New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-09
GOVERNMENT CHARITIES.
OAsisl Report OF Gen. Fisk.
Tho following report has just been forwarded


WAR DEPARTMENT BUREAU RETuGEys
FREEDMiS AND ABANDONED LANDS DISTRICT
KENTUCKY. 1ESNPseEB AyD NORTHERN ALABAMA (
NASHVILLE, Tenn, July 81, 1865. J
"GESERAL-I have the honor through you. to call
the attention OF the Government to what appears to
to be great and increasing evil and to earnestly
commend that prompt and energetic action be taken.
refer TO the large issues Gil through the Southern
States OF rato1s the in ceran districts with
out proper evidence of destluon and worthiness. L
have made careful inquiry into this very important sub
Jcet and have personally investigated large number
OF cases. am quite that the Government IL being
Immensely svndled by many OF the recipients OF Its
bounty and at the same the is, 10 an alarming extent
fostering institutions for the promotion OF idieness
yagraDcy. paupcrism and crime.
"a radical reform IN the method OF distribution
should speedily be insugurated Tie cost 10 the Gov
eminent Of the Subsistence issued Is no small Item Inc
evil resulting from the njuic.ous distribution OF the
same cannot DO estimated. All persons who have had
much experience in the distribution OF charities
especially in large cities. uniformly testify that the
most clamorOls for relief generally the least en-
titled to it. Patient faithful investigation should
always possible precede the adminsti alton OF relief
My personal investigation IL hundreds of applications
for relief within my district has resulted In justly
Withdrawing the Government support from very
large majority thereof. A large numbeE nave
been to unty, municipa. ind town authori'
ties. Another and larger clnsa stilh were IN
nowise entitled n or worthy of relief. The
nation ought not y be running tho poor houses ,
Of the Southern States What uere Is down there OF
cotton bacon and should be made to support the
ought be issued to applicants, except upon the
best OF evidence that the applicant is actually desi
tute and worthy. and that no town, city, county or
State has the ability to e)r1 relief Ii shOnh be made
diff cult rather than easy thing to obtain subsist
ence from the Government. hearty every hlnily In
some sections Of Georgia and Alabama, regardless OF
their ability are drawing ra,ions from the Government
and clsim it right; and also too many think II not
wrong resort to any mean trick 70 noro ihan dup
cate the quantity they would be entitled to II found
worthy will give you an instance Of many that has
ia kpou kpi Three
Tennessee following the fortunes of0e lad
taken up their residence In Alabama. lar from the
scenes ofstrife waiting the attainment oil ther
in the territories They dwelt together rs one fanny
They all lad money-one OF them was formerly
banker and carried with him southwark large de-
posts of coin When. the end came. and we COM
inenced feeding instead Of fighting our misguided
brethren the three worthy heads Of this joint family
learned Of tho ration move 1ent, and immediately
posted of to the nearest military post for their share
and each one drew for ine whole numbr IN the three
25 ratols instead Of e3 bare repoted this case to
the proper authorities for investigation, and trust the
rascals will be punished
1.-THE number actually destitute and worthy will be
large and they must be cared orbut each town. city,
county and State should. far possible. proyid Tor
its poor. We have the widows and orphans OF our
brave whose lives have gone out Tor liberty apd
Union provide for. ILfrm and decrep coored cfti
zens lean upon the Government for their daily bread
These OF one household, and We must not be made
liable 10 thu charge Of inidelty by no proyding Tor
them Eut the great mass Of the whites WHO are now
receiving their daily subsistence from tho Government
will make no effort to become sofsupporting while
too generous county deals ont 10 them ts stores with
out money price. trust may be pardoned for the
esrnestncss with which press this important subject
upon tho att snion OF the Government Justice to the
honest loyal taxpayers Of the country demands that
their burdens be iigLtencd in all practicable ways.
"a careful rigid inspection Of dwellings, barns.
smoke houscs 40. and through inquiry among the
colorcd people OF many communities would. think. de-
veop much bacon and either side Of the route
over which Sherman's coDqnerng lcgioDs marched on
ward 10 the see. They In the South who hare. should
be made divide with those who have not instead Of
requiring tho industry OF the North TO increase its al
ready heavy burden OF debt
THE great who draw rat.ons not strictly
refugee and therefore. not properly subject 10 my
supervision. Ny subordinates have been directed to
cat oil q large number from the ration ist who have
hsr-,ofsre been classcd refugees Esfugeeing has
become quito a profession all along tho border We
will en1eayo. e. sf oLt-Cafe for the genuine who
destitute and worthy. and cast out the Migrants
Il have reduced the number drawing raions in Mid.
Ole TcuLe.ec alone TO during the ten days last past
In law cases nv action may tie porary suffer.
ing; bat better that tAAR continue Government nsti
tuics Tor the diffusion Of ignorance and tho promotion
OF id.eless and crime.
IL AN, air. with great respect.
Nnnr obcdis oorvont,
CLINTON B. Fisk.
"Brgsdier General. Assistant CommissaFy."