New-York tribune., 1866-12-04
THE FREEDMENS BUREAU.
ABsTgACT OPP REPORT OF MAOR-GES. o. o. HOWARD
COMMISSIONER OF BUREAU REFUGEES, FREEDMLS
AND ABANDONED LANDS

AND ABANDONED LANDS
W,r DEPARTMENT.
Bur,r Buu.rr Tarrgm, ND AnAspoSEo LANDS
WDHNGIoN NOV !. leIl. }
THE Commissioner reports no material change oi
i. af. fiction of eicb Asi.tia, Commissioner generally
coincide vt th. limits o. Che Department OF Dstilc' com
Ts.r oee ar, distinct n Maryland and a the District Of
g addition to te former divisions Of the Bureau that Of
c.lla. charged cuIrel soldiers hhs been established to
al 'm i a'c'annr all collecting their dues without o'!
THE au o - bias seryci gool purpose in completing the
organization .iilia b11.. lnd settling ye1cd questions
Ie now a-llf,lr. however based ou he law have not
yc rr .ed t. approval ' le President 80 that much has 10
b., done rr specific orIes.
III. aiaon Eil afford complete system, obyiating
h.r5l1 lr koai, 4, arc embraced under the new law
There appt % be- ma, need or che bureau uoA ln these
Employment offices Of rllng cost ~ che Government and
source of revenue avc bocu established n several North
ar. numbers OF dependent iree people and many-cro"dei
osaiIe- relieved az surplus popuhuon- ,
llr importance o supporting ih'in''l''' hi' u.'i uI-'i
frr. u.r uera. upon lc l4houlg cles by tAc Bureau
oderr oi result. hafe followed TIE matter oi wages hns
- OLD. ,rrmst1uces which usually affect the plce OF ano m
Different aeauc. Combinations " planters il few counties
ra among ODE freed people against their white employ
cl u.rer having become scarce an adjustment Of t"'''
pa.. understanding oi the Tree labor system at ile south
impartial execution of th. laws and favorable public sentiment
af necessary % the of free labor n the ubselc,
Of ans proper ng ngcncl OF tAr General Government
LAND.
TIE land possession ls It--d ttlt'
creased Boy tract, boo Tennessee of which the A's'.tli
Coums6ucr BIAS reported che number o acrcs Tho total
AaaolI -, oi IsS' , J ac 'o e W. m amount restored
900, leaving balance DO possession at this date li' pieces
The number Of claims Of oo.aI Soldiers settled the amour.
o. which was received and paid 20 claimants through 'ue Once
Nan1 rejected hy ihe Departments. ~
Number rejected ai t.. oilcc..-- ~
Total number rejected lyl
Number process OF adjustment -..-...-.--... l.!
Total number Of claims received. Eiit
Aggregate amount collected ani paid 90 Cainants st0o ~
IAe Claim Dfpa.tnent was ofinIrI Aihien o. l'. .-'
with DE active aid oi officers and agents through he a,
has enabled discharged cO0red soldiers 20 guard against frauds
tht collection OF unpaid claims
TRANSPORTATION.
Tru0ration reported furnished refugees aud freedmen u
,e.or Icc with General Orders 49, A. g. o. sept 6 lsjJ
G8. destitute freed people have obtained homes IN different
,,ricl fo tbs southern states from The North
The exact report persons Transported the orders OF As
within their drCt. has not yet uee
9ircd since tla order of Apg DO took effect ubbodied
men and have received transportation except l A
l m creJifci teachers and agents travelling in dis
~ hnl been paid for transportation nom refugees ANA
fecimeas fund and subsequently prior oct sj6's -L
TL IL ouir portion of he amount due full returns hay
ing yet been received and orders issued from TINS once not
Afer COMPLETION Of this YEAR. contracts the work Of set
tng the public lands under the Homestead act viii ncease
Tho contemplated has been promised but very little as yet
actually given.
The whole number OF muons issued from june so9 10
S.DemI.r D. and three months l34l2.l3
average number per month refugees freedmen. sJ9
average number per day g The issue 20 whites increased
until June s0G when issues 10 freedmen and refugees were
about equal Since the latter date and until september the
number OF both classes supported decreased Rigid scrutiny
has exercised issues any but the absolutely
destitute Parts of te ration actually nced were cut on
Officers directed hold each plantation county parish
and responsible for the of It's wnpoor but 10 very
little purpose for with few exceptions the state authorities
have refused to do anything whatever for the relief Of the per
sons supported by the Government Owing t. the failure
crops the requirements OF Circular No 10 OF August - could
not be- gdy enforced Upon the application OF Ste ohcls
special issues being made 20 certain states for tue support
their pauper population RatiOus sold 10 teachers ana
agents of benevolent societies under rules that apply 10
such purchases made by commissioned officers Bureau hosp
tails receive the usual freedmeus rations.
FINANCES
Belance on hand 0f Freedmcns Fund ts ..
Balance District Destitute Fund lrr ui
Balance OF Appropriation be'3 ~
Totsl................................ s7I5dgsl l9
Estimated amount due Subsistence De.
pnftmeut. -sl'IuVV w
Transportation reported unpaid. ..... 260l5 ~
Transportation estimated due........ 2O,Oo W
Estimated amount due Medical De
partment. ............ lOO,OJO "
Estimated amount due Quartermasters ...,,- ..
Department aoOoo w O''iV' -
Total Balance fo all Purposes Of Expenditure e. 5l35 5J
The average expenditure per month about $4,000 making
the estimated expenditure the ending Juy eoi
81 300 OO which will leave next succeeding hseh
wear little upward OF s23A00O Therefore me comih
has reduced the estimate Tor the next hea year A0oa
s3OOUOO0.
The education OF freedmen and refugees has been carried on
vigorously under the immediate patronage OF DeheNoeh1
societies The Bureau has given protection, ufnt Trans
tuidngs when possible and kept them IA repair a supIih
tendent of education deyotng his whole time 70 ms NofA Is
of cooperate with him. il Is estimated mat l0uU
scholars iucudng freedmen and their children are now