The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-08

the appointment from the grade OF Lieutenant
colonel, which IL the rank now held by Crook LII the
regular army. An examination OF the Army Register
shows that the Appointment Is not only authorized
by law, but Is also in accordance with numerous
brgadier from q colonel. % other c0onels In the
regular army ranking with him at the time
grade Of captain and Hancock and Mcdowell were
appointed to the same rank from the rank OF major.
Schofeld and Pope were only captains when
might be multiplied OF the practice under the
law, which authorizes promotions to the rank
Of brgadier and higher grades by selection,
regardless OF seniority. The friends or Crook also
urge that he not only held important commands
during the rebellion. but has since fairly earned
the promotion by remarkable services In suppress
ing Indian hostllltes in Oregon and Arizona,
where his command has been, during the Greater
portion OF the time, that of major general.
Statement of the Secretary OF War on
the Case OF General Howard.
The Secretary OF War has addressed a letter to
the Speaker Of the House, in connection with his
communication OF December last, relative to the
developments concerning the late Bureau OF Refu-
gees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands. He gives
additional information to the following erect'-
On the 10th OF December the Adjutant General
OF the Army completed an investigation based on
Official reports, furnished Tor the Secretary's in
formation over the signatures OF the Treasurer and
Second Comptroller AMI Third Auditor OF the
Treasury The report or investigation involves
through General BallOck late disburslng olllcer OF
the bureau, the responsibility and accoun liability OF
that the funds OF the United states, duly certified
as deposited with the Treasury and in their
repositories were not deposited. The deficits
or amounts overstated by General Baock, the dis
bursting officer for the United States Treasury at
Washington. as indicated In the letter. Tor the last
days OF the respective months OF 1867, 1868, 1859,
1870 and 1871 ranged from 900 to $5500O0. The
deposits OF amounts, as stated by the discussing
officer, outside Of Washington, were at New York,
Boston, Charleston, Louisville, st. Louis, Nash
vile, Memphis and Mobile and ranged from sew
eral hundred dollars to $43,OOO, and for various
amounts from March, 1887. to AUGUST. 1871. 1t
proper to state that the examination under which
the foregoing facts were developed has failed to
show deficits In the immediate accounts of General
Howard and Major J. M. Brown, the other dis
burslng 0ncer. On the 21st OF December the Secre-
requesting him TO arrange with General BallOck in
order to have an interview with him at the
War Department ON the 22d or that month. TO an
inquiry Dy the Secretary, asking whether General
Ballock recalled the investigation by Inspector
General Ballock replied in the affirmative. During
the inquiry about these bonds and certain funds
covered by General BallocKs accounts iOr June,
deposit with the United States Treasurer. he was
asked whether his accounts at any time or times
represented funds as deposited in the Treasury
when they not so deposited. General Bal
lock said he did not know, and 1t further appears
BaiOck retired General Howard reappeared
before the Secretary and said he had just con-
versed with General Baock about the above related
transaction, and General BalocK said the differ
ence in the reports OF sums deposited must have
been caused by the certificates in Hodges hands
IL
General Howard said he knew nothing about the
matter himself On the 23d of December General
BallOck addressed to the Secretary OF War letter
saying that with the aid of his retained papers he
was confident that at the proper tune and before
the proper tribunal, he could explain any dscrep-
ancieS that may appear to exist IN his Treasury
balances with the dlsbursng officers OF the Freed
mans Bureau. The Secretary OF War, on Decem-
Der "a, in a letter to General Howard, referring to
General BalocK's letter to him, informed General
Howard that the accounting officers Of the Treasury
were the proper officers to be consulted in order
n
ticularly the act Of March 20, 1867, 1t was
General Howards duty to exert himself to the
now under consideration, and accordingly the
Secretary directed General Howard to place him
counting officers. so that through them and in
connection with the retained accounts OF the late
disburslng officer General Ballock, explanations,
earliest practicable date-not later than the 3lst
Of December. General Howard, on the Goth Of
December, informed the Secretary of War by let
ter that he had visited the Second Auditor OF the
Treasury and laid before him, as nearly as he
t the dscr 1 Which appearea in TING
tabular statements shown to him by the
Secretary himself The Auditor said ne had settled
Comptroller, where Howard must go with any
statements or explanations thus involving two
said it hardly seemed necessary for him to inform
Howard that the accounting officers OF the govern
rH or or General
counts, and the Secretary reminds Howard that
MS representations TO the accounting OcerS ought
to have been In writing In order TO have formal
investigation OF the matter. The Secretary OF
War, in summing up the case, says the
discrepancies, or Deficiencies. are entirely too
large to admit OF explanation through transfer
drafts, the amounts OF which were named, 1t Is
alleged. In the general statement, as with
Treasury at washington, until General Balock
had received notice that they had been received
by the depository to which 1t was sent The fOre-
going, the Secretary says. appears to involve
violations Of the following acts OF Congress Thirty
1885, and sections l and of the act of June IA,
1885, General Bal0ck, under date Of January 8,
writes letter or explanation, saying, among
other things, that the securities on special deposit
were what are known In market as Currency
skies, or United States bonds the face value OF
which was $4,000, 900, and the premium or interest
at the time Of purchase amounted to $35,S74. The
object OF the investment Of the government
funds was to create o fund out OF which
ment. The Secretary says that all the
admissions show that money was ceft titled as In
the Treasury, when, In fact, the money was not
there There Is not the slightest doubt OF the I'm
prOpriety OF any disbursng officer investing the
money OF the United States and afterwards using
the interest for any purpose whatever, except
such use be sanctioned by express statute.
The documents were referred to the Committee
on Military Affairs.
Receptions To He Given by Mrs. Fish.
The Secretary Of State and Mrs. Hamilton Fish
are to be Eat home" on Friday evenings, January 9
and February 49, OF course messteurs les diplomats
will grace the occasion, ana their wives will dis
play the charming toilets which they re able to
import Tree OF duty.