124 THE FREEDMEN’S SAVINGS BANK 
depositors with government checks through 
United States depositories; he was given full 
authority to sell the remaining property and to 
wind up all business; and wherever it was pos- 
sible he was to begin prosecution against former 
officials and trustees who were charged with 
violations of the laws safeguarding the bank. 
The Comptroller disposed at once of all prop- 
erty that could be sold and paid a dividend of 
15 per cent on June 1, 1882, and one of 7 per 
cent on May 12, 1883, making a total of 62 per 
cent returned to depositors. In 1882 he sold the 
bank building in Washington to the United 
States government for $250,000. To December 
1, 1909, $1,731,854.01 had been repaid to deposi- 
tors and $1,208,071.21 was still due. The gov- 
ernment then had $7,991.58 belonging to the 
bank, but there was little likelihood that this 
balance would increase. No prosecutions of 
former officials were undertaken. 
THE DEMAND FOR RELIEF OF DEPOSITORS 
As soon as it was seen that the bank had failed 
because of improper management a widespread 
demand arose that the government reimburse 
the depositors. From every southern state, from 
all the cities where branches were located, from 
Negro church congregations, from southern 
state legislatures, both Radical and Democratic, 
came memorials demanding that Congress make 
good the losses. The petitions asserted that the 
2 Hoffman, Race Traits, p. 290; Reports of the Commissioner, 1881- 
1909. Circular letters now tio27) sent out by the Comptroller’s office 
state that there are no more funds. For table of dividends see Ap- 
pendix pp. 141-143.