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Officers as evidence on any point or quote from them at length, yet nothing will excuse them from reporting over their own signatures on all points of importance.
Asst. Commissioners should be careful to have their staff officers, such as Medical, Commissary, Qr. Master and Disbursing Officers and School Superintendents, a report upon all subjects under their control, complete statistics on all matters should be obtained and incorporated in the body of their own reports.  
They should in general remark prefacing their reports make an estimate of the number of colored people under their charge. Of course no accurate census can be given, yet Offers on duty in a State for some time ought to be able to give an estimate nearly correct.  The organization of the Bureau under their direction should be described as well as their systems of conducting business, also the duties performed by their Officers and the difficulties in the way of success, as well as results of their efforts.
They should report upon what has been accomplished under the Homestead Act, and reason for any failure to comply with Circulars and Letters from the Office on that subject.  The statistics with reference to the issue of rations