The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-12-21
The ErccdInnn's Bsurcau--Isc-
port of Major General How

l. l. CNht'" iiONuIu y TtlOTJ SuOWS
THAT there is no special change in or
Iganization, but that the business has
been greatly facilitated by the law OF
1866.
The districts assigned to Assistant
Commissioners are coincident with
the military department and district
commands.
The new law embraces Kentucky
and Maryland, and these States seem
to require the aid of the Bureau in
promoting the interests of justice and
education. In the Northern cities
employment offices, of little expense
to the Government and not a source
OF revenue, have been established,
with view to obtain work and
homes for dependent freed people,
and to relieve crowded localities.
The Importance of self.support
has been urged by proper means up
on the laboring clsses. Wages
have been determined, not by orders
OF Bureau officers, but by the cir
cumstances ordinarily affecting the
price OF labor in different localities
The education of freedmen and
refugees has been carried on vigor
ousl y, under the immediate patronage
of benevolent societies. The Super.
intendcnt of Education gives his
whole time tn his work, and is sta.
toned at the Bureau headquarters in
each State, and all Bureau officers
cooperate with him. II is estimat.
cd that 100000 freedmen and their
children are now attending school in
the Southern States. Schools Tor
refugees aud white children are also
established. Their foundation every
where is established by the Bureau.
There has been but little unilormi.
ty Of action in the different States in
respect to the administration of jus.
tice. Assistant Commissioners have
been instructed to transfer military
jurisdiction as rapidly as possible to
State Judicial tribunals This has
been done completely in some States,
while in Virginia, Louisiana and Tex
as, Bureau Courts are still in exist.
csco.
A claim division, instituted in
March last, and aided by officers and
agents throughout the States, has
sought to prevent frauds upon color
ed soldiers in their efforts to collect
unpaid claims. JOG claims were
paid through the office OF the Com.
missioners, T22 rejected at his oillce,,
l,532 are in process OF adjustment.
The aggregate amount collected and
paid is SlO,530 90. ..H %. "H. ~
Detailed reports are given of the
operations OF the Bureau in each
State and the District of Columbia.
Transportation is reported as fur
nished TO 6,352 destitute people, and
3S7 refugees; l3,4l2,273 rations were
issued between June l, 1865, and
september |, 1866. The average
number per month to refugees and
freedmen was S04, 500. The average
number per day, 29,Sl9. The issue
to whites increased until June 80,
1866, when issues to freedmen and
refugees were about equal. From
June 20, 1866, until September |,
the number supported of both class
es has diminished. Rigid scrutiny
has been exercised TO prevent issues
TO any but the absolutely destitute,
and parts OF the rations not actually
needed were cut OIL. The officers
were directed TO hold each plantation,
county, parish and town responsible
Tor the care of its own poor, to very
little purpose, for with few cXcep-
tions, the State authorities have fail
cd to contribute to the relief of the
class of persons supported by the
Government. Owing TO the failure
of crops, the requirements Of circu
lar 10, of August %, cannot be rig
idly enforced. Upon the application
of State officials, special issues have
been made to certain States for their
pauper population. Rations are sold
teachers and agents Of benevolent
societies, under the same rules that
apply TO such purchases made by
commissioned officers. Bureau hos
pitfalls receive the usual freedmen's
rations. Tie amount of land IN pos
session, of the Bureau is 272,23l |
acres, to be increased by 22S tracts
in Tennessee, of which the number
OF acres has not been reported.--I
The aggregate number of parcels OF
town property not included in the
above, which have been in posses
SION OF the Bureau, is 1924, of which
2,GO0 have heen restored. leaving Il
balance of Lilo parcels Of town
property. The Commissioner esti
mates additional funds necessary for
the next fiscal year, at 1886, 900 in
accordance with recent enactments,
DRAWING TEETH AS A RECREATION,
hnu xuhn ,unc Ennt nj homo 4