New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-26
versty wero disposed Of improperly to members Of his

divided into lots and sold save what necessary for
of Tustees The following extract from the records
OF the Board, dated April g. 1861: - ,,,..,- 49,,
agent, Instructed select not to exceed
to Gen Howard for the purpose Of erecting private residence
The Smith farm uas bevond the limits OF the compact
city, and settlement and buildings had not yet reached
IT, In order Ia purchasers for the lots ana make
beginning of "A settlement, the trustees maze 10 Cen
Howard the above offer of acre Of ground on condl
ton that he should erect dwelling house upon Tor ms
occupation In making this Oier the trustees hld
only what any wise business DESTROYS OF bringing
real estate in the outskirts of city into Market would
doubt that had Gen. Howard accepted the Onei le re
mainder Of the land would have been enhanced IN value
by the erection of his dwelling to an extent AT least
equivalent OF the land so donated But Cen
Toward ana not acc pr o am q oo sum slightly in
advance OF the original cost OF the ground, ~ he same
time binding himself build thereon house 10 cost not
less than $1,000 II further appears IN evidence that
Gen. Howard sold a residence then owned by MN III ms
city, and with the proceeds thereof did erect house
upon the lot purchased by him from the Trustees OF
Howard University. The Committee are unaDe 10 ma
ANYTHING Improper I'm this transaction and are of the
opinion that under the circumstances, quite as much
benefit accrued to the University as TO Gen Toward
No member of Gen. Towards family or officer OF his
staff obtained any land except at the schedule prices
fixed by the Board of Trustees for all purchaseIs Gen
Baoch, disbursng officer Of the Bureau ana MT Asord
Superintendent OF Schools the only Bureau oihcefs
who made any purchases; and they pad lhi scheduie
prices The evidence OF the agent VINO SOFA ihe ots y
clear and explicit that favOrs were shown 10 any
member of Gen. Towards family, to amy officer OF his
staff to any other person WnOmSOcNer' Inc ,olu-
mttee find therefore, the second charge entirely deau
tute OF foundation - - %
CoNGREG1TIoNAL CHURCH BoSDs-CHARGEs AND 10.
There is nothing in the evidence IL show that inc
bonds OF the First Congregational Church OF the ot OF
Washington taken in payment Tor poilOh Oh tns
land known as the Smith farm" on which the Unlver
sty buildings erected, as charged IN the tra scn
cation. To give a clear and concise statement vi te
purchase OF church bonds II Will also be necessary 10
consider this connection, the tenth specification as u
By virtue of section is Of act OF July &C. 1866 the Com
missioner was clothed with almost unlimited authority
10 cooperate with private benevolent lot lh
education Of freedmen and refugees whlci also involved
the discretionary OF funds at his dsposai III au vi
this object. , --. IN.
The construction Of this statute in the Judgment OF the
Committee as well that OF the Controller OF me Irea
sury 10 which reference Is elsewhere made uhneu te
Commissioner in aiding the work Of education among
these people any that to him might seem ne
cessary and proper. Hence the legal right 10 Apply
money his command to this purpose rnqucstloheu
and hs therefore responsible only for the exercise o
sound discretion in this work.
charity fund has been transferred by Gen: Howard
to Gen Balloeh Treasurer or Howard uhaGrSs; - an an
cOrdance with Special order No. s5 10 De pu
interest the University. This fund was invested ny
Gen. Baoch, as Treasurer OF Howard u e
Congregational Church bonds And II was goon llVrS s
ment. Senator Pomeroy, Mr.. Ramsey and other WIZ
nesses, testified as TO the worth OF the chureh ProP
upon which Gen. BallOch loaned the money ana the
Committee lind that the security was ample.
These two charges utterly without foundation
THE BUILDTSG-BLoCK CoMPASY-CHARGEs 4, 8, AND g.
denial of the assertion that the University
and Hospital built of patent bIlck, fufnlshed ~ ~
L. Eaton Company, in the fourth charge lnsiaed me
American Building Block Company. But there Is no
proof that Gen. Howard was stakeholder m OF IN any
way connected with, the Company al the Time the ma
trals for those buildings were furnished The evidence
shows that the Company organized with Gen Howard
as "A stakeholder IL private business transaction
at It's organization wholly disconnected with the unyer
sity with the administration of the affairs OF the Bu-
reau. " =, ...,-- -, A..
The patent brick brought TO the attention OF the
Trustees Of the University, and it, claims a. DudS
material urged upon them Although II came Ia them
highly recommended not only by distinguished SCENT
c men, but by able architects ana experiences peis
who had used IT, they dld not ADOPT u rhIl my h 5
themselves subjected IL To severe tests IHey nnay u.
cided to adopt IT, and upon that decision Cen LOW %
avoid the appearance OF evil Withdrew from te
Company, disposing OF his stock at lts precise .pst
There testimony to warrant the least suspicion tt
he IN way contributed to the expenses or shared o
earnings of the Company after the contract ior un
University was made. In 1act, az phsluoss NuIuio
the enterprise was, In pecuniary point OF view"
failure. go. -, ,, ,,,d
be built building block; but the assertion that IL shOd
be taken from the brick manufactured by this Company
dsuroyed not only the testimony of several VII
nesses but by the specification themselves a copy Oh
i'm furnishing the material the necessary result OF the
specifications, AZ the right OF d. L. Eaton COMPANY 10
manufacture the patent brick III the Nclnty Oh WISH
ngton did carry with it the exclusive night To It's use
That the brick of which the walls of the University
building constructed not unfit for use shown
by the fact that the building is strong, safe and durable
The walls of the hospital fell while In process OF con
struction and rebuilt While 1t Is in evidence tha
the building block of which 1t was constructed was no.
of as good as quality that Of the University ana was
put into the wall without being properly dried sun the
evidence tends to show that the walls would nor nave
fallen but for being left uncovered and exposed o heavy
rains for period OF several days in the winter months
followed 10y severe freezing The frost acting upon , ,e
fall But in spite Of this accident the testimony OF wiz
WhOaNOWpd
a building material that the University cost az rss
s2OOO less than if built Of ordinary pressed brcK WIN
stone trimmings, shows large saving III tle aggregate
cost Of the buildings on the University grounds.
GOVERNMENT LUMBER USED BY THE BUILDiN" BLUM
COMPASY-CHARGE 7.
No testimony before the Committee tends to suhstaIti
ate, the remotest degree, the assertion contained IN
the seventh eharge ta Cen s, !" se lumber
belonging to the Government. On one OCCASION IlOis
of this character reached him. and he Immediately lssue
nosye orders for the and restoration Of the
property. II afterward came out In evidence, however,
that the only lumber taken was couple OF cafloans vi
did lumber from fallen sheds that were upon the
Smith farm the time of It's purchase the Nae Oh inc
whole being estimated by the witness WHO I'd" IL 'aAeh
GEN. HOWARD PAYS RENT FOR BUREAU HEADQUARTERS
CHARGES.
All the testimony adduced goes to show that Gen
Howard pays rent Ia Howard University for head
quarters the Frredmen's Bureau. II shows further
that previous 10 his removal 10 the University he PAID
5000 per for Indifferent accommodations III me
yity for much better quarters The Committee think
This allegation which II termed the eighth charge Is
true, and entirely approve the COMMISSIONER coiu'
therein. o
This charge il wholly unture. Gen. Howard receives
nav AZ army officer according To his rank bit NOT ~
Commissioner Of the Bureau The President OF Howard
has never been received by Gen. Howard
YOUNG MESs Christian H. nd
vanced sum OF money whatever IRON the bureau 10
the Young Mems Christian Association inllVdua{ ns
held 81 500 in bonds or stock which the Trustees OF FISK
University at Nashville Tennessee elected 10 take III eu
of cash which they dd not lpnedaiey nssa @r ~
par within year; and within the year he qua redeem
al par and with interest This II the whole transaction
out Of which the eleventh charge was manufactured
There attempt at COnceaincnt or evasion, anu
IL easy tO conceive how any ordinary talsacto
smpc honorable and safe to all parties, could he tor
tured into "a grave charge against Gen. Howard o..
The testimony OF Prof Ogden Of the FISK Imvefs,Y
SETS forth the whole matter clearly III dsposng of this
and the preceding charge the Committee cannot
from osery ing that the charge against public officer o
grave frauds committed upon the public treasury not
for his personal gain, but in the interest OF Con
reeatiOnsl Church and Young Men CHRISTIAN 49,
CATION il is believed, quite novel IN the history OF
such investigate
81. AUGUSTINE NORMAL SCHOOL-CHAt'it IL
The twelfth charge Is that Gen. Howard "caused or
knowingly allowed lands in this city, owned by an officer
of the Bureau, be transferred la rcednens schoo
Caruliua tnkng the money appIO-