The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-12-13
Tho ALLEGED Frcedmen's Bureau
Frauds.

2 ~ T.
The ALLEGED rE.1S. TrosSmen's Bureau
/ The Secretary Of War has sent a
letter to the House Of Representatives in
relation to the charges of fraud and
maIfeasance in office against Brigadier-
| General O. o. Howard, in connection
with his management of the Freedmen's 8
bureau. This letter is accompanied by
evidence from the records and accounts Of
the late bureau, which, it is claimed, sus-
tain the charges. The 41st Congress, it
will be remembered, at the instance, Of
Fernando Wood, investigated General How
ard and virtually exonerated him from
being influenced by improper motives in
his management of the affairs Of the
Freedmen's bureau. Subsequently it was
alleged that General Balloch. Howard s
chief disbursing officer, had kept sl36 900
| of the bureau funds on deposit in bank,
and had been drawing interest upon it
and disposing of it, as he claimed, to make
good the losses of himself and brother
officers sustained by erroneous payment OF
bounties. BalIoch had previously re-
| signed and could not be tried. When the
bureau was abolished. shortly afterwards,
/ Assistant Adjutant-G General Vincent was
put in charge Of its papers, and began the
| Investigation which has led to the discovery
| of the facts communicated to the House
| by the Secretary. "A preliminary report
| on the subject was made to the House
last session, but at too late day, for it to
be considered. .y.iaa lqasl.,
| The Secretary in his letter says that the
responsibility and accountability attaching
| to the late Commissioner, so far as now de-
veloned. amounts to upwards of $278, ,573.-
8e, and may be stated Under the following
headings a. .gssazts8 :,
Claimed by colored claimants, who al
,ere that they have not been paid their pay
and bounty, although the records Of the
Treasury department show the settlement
Of the claims, and vouchers have beer
/ filed bv the late bureau as evidence of the
payment Of $33 $500. a,.5y
Second. Defalcation of St. Clair Mande-
vile, $8,503.29. M
| Third. Defalcation of o. c. French, re
duced to $3,614.54. .Frzns,g-..gAg.
Fourth Defalcation Of B. P. Runkle
$673.24. 5.as.kA
Fifth. Acknowledged by George w. Bal
loch To have been paid to B. P. Runkle t
reimburse the, latter for mistakes made p,
his agents in paying bounties to the wronl
/ parties, 81 1881. .o3. fe, .EsA@ $40
sixth. Due by the late Bureau in conse
quence of illegal double pay and certain &c
crued interest, several THOUSAND dollars: z
Seventh. Irregular fund, called retaine
bounty fund, under the act OF March 2
Y 1867, not accounted for, upwards OF $l2l,
!. 600. -
Eighth. Misapplication of public fund
II and filing vouchers with the accounts GOV
ering certain month when payments wer
! made in o prior month-misappli
$36, ,3l4; vouchers covering the time suDss
I. ouent to the actual state of payment. an
therefore erroneous, $73, 48-total, 800
i 1868. ~. -. 4. ,,dt
The Secretary says the commissions
I yos not tried by court-martial because th
d latter became barred IN part, under 70
I | Statute of limitations, before it was dis
y covered that he was amenaole. Inc Ses
p retary believes he could YET pe tried .
(; some specific charges by cour-nartai, 0,
: deems it best that the entire SUBJECT shoui
y be submitted to the House OF heRrese !
il tatives. He also states that the "Depar
t ment of Justice, however, has been ful
s nished with some cases, and others are
!. follow, of apparent malieasance, Win
e rens,est to institute either criminal suit
u | CIVIL suit, 10 FecoVSi nohoJo ooioh6"s
the United States, or both suits, as ma
be proper, against such Of the officers an
! agents Of the late bureau as may be ID
!, ble.n Satan Na
n The letter of the Secretary oil War WI
. presented to the House to-day and rea'
u Mr.. Wood, upon the conclusion OF u
?, reading introduced a resolution airectll
q the reference of the subject TO the COT
o. a..d trI1a
?, them to request the Secretary OF war
s. convene court-martial for the trial I
70 General Howard or any other official il
Q, nlicafed. This resolution was objected
10 and voted down, for the reason that it "
er mandatory in its terms and in a Ineasu
I'd nrei1dped the case. The letter Of 1
enj Secretary was then referred to the militia
az committee without Instructions.