, 1864-01-13
TIE RAILROADS. -
Tilt between e. B.:Washburnc and
ThRd. Stevens
WAsuMaToN, Jan. 7th.


TIE PosT-oFr1cE APPROPRIATION B1LL.
Tic House proceeded to consider tho Post
Office Appropriation bill In Committee OF the
Whole on the State Of the Onion.
Mr. W1smuREE {nl) thought Fthe Com
uittee would hesitate to appropriate any mon
cy to pay the railroad companies between
New York and Washington for their services
in carrying the mail, which they had not per-
formed. The communication now between
n. York and Washington, the commercial and
political metropo:es Ct tne nnnh} nao9ow
Ger to be submitted to. There was neither
Regularity nor certainty In either the trans
mission Of mails or passengers, anu the mo-
ropolies controlling them had become sopoW-
e1ful as to defy all efforts at reform, and he
trusted the existing state al q thnlngs nngg. would
tbe fsolated md inhospitable country in
which it was now located to moro central
snd elieible location. The present Capital
as accessible only by a singh track railroad,
md the Tailroad companies WeIc hno"n only
by their extortion and imposltions both up
on the travelling public and the Government.
The raiIroad between New York and Wash
Ington cdn not perform the business which
the country demands. Tho Army Of the Po-
tou,ac REMAINS quiet, and ia likely 30 to re-
main, unless a great Western General, whom
lie hoped soon would be made Lieutenant
there Would be no danger from rebels Or the
weather, 60 fur cs this Capitas is concerned.
He was glad select Committee had been ap-
pointed on the subject of q railroad between
New. York and Washington, md felt assured
they would discharge their duty without fear,
favor or affection. The Government had a.
ready paid enough to build q single track
rail, cad between the two cities, The rail-
road companies were perfectly lawlcss, and
gentleman Of New York had told him they
charged the Government four times tho
amount they required from Individuals.
Mr. Stevens did not know to what part Of
the bill the gentleman's remarks applied. q
no doubt, correct. He did not rise to defend
tie 1ailroads, but he certainly WIS in favor Of
any number Of railroads capitalists should
make, 60 long as they did not ask for appro7
priations or bounties. &c did not know
whether the railroads were much at fault,
between the two points. Railroads hare no
light TO monopolizc business unle:s they do
It fairly. Sun, he ssas not quite prepared to
sdcnounce the management Of these roads,
because he did not, know the facts The
weather had had something to do with Oh
st1ucting railroad travel; but that was no
reason why other railroads cannot bo made.
The gentleman from Illinois had thrown
the remark that the capital should be re-
moved. Now would it not be better, in
view Of this, to suspend the building Of a
new road.> lie had no doubt the best place
for the Government was In the Valley Of the
Mississippi, where tho water would take
more good liquor than any other and still be
wholesome: [Laughtsr:] Eo doubt there was y
soldiers in the world, but he did not see the
exact bearing of this on the bill under con-
sideration. As TO a Lieutenant General, Ac
should vote against creating my more. We
already have one In retiracy.
Mr. WAsuBUEsE--A1e you certain oi
Tint
Mr.. STEvENs.-1 nm not certain Of anything
| i'll the world. Laughter
| Mr.. yoH look at the law
you will sec there is no Lieutenant General
The law was revived for the purpose Of al
lowing the brcyet title Of Lieutenant General
10 be bestowed upon the brayest General o'
the War.
Nr. STEyrSs.-I know the title Of Lfeuten
AM. Gencral is only By brcvct. This carried
pay and cmolumcnts but no command, to tht
present Licntenant-G General, namely, Scott