, 1873-06-27

4HfL044da4AVN VE OLN. AJ"AhU.
Thcro Is no oficial in the United States who
stands 30 thoroughly i'll need of investigation as
Maj.-Gon. 0. 0. Howard, lato Commissioner Of
tho Froodmon's Bureau, President of tho How
nrd University, and uayelock Of tho American
army. There Is no bcttor limo to investigate
1Iaj.-Gen. 0. Q. Howard, late Commissioner,
oto., than the present, as there aro no other in-
vcstigattons pending, and thoro will DO no
difficulty in finding ont the exact truth
Of tho sorious charges which arc laid
at Ills door. hin. .-Gen. Howard is in IN
awkward dilemma. It is morally certain
that he is other q very unfortunate, q very
careless, or very interruptions public Official,
Circumstances have either been cruelty
against him, or else ho has managed cir
cumBtancoa for his own personal good. It is
duo to him, therefore, and to his frionds,
that an investigation shau doternaino his
real poBttion,..< Thore are many who bolloyo
him to be- innocent Of any corrupt intentions.
Thoro aro many others who believe thnb ho has
boon onriching himself undor the garb Of rolig-
ion and generosity to tho black wards
placod undor hia charge by the Govern
mont. Tho announcement that tho Attorney
donoral Inns decided to commence suit against
him i'll tho civil courts will DO received with
very general satisfaction by all oaeses of pooplo;
by those who are his staunch dofonders as vol
as by those who hayc doubted his rather oatan-
tatioua displays OF religion and philanthropy.
Tho suit in question is brought to recover cor
tain amount OF money for which ho failed to nc
count as Commissioner of tho Fteedmcn's
Bureau. or tho fact itself, which was long ago
stated on tho iIoor Of the House, and which
in variety Of ways, no donial las ever been
made. Tho financial statements Of tho Bureau
during his administration hayo boon published,
and show for thomsolves TINT they were kept in
tho looseat and most unsystomatio manner, and
alao exhibit very serious dotlcit. The fact
iteelf being one Of plain record, tho suit must
tend to Blow whether ho WAS simply iucompo-
tent, was deceived by hia Bubordnatos, or
whether howas a dishonest nun, who was on
riching himself out of his pretended loyo for
the black raco.
If this waa tho only charge against Maj len.
Howard, it might bo mot and apoodily decided
one way or the other; but thore ia another
charge against him fully as serious, aud which
has M indirect bearing upon tho former 80 close,
indeed, that it will hardly DO possible to try tho
first issue without bringing tho second, or some
features Of 1t, into court also. Shortly after
tho organization of the Freedmcn's Bureau, It
was decided to establish university for tho Cd
ucation Of tho blacks. Gon, Howard wns made
President Of tho institution, and it was called
Howard University, iu compliment to hia aor-
vicoR III behalf Of tho freedmen. Tho property
Of tho University waa turned oyor to 1t by Gen.
Howard from property belonging to the Bureau.
Ho WIS thus Commissioner Of the Bureau and
President Of tile University at tho shmo timo.
As lo could not perform the duties OF the latter
Office, and, indood, has been absont In Arizona
during tho most Of hia tin1o, he magnanimously
doolinod any nalary aa Prosldont. It Ia now
charged however, that Homo months ago tho
Trastoos, under tho lead Of TINT model
of incorruptibility, Senator Pomeroy, voted Con.
Howard $4,000 back pay, making tho salary or
tend back 10 tho first meeting which waa held
to couBldor tho project Of establishing tho Uni
yorsity, aftor tho Congressional baok-pny fash-
lou. This action occurred hoforo tho Uuiyorsity
was incorporated, and since TINT tin,o several
more thousands have been addol to tlia amount
tho total amounting to about 93o, 900. 1t Ia fur
thornore charged that tho institution is
in dobt 100000, for which tho very property
which Con. Howard conveyed to It is mortgagcd; !;
that 1t rail- behind over $4,000 last yoar; aud
that lie current expenses cannot bo mot With
ont still further nlortgagtng ita property. Tho
institution ia virtually on tho verge Of bankrupt
cy, and las not anawered the purposes for which
It WAS established.
Tue chazgos, which arc claimed to DO matters