The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-04-28
THE HOWARD INVESTIGATION.

Representative Wood Of New York recent
" made upon the floor Of Congress about
fifteen distinct charges against Gen. Howard
of the Treedman'S Bureau involving the
Misrepresentation of funds, patent brick
speculation, in which the government was
wronged. the purchase Of lands for the GOV
eminent, in which he and his friends had an
interest and profit, &c. An investigation
was ordered. The committee met on the
14th inst, and closed its doors. Mr. Wood
moved that the investigation be public, but
the committee voted down the motion, and
are conducting the investigation in private {;
and counsel and witnesses are instructed to
make no mention outside OF what is said or
done in the committee. No redirect ex-
animation is permitted. Some of the evi-
dencc leaks out. The New York Herald
reports that:
MIR. Cox testified that Gen. Howard, rs Com
missioner of the Freedmen's Bureau had purchas-
cd from him somewhere in the neighborhood OF $50
acres of land at 81 900 per acre The last payment
he stated. was draft from General Balloch, dis
bursting officer of the bureau, on the Treasury for
sll4,oNo. The register of deeds submitted deeds
Tor the whole purchase, and also three lots of the
same land sold to Gen. Howard and a trust deed
for the sale of house and LOT of his in the city, 10
u. L. Eaton of the Freedmen's Bank. Rumsey and
Harvey. The contractors. both testified that their
contract was made with Gen. Howard personally,
and that their pay came from Balloch in the shape
of drafts on the Treasury. Rumsey swore that he
was present with Howard and BallOch at the head
quarters of the Bureau when S24 900 in bonds of
the first Congregational church were TAKEN that
Balloch drew the check for the money and that
Howard sent it to the Freedmen's Bank, with d.
rectons TO deposit $4,000 to his account special
treasurer OF the church fund, and the remaining
$4,000 to his private account. Rumsey then turned
over SlSUO i'll church bonds, and Howard gave
mortgage on the house he had sold Eaton AS
security for the money loaned him. Testimony
was taken showing the worthless character of the
patent brick out of which the Howard University
is built, and how Howard and his confreres Of the
bureau was personally interested in these patent
brick"
At the next meeting Of the committee Mr.. Har-
vey contractor for the stone and brick work of the
building testified to the facts connected with the
giving way of the walls on account of the worth
lessneSs of the Howard patent brick. He stated
that he had fixed up the outside wall after it fell
IN, the broken chimneys. etc, and that he had put
up orders and supporters OF various kinds for
winch there were no specifications in the original
lars extra. Gen. Howard denied this, Whereupon
Harvey coolly replied :-"Well, made out the
bills for this work, and / notice you paid them
that's ALL" Mr.. Rumsey another contractor, test-
ned that ne had put in iron pill ars all through the
building to support the upper floors, after the wall
fell in. He also testified that Gen. Howard APP
peared as endorser upon the protested notes of
John X. ElvanS, 4 hardware merchant of this city,
when that gentleman failed in business.