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NARA 301

upon the most reasonable terms possible. This office will consist of not more than three rooms. The rent therefor, as well as all other expenses of your office, authorized by the appropriation act of June 10, 1872 (General Orders No. 55, current series, herewith,) will be paid by the Chief Disbursing Officer at Washington, D.C. Expenses not recognized by that act must not, under any circumstances, be incurred. You may also employ one clerk, at a compensation not exceeding one hundred dollars per month, and one janitor, at a compensation not exceeding forty dollars per month, both appointments subject to the approval of the Adjutant General.

In order that you may obtain a proper understanding of the plan proposed to carry out the provisions of the act of March 29, 1867, (General Orders No. 53, 1867,) I transmit herewith a full set of all blank forms prepared for the use of the Freedmen's Branch, Adjutant General's Office, (some made up as samples,) with such notes thereon in red ink as, in the opinion of this office, will be of assistance to enable you to determine the use and purposes thereof. 

The "Register of Claims" is intended to be a complete record of all money received by you, and of all payments made. The information necessary to make said record will be obtained from the lists referred to in paragraph 3, General Orders No. 79, current series (Form 13.)

The information to be supplied by the Adjutant General, referred to in section 6, paragraph 2, General Orders No. 79, current series, will be an extract from the official records, giving military history of the soldier, together with such other facts as are shown by the records that will, it is believed in the majority of cases, enable you to determine as to the identity of the person or persons presenting themselves as claimants. This extract (Form No. 24) is to be considered strictly confidential, and the examination made in connection therewith should, in all cases, be conducted privately. It will constitute the "special examination" contemplated by paragraph 2, section 6, General Orders No. 79.

When the identification shall have been completed and payment made under paragraph 2, section 4, General Orders No. 79, it will be your duty, in each and every case, to inform and impress upon the claimant that the money does not belong to, and is not subject to claim, in whole or in part, by any one. Further, you will instruct that if any part of it is demanded by an attorney, agent, or other person, you desire the fact to be made known to you at once, in order that you may afford protection against attempts to swindle or defraud.

As regards the necessary office furniture, stationary, &c., great economy should be exercised by you, the appropriation or the purchase thereof being limited. Printed headings on letter paper and enveloped cannot be allowed. In case you find that the business of your office would be facilitated by the use of any particular blank or blanks, you can submit forms for approval, and if adopted a supply will be furnished from this office. Any suggestion you may make as to the manner of conducting the business of "discovery, identification and payment" of claimants, will receive consideration, and is respectfully invited.

I am, Major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Adjutant General.

OFFICIAL:
Assistant Adjutant General.

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-07-09 13:09:33 too add NARA