Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-02
The Outlines of a bill Relative TO
Abandoned Property.

WASHINGTON, April 30.-The Secretary Of
the Treasury has communicated to Wash
burne, of Illinois, chairman of the Com
mittee OH Commerce, the draft of bill
relative TO abandoned property with vari-
GUS suggestions concerning the necessary
legislation upon the subject.
The first section sanctions sales of live
stock, planting implements, and machinery
at the points where collected, instead OF
sending them to some place in the loyal
States, as required by the present law.
The second section connects the case of
Abandoned plantations with the general
care of the freedmen, whose support must
be derived from the collection of these
lands, unless they are to become q burden
on the treasury. This provision involves
little expense or delay.
The third section provides thar fees be
charged for permits, graduated according
to the magnitude of the transaction, and
that they be paid into the treasury after de-
Quoting the attendant expenses; also the
monies arising from the leases ofabandoned
lands.
The fourth section meets the cases of per-
sons residing within the lines in insurrec-
tiOnary States who claim to conduct trade
and transport supplies therein without be-
ing subject to the prohibitions and pc enal-
The fifth section is intended to sanction
restrictions upon trade and transportation
in the loyal States, even for the purpose of
preventing supplies to the rebels.
The sixth section repeals the existing dis
tribution of one-half the proceeds from
abandoned property to informers and Gus
tom officers, and leaves the whole matter
with the court decreeing the forfeitures.
The Secretary suggests the necessity of
revising the law governing maratine prizes,
now construed to cover captures in inland
waters, and even property taken from the
shores. Most of the cotton purchased has,
by fraudulent practice, gone into individual
hands, and very little money has been re-
allied to the Government from the cotton
owned by the South, or Confederate States,
or the STAKEHOLDER. The abrogation of the
whole system, and the purchase and trans
portation of the cotton exclusively by the
Government is recommended.
The Pacific railroad bill, as reported by
Mr.. Stevens from the House Select Commit
tee, provides that the grant of lands shall
not impair any pre-emptiOn homesteads,
swamp land or other lawful claim OF Gov
ernment reservation. 1t proposes to repeal
the provision for the reservation by Gov
ernment of portion of the construction
bonds.
The Central Pacific Railroad company, of
California, is authorized to issue first mort
gage bonds not exceeding the amount Of
the government bonds to which the lien of
United States bonds shall be subordinated.
ANY other road of the line may issue one
half the amount of United States bonds and
have the same precedence.
1t fixes the number of directors to be
elected by the stockholders at twenty, and
the number to be appointed at ten.
A special order issued by the War De-
partment this morning requires all enlisted
men now in this city, on detailed duty, to
report forthwith to their regiments in the
field, unless they can produce from proper
medical authority certificates of physical
inability, and are unable to perform the
duties of the field.
While the Senate's amendments to the
Army Appropriation Bill were under con-
sideration in the House to-day, Schenck,
chairman of the Military Committee, pro-
posed to substitute for the sections relating
to negro soldiers, the Senate bill equalizing
the pay of all soldiers of the army, which
had been passed upon by that Committee
with some notifications; and also increas-
ing the pay, &c.
The Senate having become impatient at
the delay of the House not acting on their
bill, incorporated its provisions in the army
bill, which, with the amend
ments by the Committee on Ways and
Means, and those of the Military Commit
tee, formed the basis of the House proceed
ings Of to-day, and the result is as stated in
tho con Orp9 siOnal eummarv