New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-27
FRAUD IN LEGISLATION DISCOVERED.
THE coNFiscATsoN BILL.
Taxing Salaries Of Government Officers
CLAIMS BY LOYAL CITIZENS.


pn.un ,N LEGISLATION DISCOVERED.
The Border-State policy got fetched up
,ester1 nv with q very round turn in the House,
and inouiries are pending in both branches OF
Concr,ss. which will elucidate it ttill further,
and e.pose. if it is too late to remedy, fraud
IN legislation without parallel in recent years
Three weeks ago bill was rapidly ground
through both Houses by which the President
WINS authorized to take military possession OF
the railroads aud telegraph. of the country.
There was some objection to grant OF such
extraordinary power, but il was given. 1t has,
however, been discovered that the bill, as
passed. contains these words: And to extend,
repair, and complete the same "-meanlng rail-
roads. These words do not appear 10 the DILL
"a printed, and, as is believed, were interlined
IN il On its way from the Senate to the House
However this may be, the clause, unnot'ced by
legislators and repealed almost unanimously by
the House, has been acted upon to the great
advantage Of Kentucky.
1t seems that, some eight or ten years ago.
q company was chartered, and State aid afforded
Il. TO construct q railroad from Lexington,
Nv. To Knoxville Tenn. Twelve miles, to
Nichoasve. were constructed, and are still IN
use. Thence to Danville the proposed road
was graded and the towers for bridge 20 Do
thrown across the Kentucky River erected.
At this point funds gave ont, and the work
stopped. President Lincoln was induced 70
recommend in bic last Message that the Gov
eminent of the United States should construct
the residue of the road, and bill in conform
ity with his suggestions has been reported from
the Committee on Roads and Canals, but not
yet considered in the House.
In this state of facts, the bill embracing the
clause quoted above somehow became law,
and Immediately contract for its construction
was made with Amasa Stone, railroad con-
tractor of Cleveland, Ohio, whose nomination
~ Bripadier. General of Raroads 10 pend
tns in the Senate. MIR. Stone has already
,urcbasoI miles Of iron, which is now at
Nioho.asyille, or gu its way thtber. The pro-
posed line is about $50 miles long, and posses
through one of the worst counties in the world
70 lay track 10. The Cumberland Mountains
msst be tunneled. The streams all cross the
road, 20 that their course will not help over
the mountains.
The smallest estimates of railroad men are,
- to cost, &c., 600; as to time, one year.
The road cannot possibly be finished in season
70 avail US in the present war, nor is it neces-
cary now that the Nashville lines are in our
possession. Mr.. Trimble, by unanimous con.
sent, yesterday submitted the following resolu-
ton on the subject, which was read, coDsd-
ered and agreed to:
R.,leed That the President be requested to inform tb
Bours whether under suthoy OF the act OF JsIusy "a
la entitled authorize the President OF the United
ses certain Gases to take possession OF rsrosd and see
sraph lines and for other he las ordered or con
rsced tbs construction of railroad for military purposes
from D;n ks.si e ~. lsaDiss E
copy OF such oIder or contract.
To-day, in the Senate, the following, intro.
duced by Mr.. Grimes, WAS agreed to:
RoIred That the Secretary Of War be directed to comm
nc 10 Senate WHISTLER contract hss been made and
whether any steps have been t,ien looking contract fol
che construction Of sroed by under tie authority
tse Wsr Department. and 80 WHIST T. the ns,uIs and char
shorty Of law was ii made.
1t is surmised by some that q bill organ.
izing volunteer engineers, which was reported
TO the House to-day but postponed till Friday,
is not entirely disconnected from the railroad
scheme. 1t provides for the employment OF
soldiers now in the service, and the enlistment
Of additional men, as engineers, TO be formed
into regiments and brigades. Suspicious Con-
gressmen have connected its provisions with
remarks of Kcntuckians to the effect that
soldiers might as well be building railroads as
lying idle in camp. And some have asked
whether the Home Guards recently authorized
were to be paid by the Government for this
purpose.
THE SECOND IOWA COMPIIHENTED.
The following is copy Of the dispatch sent
BY Gen. Haleck to the Adjutspt General Of
the State of Iowa:
.n.Npp. IT,. ., :, 81 LorI:. Feb is isss
selves the bsve Of the bravo They had the honor Of lead
ins the column which entered Cd For Donelson
Yet this is the regiment which Gen. Schuyler
Hamilton sent in disgrace, with traiIed arms
and shrouded iag, out of st. Louis on their
way TO the scene of their achievements, be.
cause somebody had taken from the Mcdowell
Museum, o semi-SecessiOn concern, while it
was under their guard, q parcel Of stuffed
birds. Before Gen. Hamilton is confirmed, he
certainly will be asked to explain this affair.
THE CONFIsCATION BILL.
The following 10 the vote on Senator Trum.
ouiiS molten to take up his Confscaton bill,
fustead of tie Stark case:
p, rnAls-Me',fs Anthony Browning Chandler CLARK
son Kin La, oiss, lae Harlan, Howard Howe John
Xii w. INC Pomeroy Sumner Ten Eyer Ttum-
'Eays"Ms"..,n.S 1n.,n, Wilmct wi.on MAS )-22
ssdy Lsfse NJ nna.S Davis, Docte, Henderson, Ken
po.v
"s ATfSSF y;T sh S., ihoisson, wiiey-iS
Sool, n"f'' Siou'i' eiminois, Wilson mo 80