The New York herald., 1876-01-20
SINGULAR CHARGES BY GENERAL
HOWARD.

HE ATTACKS THE PRESIDENT AND MIR. BOUTWELL,
Senate Executive Document No. II, Forty fourth
Congress- a letter from the Secretary of War, trans
mtting a report Of the Commanding General, Depart
ment of Columbia, of his tour in Alaska Territory, in
June 1875. General o. o. Howard's report is dated
"Portland Oregon, June 80, 1875" 1t gives an ac
count Of his visit Alaska and relates page that
having been troubled by numerous newspaper charges
concerning the present management of affairs at Ska
deemed it best to give those who are called citizens
consisting of Russians, Aleuts hafbreeds American
and foreign traders residing in the town-the OPP
portunity to see apart from the officers of the gar
rison. In keeping with this purpose met them by ap
pointment at the house Of the United States Collector
Mr. Berry. Mr.. Berry kindly brieted the complaints
which subsequently carefully considered and acted
upon, will be seen by the memoranda attached
In the "memorandum'' thus incorporated with his
report and which it seems General Howard had 'care-
fully considered, occurs the following curious story OF
the manner in which the Alaska Company Is said to
have obtained its lease:-
Secretary then proceeded open the bids of which
The lowest bid that Of the Alaska Commercial Com
pany amounting Sos 900 rental year and the highest
bid that Of Louis Goldtone for combination OF various
s2a755o sa o'''''0 n'"' amounting - 's"' ''A' OF
Goldsone had ade the bids the firm Of Taylor Ben
del Of the respectable and prominent houses Of
Francisco h had been engaged the Alaska trade
opening aud having tho additional advantage
Inquiries Immediately instituted BY the government in
Washing through the agency n Custom House Collector
Phelps OF Francisco TO their standing and respons
bility Of character in every satisfactory
Notwithstanding this and the great discrepancy In tho
bids Alaska Commercial Company entered various
which referred by Mr. Boutwell, to the Attorney
General then Mr. A L. Akerman. who heard
both sides and under date OF July % decided in favor Of
| Goldstone and associates
After the delivery Of NJ Akermans opinion it every
where taken granted the lease would be awarded
Godstone Nobody had any doubt of it, All obstacles had
been removed, and all protests done with
ON July 80 Mr.. GOldstone consequently called ut tho
Treasury office for the lease but his astonshment
and CONSERVATION he informed that the lease had been
awarded the Alaska Commercial Company the
of his 0oldst bid. The communication made
giving the information crmsoned with shame. Mr..
Boutwell, had secretly left for Massachusetts,.
Thus il that scheme succeeded; that
slavery bondage. the aboshment W a
before the best blood Of America had been sacrificed
hsre restored and openly sanctioned by Congress-
oily otrade and placed footing with the
poc OF tho Powers of Europe Russia and that Christian
Communities together with the islands, leased
the Alaska Commercial Company for twenty Alasi
Alaska then, indeed, appropriate term
If the prize that the Alaska Commercial Company had
thus gained enormous il be imagined that tre-
and the press IN those days made the most
sweeping charges against members OF Congress and
bers the administration aud there ugly that
the brohernlGw OF the President, Mr. Dent, lad been
made partner TO the concern at the eleventh hour
The sub head about ''Brbery'' is part OF the report
We understand the Alaska question is coming before
the Senate What will that august body say TO Gen
era Howards gross accusations against Senator Bout
well and the Presidents brother -in-lawf