New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-01-29
Working on Shares to be Discouraged.

| Circular No. l,
In order to carry out the instructions
| contained in letter from war department.
bureau refugees, freedmen, and abandoned
lands, dated Washington, D. c., January
\ z, 1868, and TO relieve extreme want occa-
| stoned by reason of freedmen being with.
out employment, through inability of
planters to furnish supplies, it is hereby
announced that as far as may be in the
power Of the bureau aid will be furnished
in such cases under the following regula-
tions:
ARTICLE l. l. Duplicate copies of
contract under which freedmen are en-
ployed must be filed in office of bureau
agent in the parish.
2. For supplies of corn meal and meat
advanced by the bureau formal first lien
will be taken upon the crops and moVables
used in cultivation of the same, for reim-
bursement for cost of such supplies.
These supplies will be furnished each
month until the necessity for such issue no
longer exists, and in each case the lien will
be taken as stated.
8. Upon receipt by the planter of the
first months supplies he will file in the office
of the bureau agent of the parish duplicate
| bonds, with good and sufficient surety in
1 lnC uihOuuN vi pIOOO lOI every bNtuLy lTBHu
men employed, stipulating that for and in
consideration of supplies furnished by the
bureau to the freed people employed as
laborers on his plantation during the year
| of 1868, he binds himself to reimburse
to the bureau before the expiration of
said year, the full cost of such supplies,
from the proceeds Of the crops, or other
products OF industry, raised by him, or
IRON the movablts on the plantation. used
| in the cultivation of the crop and he fur
| ther agrees that when said crops, or other
products, are prepared for market, that the
same or his portion thereof, shall be ship
| ped for sale TO such merchants as may be
designated by the bureau, in the city of
| New Orleans, La, and that Immediately
upon the sale of said crops, sufficient
amount of the proceeds accruing there
from, to the full amount, if necessary, shall
be turned over to the proper officer OF the
bureau, in liquidation of his just indebt-
| edness for subsistence advanced. He
further stipulates and agrees that should
there still be balance due the bureau,
after the proceeds Of the crop have been
thus applied. then in that event the nova
bles and other goods on the plantation
shall be liable therefor.
A copy Of the contract and bond will be
forwarded TO these headquarters by the
assistant sub-assistant commissioner on duty
in the parish.
ART. II. With view to systematize the
issuing of supplies, as indicated in the pre-
ceding article, the following detailed in.
struetons will be strictly complied with:
l. A planter who may be unable to fur
nish supplies to the freedmen in his employ
and desires to procure them from the bureau
will apply to the bureau agent of the parish
and file in his office affidavits, in duplicate
stating whole number of freed people en-
ployed for whom ratiens are required
during the month, and specifying number
of pounds of corn meal or hard bread, and
number Of pounds Of meat needed for the
subsistence of the freed people on his
plantation, and further, that he is not able
! to furnish subsistence for them in any other
manner. The parish agent after being
fully satisfied of the reliability of the
planter, of the correctness Of the number ol
freed people reported as employed in each
case, and of the necessity of the bureau ad-
vancing the supplies, will then forward to
these headquarters duplicate of the affida.
Wit and application for approval The sup.
plies will then be procured, and shipped to
the bureau agent in the parish.
2. The cost of the supplies, including thai
of transporting them to the agent, will be
charged against the planter requiring them
by the officer procuring and forwarding the
/ same.
5. Said charges will be communicated 10
the parish agent, and will ia like manner
be entered upon books, prepared for the
purpose, in his office.
| 4. Upon receipt of the supplies, the par
/ foh l.np mill ff
the same to be transported to the planta-
ton where they are required.
s.. The cost of this transportation will be
an additional charge against the planter,
and the agent will Immediately report to
the assistant commisary of subsistence, at
these headquarters, the amount Of such ad-
ditional charge, in order that the same may
be charged on his books.
6. Upon the delivery of the supplies to
the planter, he will receipt to the agent for
the number of pounds of each article OF
subsistence, on which receipt will be spe-
CITED the full c0st of the supplies, including
all charges on same mp to time Of delivery
by the parish bureau agent.
Z. These receipts will be in duplicate,
and to each will be attached an agreement
on part of PLANTER giving TO the bureau a
formal lien or first privilege upon crops
and movables as specified above. The
agent will then retain one copy on file, and
forward duplicate to the assistant commits
sary subsistence at these headquarters.
8. At the end of each month the parish
agent will forward to these headquarters a
full report of all supplies issued in accord
ance with the foregoing directions.
3. Ii must be constantly borne in mind
by the bureau agents that the distribution
Of these supplies is solely for the purpose
of securing employment to the freedmen by
enabling the planter to furnish them with
subsistence for the time being, and when
ever the planter becomes able from any
cause to furnish his employees the necessary
subsistence, the advances made by the bu-
reau will be Immediately discontinued, and
the fact so reported to these headquarters
In order that the account with such em-
ployer may be closed.
In the adoption Of this system agents are
instructed to advise freedmen to contract to
labor during the year for stipulated monthly
wages, in all cases when it is in the power
of the planter so to do.
The experience Of the past Two years has
clearly proven the disadvantage of working
for shares. The former system should be
given preference, whenever found praeti-
cable, as II establishes labor upon a fixed
and certain basis, preventing the endless
complications and numerous difficulties in
cident to the system Of shares.
10 this connection, agents are instructed
that their action with reference to the
character Of the contracts with the freed
men IS to be advisory and by no means