The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-04-07
XLIss OONGRESs---Second Session.

y,
ate is II Republicans to 10 Democrats. The
House has Republican majority of13.
XLIss O0NGHESs---Second Session.
SENATE.
A resolution was adopted that the Secretaay
OF the Interior inform the Senate whether any
copies OF the census returns can be dispensed
with, and if so, the amount thus saved to the
Treasury.
The balance of the morning hour was con-
suned in the consideration of the Deficiency
Bill.
A bill was passed, removing disabilities from
+: b. Shoher, member elect from the 9th Dis
trict OF North Carolina, and permitting him to
be sworn.
In Committee of the Whole, the amend
ments of the Senate Committee, and others
proposed by the chairman of the COMMITTEE
on Appropriations, (Mr. Morrill,) were agreed
to, as follows: Inserting a provision to supply
tor the deficiency in the fund for the relief of
sick and disabled seamen, 100000; striking
out the appropriation of $40, 600 for a Custom
House at Sandusky, Ohio; increasing the ap-
preparation for continuing the construction OF
the Court House and Post Office building in
New York City to $500 900; increasing the ap-
preparation for continuing work on the Post
On ce and Sub-Treasury building in Boston,
Mass, from 100000 to $3.50, 900; for construc-
ton of appraisers stores at Philadelphia from
RCU,UUU W %tU,UUVS IOr DTanCQ MINI at San
Francisco, Cal, from 500 900 to $15O, 900.
The following additional appropriations were
agreed to: For repairs to the Charleston Gus
tom House, So, 900; for sea wall and Revenue
dock on the Battery, New York, 500, 900; for
repairs TO New Orleans Custom House. 1926 600
Mr.. Thurman, in order to test the sense of
the Senate upon the propriety of reducing the
appropriations for furniture to the various
Custom Houses and other public buildings,
moved to reduce the amount allotted to the
Wiscasset, Me-, Custom House, from $500 to
$1,000.
Mr.. Morrill, Of Me-, said the appropriations
were based upon the Department estimates.
Mr.. Thurman complained that there was no
bill of particulars for any of these apparently
eItravagant items.
mates for the present fiscal year in the report
of the Secretary of the Treasury, the excess
over the previous fiscal year for public build :
ings was $19O00.000.
Upon. the expiration of the morning hour,
the chair announced that the Georgia Bill was
before the Senate.
Mr.. Morrill, moved that the regular order be
passed over in order 10 proceed with the Def
cheney Bill, and the Georgia Bill was laid
aside.
The remaining amendments of the Senate
Committee were agreed to.
The bill then passed, and after making the
Georgia Bill the special order for Tuesday next
the Senate went into executive session aud
subsequently ADJOURNED.
HOUSE.
The joint resolution for the portrait of Gen.
Thomas was referred.
Mr.. Dawes, of Massachusetts,. introduced a
bill in relation to the taxation of banks and
their shareholders, making their real estate,
franchise and personal property, excepting
United States bonds subject to taxation, and
making their shares taxable to the holder, pro-
vided that the rate OF taxation shall be no
higher than on the same character Of property
in the State. Referred to the Committee on
Banking.
Mr.. Wood, of N. Y, having had read letter
from Gen. 0. 0. Howard, denying the charges
made by him WOODY in the House few days
since, to the effect that Howard had grown rich
in the Freedmen's Bureau, and the bill then
before the House was merely to enable him to
control $SOO,OOO more, proceeded to reiterate
and affirm more decidedly the charges of mall
versat. On and derelictlon of duty. He ar
raigned Gen. Howard on the following points:
First, that be has taken from the appropriation
made for and receipts of the Freedmen's Bu-
reau more than $500O00 improperly aud with
out the authority OF law, for the Howard Uni
versity Hospital and lands. Secoud, that the
portions of land alleged to have been sold for
the benefit of the Howard University fund
were disposed OF improperly to members of his
own family and officers OF his staff Third,
that the bonds issued in aid of the LIST Congre
gational Church OF the City of Washington
were taken for portion of this land, which
have not yet been redeemed or paid, nor have
they been returned in his official accounts as
such. Fourth, that the University building
and hospital were built of patent bricks fur
nished by the Ameri ian Building Block Com
pany, of which Gen. Howard, Chas. H. How
ard, Gen: E: L. Whittlesey and c, w. Alvord,
all attached to the Bureau, are ioterested as
stockholders. Fifth, that the specifications for
the construction of these buildings, provided
that the material used should be taken fror,
the brick made by this company, thus preven,-
ing competition and securing the use OF that
brick and no other for that purpose. Sixth,
that the brick 50 used was unfit and nearly
worthless; parts of the building having fallen
down in consequence, and other parts have
since been repaired and rebuilt at an expense
Of $4,000. Seventh, That by his consent and
with his knowledge, lumber belonging to the
Government was used by this Company.
Egth, That be pays rent to the Howard Uni
versity from the funds of the Bureau for the
privilege OF using it as his headquarters.
Ninth, That he draws three salaries, one as
Brigadier General in the United States Army,
Bureau, and the third as the head of Howard
University. Tenth, That he has pa d from the
funds of the Bureau over $4,000 for construc-
ton of the First Presbyterian Church in this
city, taking church bonds in return, which he
has either retui ned in accounts as cash on
hand or sent South for purposes Of the Bureau
Eleventh, That he has advanced a large sum
from the funds of the Bureau to the Young
Mems Christian Association of this city, TAX
ing their bonds in pay ment, which have been
sent to Tennessee to help the freedmen's
schools in that State. Twelfth, That he caused
or knowingly allowed lands in this city, owned
by an officer of the Bureau to be tranferred to
the freedmen's school in North Carolina, the
school, thus perpetrating a fraud both upon
the Government and the freedmen. Thir-
teentb, That he was interested in the purchase
of a farm of about 800 acres near lunatic asy-
lum in the country, for which the public funds
and other property of the Government were
used, and buildings were created there or built
Of lumber belonging to the Government, and
then let or sold to the freedmen at exorbitant
prices, and that he and his brother, Chas. Fl.
Howard, were personally interested in this
transaction as private pecuniary speculation.
Fourteenth, He has discharged the duties of
the office of Commissioner of the Bureau with
extravaganza and negligence, and in the inter-
est of himself and family and immediate
friends. Fifteenth, That he is in favor of the
ring known as the Freedmen's Bureau Ring,
with its connections and influences, with the
freedmen's savings bands and freedmens
schools of the South, and the political machn-
cry OF his party in the Southern States, and
whose practice has been to devote the official
authority and power of the Bureau to personal
and political profit.
Mr.. Wood concluded by offering resolution
Greeting the Committee on the Freedmen's
Affairs, to investigate the official record of
Gen. Howard, particularly as to his disposition
and mau tgement OF the funds belonging to the
Freedmen's Bureau.
Messrs. Peters, of Maine, and Dawes, of
Mass, spoke in defence of Gen. Howard, both
asserting their full belief in his innocence, and
that be would be completely exculp Ated by the
investigation.
After discussion by Messrs. Schenck Shanks,
Cox and Hal, the motion by Mr.. Dawes to re-
fer the resolution to the Committee on Educa-
ton and Labor was agreed to.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole on the Talitf Bill.
TELEGxAPH ITEMS,
Jas. Mcmillan, Esq, of Biddeford, purchased
the James steam mill at Newburyport at auc-
ton Wednesday for 100000. Its original cost
was $4C0,C10.