion of the citizens
and their ability, in the absence of troops and
civil law, to outrage or take the life of agents,
hindered operations except by occasional in
spectlon by an officer in connection with q
patrol Ihe General acknowledges the hear
ty support of most of the Department
Commanders in organizing. and carrying out
the plans OF me Bureau.. The tenure of the
Bureau upon abandoned property is regarded
the same as that possessed BIZ Al actual own
er, except that said property may be restored
by competent authority to it's former owner.
A comparatively Insignificant amount of
property is held as quarters for teachers and
officers eonnecsedyith the Bureau. a.a =, nos,
ptais. ith t.--- l-- sAceptons all the property
IN the hands of the Bareau is held as means
of revenue.
By order Of the President the work Of res
toration has progressed rapidly, and little or
no property does remain under the control Of
the Bureau. BY the policy Of restoration the
expectation of the Freedmen that land would
be assigned them have been disappointed,
and difficulty has risen thereby but it has
been overcome with comparative ease.
Much embarrassment and actual suffering
has resulted from the restoration of property
in use, as much more will result from the cur
tailment Of the Revenue Bureau about one
| hye-hundreths of the entire amount of land
| in the insurrcctionary districts has been held,
and had the plan Of assigning it to Freedmen
| been carried out the Buresn would have been
unable to furnish an acre per family.
/ Experience has shown that as a a'general rule
it is better to leave the price Of labor to be
regulated BY the demand.
] Schools have been established, but the hos
'tihty Of the white people to them is uudis-
| guised.
Congress, when ii tcteated the Bureau. made
no appropriation for defraying the expenses.
Ithas, however, received funds from miscel-
| laneous sources to the amount OF $o09, ,396.
Total amount expended is S4,T64,Tes e3 ;
dedacting the amount held as retained bonn-
ties Sll5,aaG, aid the balances on hand
Oct 81, 1865, available to meet liabilities, is
| S3l3, 1s5; the amount held as claimed boun-
ties is merely held in trust for colored soldiers
or their families.
/ The breaking up of the old plantation sys.
tenn has necessarily left people with little oil
no medical prcsisions. As soon as they carr
meIeT, and receive better than their now or.
4 dinary means of selfsuppor, they viii
doubtless secure the necessary aid.
i From information derived from various re
ports Of military officers, inspectors and as
sistant commanders, Gen. Howard arrives a
the general conclusion that free labor, not
withstanding the sudden emancipation. Of tn.
thousands OF causes Of disturbance. iuciden
to war, will prove successful; that tie Freed
mems Bureau, or soma substitute For it Of
national character, win have to be continued
and that the present organization of the Blu
reau, with the understanding tha. it is not Il
be permanent, 10 N good as any he coult
suggest, except as to the subject of freed
mems courts and employment of civil agen
cies.
Some general system for providing for tn
aged and infirm is necessary, and it will =
well to devote those funds raised during tn
, war under the Tre.ca.f laws, for the beneti
T of the rseeaInen. to secnre sites and building
for school purposes in different States, an
that joint companies. whose object shall be +
aid the poor blacks and whites in rental, pur
chase and settlement of land, should b
encouraged by the government, and that th
rights of freedmen 10 ren, and purchase prop
erty shall be guaranteed 10 them beyon
question,
II Is estimated that the amount require
for expenditures of the Bureau for the fsca
, year, commencing January, 1866. will
, Sll, ,05a. 80
3