Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-05-23
Washington News.

WAsHIS5Tos, May 21.-General Howard
to-day issued the following. circular:
cIRcULAR no. 4.
War DEPARTMENT, BUREAU OF REFUGEs,0
FREEDMEN AND ABANDONED LANDS,
WASHINGTON, May q.
In order to answer numerous inquiries
from officers and others aud if possible to
prevent misunderstanding with regard TO
the change of organization in this Bureau, |
this circular is issued. |
First The Commissioner recommended
some time since that the military com
mand Of state and the Assistant Commits
sioaership be exercised by some officer where
ever practicable. This is being effected as
in Virginia and in Mississippi. 1t is not
done in condemnation of the Assistant Com
missioners. who nave labored hard and sue
eessfully. but to secure more prompt adj
miuistration.
Second. The commissioner calls the at
tention Of Of all officers officially to reports
in circulation as to acts of severity and cru
city toward freedmen on their part, and as
to cRrelessness in rendering their monthly
accounts and other offences. Every officer
or agent already accused shall have the OPP
portuuity of a thorough trial before a court
martial, but the occasion for such trials are
to be deprecated and they must be forestalled
by a thorough system of inspection, and by
& prompt removal Of every unfsithful off
Ger.
Third. Special attention is called TO the
difficult duty of caring for the INDECENT
Where intense anxiety prevails to get rid
of the Bureau, surely the state and county
officers will make some arrangement TO re-
lieye the general government of this cx-
pense. If the county officers, or Overseers
Of the poor, will adopt proper measures, the
government forms which are now 80 much
complained of can be dispensed with. In
order TO meet an emergency, when the
whole system of labor was deranged, the
commissioner urged the forming Of joint
companies for the encouragement of the
emigration of those accustomed to free labor,
so as TO afford promptly as many examples
as possible Of the successful employment of
negroes under a free system. Apparently
in keeping with these regulations, a few
officers AVE invested their own means
jointly with citizens in the planting interest
l know Of no law or regulation of this Bu-
reau against this, yet 1t will most inevitably
lead to corruption. 1t has lead already TO
bitter accusations. Hereafter such invest
ments, within their own jurisdiction, of
officers on duty in this Bureau are strictly
prohibited.
[~Signedl 0. o. HOWARD,
Major General and Commissioners.
NEW YORK, May 22.-Washington special
dispatches say:
The Senate Military Committee lave in
creased the total pay and emoluments in
creating the grade Of General to nearly
$4,000.
The Treasury and sub-Treasuries contain
$50, 900, 900.
The amount of the appropriations made
for Notifications in the Senate yesterday
was Si,540,000. For the fort near Detroit,
$4,000; at oswego, $50, 1000: outlet to Lake
ChamPlain, $4,000 Fort Schuyler, $780, 900 /;
WiIlets Point $4,000; Fort Hamilton,
$50, 900; Fort Tomkins, $4,000; Sandy
Hook, $4,000; Fort Mifiin, $4,000; for
platforms for cannon of large calibre in i'm
portant h.rbor defences. 500, 900: for the
survey Of northern lakes, $4,000; for the
purchase of sites for sea coast defences,
SS5,0OG.
appointment.
Judge Hughes, of Indiana, has been APP
pointed General Adjutant Of the Treasury,
IN the place OH. P. Mellen.
Bill to Increase the Regular Army.
The House Military Committee are ma
turing 8 bill to increase the regular army,
in accordance with the views of General
Grant.