Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-04-07
BY TELEGRAPH
Daily Kennebec Journal.
! BY the Western Union Line-Ofliccs Granite Bank
Building and the State Housed
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.

WAsHISGToS, April 6.
! HOUSE. Mr.. Wood of y. Y. read letter
from Gen. o. .. Howard denying the charges
made by him (Wood) in the House few DAYS
since, to the effect that Howard had grown
rich in the treedmcns bureau, and the bill
then before the House was merely to enable
him to control $500, 900 more and then pro-
ceeded to reitcrate and affirm more decidedly
/ the charges Of malv and derelictioii
of duty. He arraigned Gen. Howard on the
following points.
/ First. That he has taken from the appro-
! priatons made for and receipts of the freed
mems bureau more than $500, 900, improperly
and without the authority of the law, for the
Howard University Hospital and land.
I'd. That the portions of lands 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
Sd. That the bonds issued in aid Of the
First Congregational Church, of the city of
Washington, were taken for a portion Of this
land, which have not been redeemed or paid
for, nor have they been returned in his official
accounts as such.
4th. That the University Building and
Hospital were built of patent bricks furnished
by the American Building Block Co., of which
Gen. Howard, Chas. Howard, Gen. L. l..
. Whittelsey and c. w Alvord, all attached to
the bureau, are interested as stockholders.
9TH. That the specifications for the con
| struction of these buildings, provided that
the material used should be taken from the
brick made by this company, thus preventing
/ competition and securing the use OF that
brick and no other for that purpose.
9Th. That the brick SO 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.
9TH. That by his consent and with his
knowledge, lumber belonging TO the govern
ment was nscd by this company.
Sth. That he pays rent TO the Howard
University from the funds of the bureau, for
the privilege of using it as his headquarters.
9th. That he draws three salaries one as
Brigader General in the L. S. Army, anoth-
or as Commits soner of the Frcedmen'S Blu
reau, and the third as the head of Howard
University.
10th. That he has paid from the funds OF
the bureau, over 900 for the construction
OF the First Presbyterian Church in this city,
taking church bonds in return, which he has
either returned in his accounts as cash on
hand, or sent south for purposes Of the bu-
Icau.
llth. That he has awarded large sum
from the funds of the bureau to the Young
Mems Christian Association of this city, tax
ing their bonds i'll payment, which have been
sent to Tennessee to help the freedmen's
schools in that state.
18th. That he caused or knowingly al
we'd lands in this city. owned Icy an officer
OF the bureau to be transferred to the freed
mems schools in North Carolina, the officer
taking the money appropriated for that school,
thus perpetrating a fraud both upon the gov
eminent and the freedmen.
18th. That he was interested in the pur-
chase of farm of about 800 acres, near Il
lunatic asylum in the country, for which the
public funds and other property of the gov
ernment were used. and buildings were erect
cd thereon, built of lumber belonging to the
government, and then let sold to the freed
men at cxorbitant prices. And that he and
his brother Charled Howard were personally
interested in this transaction, a private
pecuniary speculation.
l4th He has discharged the duties of the
officer of commissioner of the bureau with
eXtravigance and negligence, and in the in
terc>t Of himself and family and immediate
friends.
18th. That he Is in favor of the ring known
a. the frccdmcn's bureau ring, with its con-
nections and influences with the treedmen's
savings banks and trecdmen's schools of the
South, and the political machinery of his par
ty 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 a resolu-
ton directing the Committee on the freed
mems affairs to investigate the official record
! OF Gen. Howard, particularly as TO his dispo-
sition and management OF the funds belonging
to the treecmpn> 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 he would be completely eXcupated
by the investigation.
After a discussion by Messrs. Schenck.
Shanks. Cox, Hall and Dawes TO refer the
resolution to the Committee on Education,
the House then went into Committee of the
81 to take up the bill for an Air Line Rail
road between Washington and New York.
Several amendments to the clause for tax
ing cordials &C., two dollars per gallon, were
successfully rejected, and one to the next
clause admitting free mineral and medicinal
waters from springs within miles of the
boundary Of the United States was adopted.
The clause taxing cigars, cigarettes and
cherootS two dollars per pound. and 20 per
cent ad valorum and on the motion of Mr..
Washburnc, was amended 81 to Sc, making
the duty 81 80 per pound, and pending an
amendment by Mr.. Strong to make the duty
50. 90 per pound and so per cent. nd valorum
the committee rose, the postponed increase
was supported by Dawes of Mass. and Wood
of New York, and opposed by Schenck of
Ohio, and Kerr of Indiana. The House then
liourupl