The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-03-29
THE FREEDMEN'S BUREAU.

THE QUESTION OF MIsAPPRoPRIATED FUNDS
STORY OF THE DISAPPEARANCE OF
voUcHERs-coMPLAINTs OF CoLoRED SOL
DIERs-wHo RECEIVE THEIR BoUNTIEs.
FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. ]
WASHINGTON March 81, 1875.
The latest developments in the matter OF the old
Freedmen's Bureau TO indicate that martial law
having failed the civil law will at length be appealed
TO with the view of recovering from General Howard
about $3.50 900 acknowledged to have been received by
his agents and for which it is proposedto hold him
sponsble to the United States.
HISTORY THE CASE
is peculiar that ii will bear repetition at this juno
ture 1t will be remembered that charges were made
against General Howard by the War Department
which resulted joint resolution of Congress, APP
proved February Is, 1874 requiring the President to
convene court OF inquiry, ''to fully investigate
charges against Brigadier General o. o. Howard, and
TO report their opinion well upon his moral upon
his technical and legal responsibility for such Offences
If any, as may be discovered" Generals sherman,
Meigs, Mcdowell Pope Getty, Reynolds and Miles
composed the court, with Major Gardner Judge Adj
vocate and after session OF forty days only
declared the accused mot guilty." but closed their
findings with the following panegyrc:-'The Court
find that General Oliver O. Howard did his whole
duty and believes that he deserves well of his
try"
Judge Advocate General Holt reviewed the proceed.
ngs findings of the Court with his caustcity
and the whole report including the verbatim evil
dence arguments, exhibits, &c, makes plcthorc
'public document OF !, 033 pages.
DISAPPEARANCE VOUCHERS.
In his evidence before the court General George W.
Baloch dsbursing officer of the bureau, testified that
In July and August, 1865, he received $l059 lS IS,
being balance OF local and State bountes paid
colored recruits by the Northern and Middle States
MI the quolas but withheld from SAID recruits by
General commanding DeUartmout
of Virginia aud North Carolina Part of this amount
was IN seven thirty bonds and the premium inter-
est &c realized from these bonds swelled the total
to Sll9 62l ~ OF which he claimed to have paid
$ll7, 992 CO. leaving balance OF 81, 62S 80 which
ultimately turned over to Captain James Mem ian,
the present CHIEF disbursIng officer the Freedmens
Branch, AdJutant Generals office. The vouchers
for the amount expended sent 10 the Third Au-
dor who, alter keeping them some time and partially
examining Them decided that he would have moth
ing do with them. They then referred to the
Second Auditor, who also declined to audit them on
the ground that they did not represent disbursements
OF public funds. The Second Comptroller concurred in
this declsion and the vouchers were carried back TO
General Balloons office, where
FEAsrED on THEM
until as is surmised some one sold what was left OF
them for paper At any they disappeared,
when or by what agency has not been satisfactorily
explained.
GENERAL HowARD's RESPONSIBILITY
Throughout the inquiry 1t was held by the govern
ment that General Howard was the legal custodian and
trustee OF all moneys pertaining TO the Freedmen's
Bureau, and that II his agents have been guilty OF
maeasance fraudulent practices he is responsible,
for the recovery the moneys which have not been
accounted for.
BouNrrEs NOT PAID
1t appears that complaints family being made
by coored claimants that they have never received
their bounty although the records show that they
been paid, but the vouchers which should contain the
requisite evidence OF payment, and without which
there is in fact evidence that a single camant has
been paid est There also numerous
plants OF the payment of back pay and bounty to
colored soldiers their heirs, in regard which the
following remarks OF the Second Auditor IN his last
annual report, are pertinent:
"In my last report the increase OF fraudulant
requiring investigation accounted Tor by the fact
that since the transfer of the Freedmeus Bureau
the War Department frauds and malpractice had been
discovered IN the payment OF claims by the subagents
OF the late Commissioner of the Bureau; and II
then presumed thar the number would continue to in
until some definite acton should be taken by
superior authority To determine the civil liability of
the bonded agents of the Bureau. Many then
IN the hands OF the law officers Of the Government
are yet ia Stdtu quo regards action the bonds
and it Is perhaps advisable that they should remain
so until the allegations to non-payment. false
vouchers &C, shall have been fully inquired into by
the different United States attorneys, and dcl-
conclusion arrived at to the facts and the liza.
biity OF the sureties."