The Portland daily press., 1866-05-24

- 4 an u ;
"a new ON mas peen reported 70 congress by
the House Committee on Freedmen's Affairs
The bill differs in several important nart;cu.
I.., 49,, .,,ot. ,,o+,o, Let, ,r.h,,, !. !.
~ 1als ~ anu ~ Is
snousnt VIII pc Tx siy 10 pass without much
amendment. The following abstract of its
provisions is taken from the special disnatcbes
~ +to pos+o,, "A d,o~,;.or.
" '
:.oecIlon ! pfoviecs tnat Tue exlsting act
snaii commune III iorce chiee years:
section declares that the supervision OF
the bureau shali extend 10 all loyal refugees
ana Ireedmen, SO lar as the same shall be
necessary TO enable them, as speedily as prac-
tlcaDle, TO Decome sell-supportmg citizens OF
the Unlted states. ..k
Secnon empowers the PRESIDENT, by and
with the adVlce ana consent OF the Senate, to
appoint Two addltonal assistant commission
ers more than Is PROVIDED ior IN the existing
law, ana gives tne mead OF the bureau, under
the drection OF Inc fresioent, and SO far as
the same snail De, IN MS Judgment, necessary
ior tne elhcieaie anu economical admnlstra-
ton OF the affairs OF the burean, power to ap-
l'olEt such agents, CLERKS and ASSISTANTS as may
be required, and the President may detail
flr'm the army all such officers and agents !;
but no officer SO assigned shall have increase
OF l'ay or allowances and such agent. not be-
ing military officer, shall have an annual
salary OF not less than $5OO nor more than
$l2OC; and an tne persons appointed under
the law TO wnlcn this is an amendment shall
De SO 1ar deemed 70 De ID tne military service
OF !ne Unlted otates as 10 pc under military
jurisdiction and entltled 10 military protection
wnlle IN tne oiscnafge OF the duties OF their
Office.
! Section 4 authorizes the issuance of medical
stores ana supplles 10 freedmen and refugees.
Section sets apart and reserves from. sale
or settlement, under the homestead act, three
millions OF acres OF pubic lands in Florida, Al
ALBANIA, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas
and directs the commissioner to cause the
same, under the dlrectlon OF the President, to
DE allotted anu assigned In parcels, not ex-
ceedlng forty acres each, to loyal refugees and
freedmen, who shall be protected in the use
and enjoyment thereof, for such term of time
and at such annual rent as may be agreed up
on between the commissioners and the refu-
gees or freedmen, and at the end of each term,
or sooner if commissioners shall assent there
! to, the occupants OF any parcels SO assigned,
their heirs and assigns, may purchase the land
and receive title thereto from the United
States, In Tee, upon paying therefor the value
OF the land. A1la
necuon PROVIDES that whenever the FORM
er owners OF LANDS occupied under General
Shernan,s 1eid order, dated Savannah, Janu-
ary 10, 1000, shaii Apply ior restoration OF said
lands, the commissioner is authorized to pro
cure other iands, py rent or purchase, not ex-
ceeding iorty acres, Tor each occupant, proyid-
ed sucn lanas sS: ean pe o procured az an average
rate not exceeding S25 per acre; and before
such restoration IS made the commissioner
shall assign OF aiiot TO such occupants, upon
terms and conditlops named In the preceding
secnon, or Sc! apart ior them out OF the
puDhc iandS assigned lor tnat purpose, 1orty