National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-01-08
CASE OF GEN. O. 0. HOWARD
ANOTHER COMMUNICATION FROM
THE SECRETARY OF WAR.

ANOTHER CONTRADICTION FROM
THE SECRET1RY OF WAR.
LIST OF DEFICITS AND ovER-STATE-
MENTS IN THE ACCOUNTS OF GEN. BAL
LOCH-THE EXAMINATION STILL IN PRO-
GRESS.
The Secretary of War transmitted to the HOUSE
Of Representatives yesterday afternoon iurther
communication in relation to the alleged irregu-
larities in the Freedmen's Bureau by General
Howard and General George w. Balioch- TIE
Secretary states that on December 10 the Adju-
tant General of the army completed IN tnvestiga-
lion based upon information furnished over the
signatures Of the Treasurer OF the United States
and of the accounting onscers OF the Treasury;
This investigation involves Through General
Balloch, late disbursng officer of the Freshmen 5
Bureau) a responsibility and accountability Of
he late Commissioner Gessrai , q ho~ dait
eertifed rs deposited with the United states
treasurer and in other repositories we're NOT y. 50
The denet; OF SiaSarsns cecr
for the United Stntes Treasury at washington,
b. c., as Indicated in the following for the iast
iso7-June, sS,IT5.54; July. tle 27s.7l; October,
e, $685. q; November, slAa Gaa2S; December
72a.6l. .,.oo nm M.
March, SsOO,0sGis; April saoo. 7t71i; May, Nas-
6lkse; June SIS, 7os To- July Sao Au s,lS
go, ISL ST. September, es3l 80; Oet9Der' 49,
S q! November, t2s4 s4stS; DECEMBER silly
isoeI.nsa5y, ssS ,o f ss, NAY siSos s
June. hasSiS: july. siss,4s4; August, 6sls,l12.
Septsmber. sSosBso; October, S735 .sss; November
tlso, 9oe; December, sa47e. .-. 30.
ls7o-January, &t6O, 1856 "a; February 81,
March, toss, sais2; April, tos1, tOo.sI; May, tSol
lsls7; June sss5, se SisS e Au sass
eSsc sel 90; September, st2l HISS; October 49,
eso.te; November, tsSo, 2a24s; Doccnoer' ss'''
Is7i-January, el74sss: February, Ss,1Sa;
March. Gss3 30; April, t0ls; May. sS.S'ss9
June, Sss5, els; July, slll'2ss' August s'''''''
In Septem6cr General Balloch was relieved.
THE DEFICITS
aIluded TO were ut Washington, New York, Bal
timore, Charleston Louisville Se d.t,cif. ran.s
from several hundred to forty-three Thousand ao!-
lars and are for various months from MARCH, 1901
The Secretary says 1t is proper to state that an
examination similar to that under which the fore
going was developed has failed to show dehcits IN
inc Individual account of General Howard or Of
Major J. M. Brown, the other dsbursing ofacer
on December q q note was addressed TO Gen
Howard, directing him to arrange Tor an inser-
view between himself, Gen. Balloch, and the Sec
rotary Of War, at the War Department, the I'd
A memorandum Of that interview is given. BAL
loch was asked whether he recalled to his recol-
lection the investigation made by Gen. Shriver
relative to the 600 land securities, and ne re
piled afirmatively. In answer to question
about certain funds which were MOI on depIs.
his account at any other time or times repro.
sentei funds Is deposited in the Treasury when 1t
not 81 Ssosh .SoWn the
discrepancies and deficits given ABOVE, anu Vas
asked to explain them. He said he could mot give
snsd tSs value Of Treas
AIRY certificates which were In the hands OF HaJor
Hodge late paymaster ofthe United states Army,
After the parties had separated from the above
interview Gen. Howard returned to the Secretary
Of War and said that Bslloch had stated TO MIN
that the difference In the report Of the sums de,
posted must have been occas:oned BY the unpaid
Certificates In Hodges hands Zen. ho"ara
himself knew nothing Of the matter.
War Department and handed the Secretary let
ter from Gen Bailoch, in which the latter SAID he
had examined the retained papers IN ms posses-
tribunal, he would explain the discrepancies This
seemed to the Secretary Of War to be o d.sincl-
ihsrefore addressed letter to Howard under date
Of December a. informing him that the account.
ing officers Of the Treasury and the Treasurer Of
eas upon for explanation, and directing How
Ard to place himself In communication with the
Treasurer and accounting officers, 30 that all ex-
plantations might be submitted prior 70 Decem-
Der 81.
On December % Gen Howard requested . tab
Mar statement of Mr.. Ballock's deficits and dis
crepancies. The Secretary Of War referred him
the same date referred the whole matter 70 the At
:orney General and the Secretary Of the Treasury
for their consideration.
mitted . general statement for Mr.. Balloch In
partial explanation. in which Mr.. Ballock makes
THE FOLLOWING ADMISSIONS:
I. That partial payments were made tocontract-
~ 49,. he rrtxr fs.p fs..aSn
partial payments would be considered as in the
Treasury until the final settlement was made.
2. That prior to the bounty certificates, as re-
ceiyed from the Second Auditor being paid by
the pay department of the army, the amounts
covered by them were in making up the account
current for each month considered as IN the
pa; department was 4 As eqBRasfsIoa .as. The
5. That there was on special deposit with the
United States Treasurer from February, $50, to
February, ISL United States securities costing
1854 s76, and from March, 1871, to October H. 1871
some other securities, costing s2733s5, and that
these amounts should be added to tho alnounts as
shown by the books Of the Treasury during the
period mentioned.
These admissions, says the Secretary of War,
support the truthfulness Of the disclosures made
by the Treasury records, and are in conflict with
From August 81, 1857, to August 81, 1865, Bal
loch. II seems, received from the pay department
t3s5s, 63e7l, an average Of 80 per month.
Il
own admissions above, that all the money
which he certifes was in the Treasury was not
there. As to the third admission, the Secretary
says he had authority whatever to make an
Investment in United States securities, and the
were too large to admit of cxplana-
ton through transfer drafts. The foregoing the
Secretary says involves violations of the follow
ting acts Of Congress- viz: the seth Article Of War;
sections 16 and q of the act Of August 9, 1s4o:
9th Statutes, page 63, and sections and Of the
act Of January Il, 1856; l4th Statutes, pages o.
and e5.
INFORMATION ASKED FOR.
Under date of January 2, 1874. the Secretary of
War asked Gen. Howard to give him the follow
which he is to ascertain from Bal
loch: l. As to the specific character of the ccrti-
Gates and the authority for converting funds into
securities. 2. The object of such conversion. 8.
To hat object the said funds were applied. =. If
they were funded in United States securities,
what interest had accrued and what was done with
the interest s. What increase resulted from the
use Of the funds represented by said securities.
and what disposition was made OF the increase
g. WHY these transactions were not referred to
when Gen. Shriver was investigating what had
become of the $50 COO in bonds
Howard, and answered: First, that tho securities
we're what were known rs currency skies. The
face value was over $500 600, and the accrued in
crest cc;Iyunred 10 ss..s7s. 1ney wefe purchdsed
~ order Of Gen. Howard. after consultation with
Treasury officials Second, the object of the con-
version was to create fund out Of which to reim-
purse double payments made to the wrong par
ties or on false identications. and to exc out the
ueagre appropriation for the Freedman's Bureau.
Third, that the net amount Of interest and pre-
MUM accrued was sl9, 81. which was absorbed
oy the refugees and freedmen's fund under the act
q June is, 1850, and which was expended as fol-
lows: ,
For reimbursement for double payment
Of bounties. .ssS so So
Salaries Of agents and clerks.....-..... l,35G 90
Sfafionery and printing los 70
A.. .,o -