The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-02-14

feels easier. He made his drive at the
financial management Of the Reform
Farm affairs on the part of Acting
Commissioners Howe. and succeeded in
attracting the attention of the lcgisla-
tive body Of the great State of Ohio to
the matter. The result of the investi.
CATION Of the Eagles charges Of extrav-
agance, Encouragement ard favorit,
ism, will be discerned on perusal
of the extracts given below.
The Columbus Journal. in wiring
on the legislative committees annual
visit to the Reform Farm and School,
remarks as follows:
In addition to the usual purposes Of
the committees at their annual visit,
the House Committee, this year, was
charged with the duty OF investigating
aad reporting upon certain charges of
extravaganza and favortism made
against Mr.. Howe, the Acting Com
missioner, a few weeks since, in the
editorial columns of the Ohio Eagle. at
Lancaster. For this purpose, the com :
mittee were authorized; by resolution,
originating with friend of tho editor
making the charges. to send for per-
sons and papers, and examine wit
nesses Ander oath, with view to a
thorough investigation of the charges.
Mcssrs, Lockwood, Ruttcr, and Martin,
of the House committee, were selected rs
II sub committee, to remain at the Farm
over Friday and Saturday, and dis
charge the duty imposed by the reso-
luton. The report of the committee
will show that the charges we're not
only utterly without foundation, but
that Mr.. Howe's character as a judici-
GUS and careful purchaser, entirely un-
swayed by personal or partisan con-
siderations. was fully established by
the very witnesses selected by the &C !.
cusing party, without an exception.
Indeed, so plain was this made TO
appear, that one of the witnesses. who
was evidently chagrined at the poor
success attending the effort to impeach
public officer. and who heard only
the testimony Of the witnesses sub
pnnaed in behalfAoi the charges, pro-
nouDced it q "white- washing opera
ton" The report, when published,
will not only show how !groundlcss
were tho charges of extraSagance
against Mr. Howe, but will shosy t"
the State that we,have, in him, an Off.
Ger Of tho most scrupulous honesty,
and great capacity for tho responsible
station which he fills.
A correspondent Of tho Cincinnati
Commercial. present at tho investiga.
ton, wrote thus in reference oit:
Ton OF tho prominent merchants,
builders, and mechanics OF Lancaster,
we're subpmnaed by tho Sergeant-at.
arms, and appeared before the Com,
mitieo. One Of these, e B. 0lds, Esq,
testified "that for the last four years
he knew nothing about tho transac.
lions Of Mr.. Howe, nor did he know
whether his purchases were iudicious
or not" All the others testified that
Mr.. Howe "was close buyer, and ju.
dicious in all his purchases" The ed.
itor Of the Ohio Eagle testified "that
he had no personal knowledge about
the way Mr., Howe transacted bust
ness 1t was from rumor that he dc
rived the information, and that in pub.
fishing the article he was not aetuated
by malice The report of the Com.
mittce will, We think, vindicate Mr..
Howe, and satisfy the people of Ohio
that this important roformatory is in
safe hands, and worthy Of their conf.
dcnco and generous support.