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Sub District of Selma
Bureau R.F. & A.L.
Selma, Ala. July 6th 1868

Brvt Brig Genl O.L. Shepherd
Assistant Commissioner &c
Montgomery Ala.

General:

I have the honor to submit the following general report of the operations of Bureau in this Sub. District during the month of June 1868.

The complaints during the month, although not as numerous as in the previous month, have been of a more serious nature, involving in some cases the loss to freedmen of all compensation for work performed on plantations from the commencement of the year to the present time. The principal part of the labor on this year's crop having been done, many planters discharge the Freedmen working for a share of the crop, on the most frivolous pretences of breach of contract. In such cases the laborer is almost entirely at the mercy of the employer for a settlement of his claims. If men so thrown out of employment even succeed in getting an acknowledgement of indebtedness from their employers, they have to wait until the crop is harvested and disposed of for the payment of their dues, which naturally causes much suffering amongst them at present. Many of the precincts are without either justice of the Peace or Constable, and nothing can be done toward the settlement of claims in such precincts.

It is absolutely necessary to a just settlement of the claims of Freedmen, that these places be filled by persons who