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Bureau of R F & A.L. Hd. Qurs. A.S.A. Com'r 3rd Div, 8th Sub. Dist. Va
Christiansburg Montgomery County Va. May 25th 1867

Capt. Garrick Mallery
A A A G

Captain - I have the honor to make the following report relative to the Affairs of the Bureau in the Counties of Montgomery, Pulaski and Giles, 3rd Div. 8th Sub. Dist. Va. for the month of May 1867.  On the 1st. inst, I found it necessary to issue a circular requiring all persons, having colored-people in their employ, where the term of service was more than two months, to have written Articles of Agreement properly made out in accordance with existing laws; and for the colored party to be furnished with a copy of said Articles of Contract.  During the month very many have complied with those instructions, but in numerous instances they have imposed upon the colored party, by making contracts entirely to the advantage of the employer without sufficient compensation for the services of the employee.

These have been re-written, and made to conform as far as possible to law and justice, and in a number of instances have received the approval of the Sub Asst. Com'r.  I had found on taking the census of Montgomery County, that only one tenth of all the colored people, who had contracted for twelve months or more service, had been furnished with written Articles of Agreement, and many of these were illegal, unjust and unequally binding upon the parties.  We are now using every effort to enforce a strict compliance with the law, as well as to obtain for the colored party, satisfactory and liberal compensation for their services.