The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-01-25
ASHLAND ASHLAND COUNTY OHIO WEDNESDAY MORNING. IA

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was seized and put in the possession of
Mr.. Woodward. Toward the latter part
of General Paine's administration. the
fees of Woodward were reduced to So.
1t is but justice to MIR, Woodward that
we should state our belief that he acted
honestly in taking the fees allowed him.
1t is proper here 20 state that General
Paine was chiefly advised by the follow.
ing persons, to each Of whom particular
reference will be made hereafter: Hon.
Lucien Anderson, member Of Congress,
John /, Bolliuger, r. u. Hall, Provost
Marshal First Congressional District Of
Kentucky; Major Henry Bartliug, Sth
U, 5. Colored Heavy Artillery, and T.
Reid, Surveyor of the Port of Paducah.
Your committee distinctly and deliber-
ateIy charge that these men, and each Of
them, except Kedd are guilty of corrup-
ton, bribery, and malFeasanco in Office.
The case of Rollinger will be first al
luded to as belonging to the trade policy
Of General Paine. During the time that
General Paine's tax on tobacco and cot.
ton was in full fore, Bollinger (John 4. J
shipped, as his own affidavit shows, about
l4O hogSheads Of tobacco and 81 bales Of
cotton. Tho total sum paid by him as
fees and permits Yas $40, US will appear
from his own affidavit and that of j. Il.
Woodward. But, in addition to this pc
culiar exemption, it will be scen, from
the sworn statements OF l. 7. Bradley,
master OF Government steamer Convoy,
that Government steamboat was put ut
BoIlnger's disposal for the purpose Of
bringing his cotton and tobacco from
where he had collected it, and that Uni
ted States soldiers were detailed Tor the
fatigue duty Of loading it into boats. So
thoroughly was the community convinced
of the all-powerlul influence of Arder.
son, Bollinger, Hall, Redd and Battling,
with General Paine, that lucra,ive,trade
in vouchers Of loyalty ard intercession
had sprung up when your committee ar
rived, and, in some instances, heavy
sums were paid for permits, which, if ad-
missiolc, should have been freely granted
and, if improper, should have, Of course,
been refused.
One part of the trade regulations pro-
mul gated BY General Paine, was an or.
der requiring that ali bank checks should
be approved by him, or by an agent up
pointed by him, before payment could be
obtained. ...... ....'. ......
The paralyzing effect of such meas.
ure must appear at glance. Its effects
are set forth in communication address.
ed 10 your committee by the bank officers
Of Paducah, which is fIod herewith.
For granting the approval thus rcquir.
cd, Mr.. Thomas Redd was empowered to
charge (as his fee) and collect fifty cents
on each check, which he did. A refer.
ence to the affidavit of W. A. Bell, L. D,
Jones, A. B. Kincaid, s. ?. rope, and
others, will explain the conduct. of affairs.
When merchants happened to incur the
displeasure OF Gen. FaiDe or his advisers
DIR. Bells caso--a stock of valuable
dry goods was ordered to be Immediately
sold und when the sale had been made
an assessment of $4,000 Was at once lev.
led on the proceeds. Instances might be
multiplied; but your committee did not
deem it necessary or expedent to eucum.
ber their records with cumulative testi.
mony on any well established points.
The seizure Of storc-houscs and goods
was generally preceded by the arrest oil
the owners or their clerks. In no ease
was a reason assigned for seizure which
was not explained away as soon as fec
was paid TO Mr.. Anderson and Major
Bartlng. In the great majority of case,
your committee could not, with the mos
diligcnt search, discover any charge al
legged or proved against the sufferers
The conclusion was TO the minds of youl
committee, irresistible, that the seizur,
OF such property was but one liak in lht
series OF oppression and extortion so sys
t,matically devised. ..
Your committee conferred freely will
Brigader General S. Meredith on thi
point, and the complaints are being re
ieved as rapidly as possible. AS a par
of the "trade regulation" of the post o
Paducah, We found standing charge o
ten cents for each letter, newspaper, o
parcel allowed to leave the city Of Padu
cab, ln some instances fifty cents wer
paid to Major BartlinS for permission I,
send letters from soldiers to their fsmi
lies. AS minor part of the 6nanciu
management of the district, all the bar
rooms, theaters, and other licenses wcr
cOu6scated to the military. ...
General Paine adjudicatpd to some ex
tent, on the collection Of debts, as will ap
pear from the affidavit of Mr.. RObb.-
Mrs. birmingham, widow, procured iron
Gen, Paine peremptory order on Watts
Given u Co for the payment of $3.50
the property of infant heirs to whom
Watts, Given d. Co. are still responsible
A claim of Q. D. allowed for SO, ,00l
was also paid by the same firm, under pro
test, by the express and threatening or
der Of Gen. Paine. vnu t $50"
ASSESSMENTS"
Gen. Paine appointed one W. M
Starks to the duty Of assessing the dis
trict for reimbprsing the loyal men, VIII
had suffered from rebel and guerrilla dep
relations. The testimony OF Starhs
particularly worthy Of attention in som
respects 1t shows that the men VIII
were to pronounce on the validity 0
claims for reimbursement were them
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