New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-28
TIE Government aud lhe hou;hcTn Railroad
How the Peoples Property - Disposed OF
and Di.toyni Corporations Furnished Capt.
,oIhx the Government 10 Pay Back Dividends
No, Made During the War.
from Our Special Correspondent

iron. Our Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Saturday, May e 1890
Among the many weak apologies for done without
authority Of law, If an attempt Of The Ner York Times
10 explain away and justify the disposition Of the railroads
and railroad property belonging to the Government one
wear ago to-day. Il an ndispuabe fact that an TX
ecve order issued by the President last Fall directed
the sale on re3 the Southern railroads Of an enormous
amount ofroug-sock and materials bought by the Coy
emeAtthat large amounts OF captured property was a.
Vded up among other property. mat ralTpadh
constructed by tie Confederate GOreTHmc fer Wdr PRf-
D0c have been gwen over TO connecting roads without
any consideration That tens OF thousands OF uns OF ran
road iron, valuable bridges, c, were given freely TO me
G-lOva cOrVomous, who did not even 90 thIonsh the
form Of having their officers who the leaders Of the
Rebellion, sign any receipts therefor.
Now instead Of merely alleging that this IS not VIOLA
ton Of law, Why not DrOduce ne tdw, by Whch uo'ei-
met property is given away sold on credit II there Is
any such law why has Congress been appealed TO ny the
officers of various Soldiers and Sailors Asyinms ior
special legislation get various articles Of property from
the Medical and Quartermasters Departments. NhY
was not an Executive order brought into play II the
Quartemastcrs only acting according TO law why
the ssumg OF the Executive order so H"Pee'@e"e"
d manner Of disposng of Government property ,
The statement by " TIE Times correspondent that
d" rolling stock captured was sold IS incorrect
When The " rolling stock" was sold " on credit, notes
were given 90 be paid in certain nstalmcnr, ana GER
tain per ceuace Of the receipts Of the road was 10 be a
piled monthly 10 that purpose The notes commenced 10
ial due last December One OF the companies wanted 70
divert the money due 10 the Government TO the payment
Of accumulated lHdCbfcdHcsS and coupons 0ccfHg d"'
ng the ReJCIlion.r while they were running troops ana
supplies the Rebel Army and the President
for Uncle sam 10 await I'll the Rebel creditors we're pau
frsf Notwithstanding tho drec contract 10 the contrary
The Times says:
The President signed order TO stay proceedings Tor ne
rresent And this bis only act or participation personally
H. he hole matter OF sales and transfers OF railroads. ong
o since his approval of the General Orders heretofore
reed TO- The other failure To pay the monthly lnments
has been brought br JOhnsons notice and be aoes h
therefore refuse permit proceedings to compel payment
as charged ny The InBi NJ
II tbe President does not the Railroad Officers say,
refuse 20 permit Proceedings to be instituted why DO not
the proper officers proceed Ito collect the moncysnow
due In official statement OF Railroad property on hand
one wear ago. and correct statement OF is disposition,
whether by sale, gift otherwise, would throw some
LIGHT upon the matter. ii Tie IHcs correspondent Las
access 10 official records Why not furnish II, why not
show who gave notes when they were due! aud why
thew were not paid Also how many accounts for use OF
roads during the war and other accounts have been ana
are being. trumped Up with the view to OFFSET ih'
notes and thus escape payment at any future time.
II would be interesting also, 10 know how many
accounts have been allowed and how many are
now on file in the Quareumaser- Generals Department
How many roads bought and engines on credit sld
sold them to others for cash. and did not pay their notes
with the proceeds How many have parted with the roll
inc stock and material thus obaiucdl The whole affair,
involving by the statement of The Times correspondent
more money than paid 20 pensioners should be thof
ouehlv sifted and me lq should be brought forth and
then the reason for the issuing Of Executive order 10
turn over. & C., be- made more plain.