Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-01-21
MORE CORRUPTION.
Another Subject for Investigation.
Records and Accounts of ihe Freed
mems Bureau in n Wretehed State
Books and Funds Missing.


Books and Funds Missing.
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17.-The Secretary
of War, to day, transmitted to the House
Of Representatives the report Of Assistant
Adjutant-General Vincent on the condition
Of the affairs of the Freedman's Bureau,
with the statement that the report was sub
mitted for advice and guidance of the de-
partment, and that action based on it has
been taken. The report is dated Oct. 7,
1872, and was made in pursuance of an or
der from the Secretary of War directing an
investigation as to the condition of the re-
cords prior to transferring them to the
War Department. That portion of
the report regarding the condi-
ton Of the records is substantially as
already printed in these dispatches. In re-
gard 10 claims entered as paid in the Treas
ury records, but not paid over at the bu-
reau, the report says the number ofunpaid
claims transferred is 4,858, amounting in
the aggregate to S730,596. The amount
transferred for their Payment is S726, ,S42,
leaving deficit yet to be accounted for of
$, I54. This deficit was promptly report
ed 70 the Secretary of War with whom rests
future action. Treasury certificates issued
in the settlement of the unpaid claims mem
toned above are shown by the records to
have been received at the Freedmen's Bu-
reau at various dates, extending
back to May, 1867. 10 ad7
dition to the sum Of $726,S42, as
Stated above, there is the sum of S32,9l5,
which viii be further increased under the
examination now in progress, transferred
as being due to certain claimants appearing
on the records as being paid, and with
which amount the accounts of the late dis
bursting officers of The bureau have probably
been credited at the Treasury. Complaints
haye been made that the claimants have not
received from the late bureau their boun-
ties, arrears Of pay, ETC., although the
Treasury account Of the bureau disbursing
officer shows payment to have hesn made,
and there is reason to believe that the claim.
ants have been defrsuded extensively. 1t
is known there are outstanding debts against
the late bureau, but the number or amount
covered can not be stated, no record or list
having been received.
The correspondence transmitted with the
above report shows that the Department OF
Justice has been requested 10 take steps to
recover the sum Of sixty thousand eight
hundred and forty-one dollars placed in
the hands of o. G. French, late agent of
the bureau, by Gen. Balloch; also, that Gen.
Howard has been called into account for
the deficiency of So, ,754, the sum still requir-
ed to settle with the claimants whose claims
were still borne on the record of the late
bureau as unpaid on the 21st of Sept,
1872. Gen. Vincent reports TO the
Secretary of War that it seems TO have
been the practice of Gen. Balloch, while
chief disbursing officer of the bureau, to re-
tain the amount of legal feas and one dol
lar and Hfty cents for notarial expenses from
the proceeds Of each Treasury certificate
issued in settlement of claims, where the
attorneys Of the records were either sus-
pended or unlicensed; the amount so with
held to be paid whenever It might become
proper. In these cases the claimant was
required to give vouchers for the full amount
and bAllOch received credit for the entire
sum in his accounts, and it Is not known
what amount ofmoney SO received is in his
possession. To this proceeding Gen. Vincent
calls the attention Of the Secretary as vio-
lation of the law, and states that the re-
cords give no satisfactory accounts of the
transaction, and that tie order of the Secre-
tary to transfer the records of the bureau
have not in this case been complied with.
The Secretary Of War then ordered Balloch
to transfer the records covering such ac-
counts, which developed the fact that the
book containing the record Of this transac-
ton had disappeared, and that direct orders
from the Secretary to Gen. Balloch OF Gen.
Howard, instruc.ing them to produce the
same, elected replies from each that the re
cord could not be found.
The correspondence between the Secre-
tary of War, Adjutant- General Townsend,
and Gems. Balloch and Howard, relative to
the missing records, is voluminous and very
pointed. On the 23d of December, 1872,
the Secretary of War informs Gen. Howard
that the Adjutant- General has reported to
him that the incOmpleseness of the records
is found to Be serious obstacle to the
transaction Of current business; that It Is
impracticable to make altered statements of
these deficiencies, but that enough is known
to indicate that tie records, covering pc
riOd from six months to two years, are alb
sent from the files of most of the States,
while the entire records of some of the 10
cal officers are missing. The Secretary di-
rects Gen. Howard to institute a search
for these and forward them to the War
Department. Gen. Howard replies that he
will do all he possibly can in the matter.