Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-02-05

REPORT or THE COMMITTEE ON SOUTHERN
hAILRoADs-The special committee of the
House Of Representatives appointed to exam
Inc into the condition of the Southern railroads
have made yoluminous report. of which the
following is a summary The expediency of
tie forfeiture of land grants in certain cases
Will be the subject for a separate report
In treating OF the past and present condition
OF thtse roads the Committee report that as the
a nIles advanced the roads were taken posses
son Oi oy the military authorities by virtue of
tne war powers, and tor the two told reason of
cIIppiihs tie enemy and aidin our own forces
IHe.r relation TO the Federal Government was
mat OF captured property, which they main
tanned until few months after the cessation of
nOtIIitles.
The testimony OF n great number of distin-
Eushrd autho ities j. produced confirming this
opinion OF th' II CONDITION, and showing that the
provisions OF the act OF Congress of July a.
Is6.. authorizing the Pr, sd, mt To n 6e poSses
lion OF allTosids, applied only TO the roads in
H. loyal States. In this view the President
cCucnTred. That their seizure and use was a
legitimate exercise OF the rights of war * shown
oy abunCalIt testimony.
The number OF railroads seized and operated
was forty-twO, with total length OF 1855 miles,
and IN addition the Government constructed
1lj- miles CT new road. At the close of the
war these roads Were restored 10 their original
owners, and were rot considered as property
belonging 20 the United States. The roads
themselves b. came parties To contracts, and
pJTchas ed from the government the rolling
~bOCh " uiCll Id> De- II DTOuTnt from the North
ma West Not being able, pres umed to be
able TO pay, bonds were given for these pur-
chaseS. and with few exceptions, the relation
Oh captured property was ex Exchanged for that OF
d'stors. which IL their present relation
Almost without exception, however, they have
broken fatI. and have brought over> hado wing
claims against the Government, and lille they
We're tne Wiling instruments of rebe lion, they
now occupy the pos sition OF partice ps cr;minis
no clam indemnity Tor losses incurred by his
crime.
Tho aooreya.a ap,or,,
eminent IN repairs and management of the
roads Is $3.50, ,is .27, This does not include
ue pay OF soldiers acting laborers. The
amounts which these roads owe the General
Government was, in the fall of 1865 81, 7,If4O73 %
The aggregate Indebtedness of the roads TO the
Government June 81, 1866, amounted to So
5I',U74I5 January 81, 1867, ii was S5,567 ,39I So
and on Novem ber 1st, 1867, S4,SSl, 500 o.
These roads were turned over to their ORR
Elnal owners, by virtue of an order lrom the
War Department, by authority Of the Presi-
dent, which, although at first limited to Ten
nessee, was shortly erward extended to all
the Southern States. This order bears date
August q, 1s65.
The testimony of presidents, directors and
stockholders show that there was not one of
these roads which was not voluntarily used in
b' half of the rebellion, and that the owners
were enemies of the country.
The report makes the President respousible
for the sale OF the roads. The value of the
property thus restored is SIS 202, 900. Ii to this
De added the sums expended in repairs, labor,
etc, the amount is Sl23, ,5O9, $50 of property
which legally belongs to the Govern
ment Further, it is maintained that a
strict Interpretation of the order of August
would compel the United States TO repair the
roads which the retels themselves had de-
stroyed. The presidents of two of the most
important roads almost defies the Government
10 collect the bonds, and pays from the earn
H. 81 OF the very rolling-stock for which the
bonds Were given, old debts contracted while i'm
rebellion, and the interest on bonds given before
the rebellion. In view of these frauds, and the
UNJUST CLAIMS that will be presented, the com.
mittee urge special and immediate legislation
lhey argue that the legal title to the roads
is still vested in the United States and
urge upon Congress the passage of two
joint resolutions, which provide that no
claims for use shall be allowed any
Southern road, or any State in favor of any
road, and that the Indebtedness TO the Govern
ment as provided by the terms of the bond shall
be hQuidated; end in default thereof that the
Government shall exercise Its legal right to
possession and disposal.
THE ALABAMA CLAIMs.-There is consider
able comment in Diplomatic Circles here i'm
regard TO the failure TO present Sir Ed
ward Thornton, new British Minister, TO the
President yesterday. Mr.. Thornton, il appears
had made all his arrangements to meet the
President at the time stated, and had so notified
MIR. Seward. Yesterday morning the latter in.
formed Mr.. Thornton that circumstances had
arisen. on account of which it would be neces.
sary to postpone the presentation. The British
Minister processes profound ignorance as to
what these circumstances Were. II is believed,
however, that the President wishes TO Law his
views on Alabama claims before Cabinet pre-
vious TO meeting Mr.. Thornton, and that this
was the cause Of the postponement.
OFFICERS TO BE RETAINED AS AGENTS
General o. o. Howard has issued a circular
directing that all officers below the rank of
MAJOR, who were mustered out on January lst
1S6s, and retained as officers Of the Bureau.
may be taken upon the rolls of the disbursing
officers and paid as agents, at a salary Of $50
per month, from January lst, 1865.
INDIANS AT THE WHITE HoUsE-About
O'Clock this afternoon delegation of ten Ute
Indians, representing seven different bands
who reside in that section of country between
Santa Re, New Mexico. and the basin above
Great Salt Lake, visited the Executive Man.
sion, headed by Gov. Hunt of Colorado and
Gen. Kit harson. These Indians aIe now on a
visit to this city, having been summoned here
by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in or
DER 10 effect treaty with them to get them on
another reservation. and have them lead diff
ferent life. Upon being admitted 10 the Office
of the President. they Were introduced by Gov.
hunt and each one taken by the hand by the
President.
Governor Hunt then addressed the President,
saying these Indians had always be en- friendly
10 the white man, and were here to-day for the
OF paying tneT respects TO their great
father. In no instance had there been any
occasion 10 complain OF them, as they had
always conducted themselves we'll
The President replied, expressing his gratifi.
cation TO see them and hear that they were
friendly towards He assured them that
nothing would be left undone on the part of
the Government to promote their welfare, and
every step would be taken to cultiva friend.
ship between the authorities and the Indians
He thanked them for their visit; for that friend.
ship which they had shown for the white
people.
General karson said he had resided among
these Indians for the past forty years and had
always found them faithful friends and willing
TO aid the white people.
They were then escorted through the Execu-
tive Mansion by the President and seemed de.
lighted with their visit.
VICE PRESIDENT WADE, Senator Pomeroy,
and number Of Representatives, were at the
War Experiment this morning, and had inter.
views with Mr.. Stanton. -..-.
NoMINATIONs-The President sent to the
Senate this afternoon the following nomina-
tions IS. w. Scott, Of Tennessee, to be Consul
at Metamoras, Mexico; Alex. Willard, Califor.
mia, to be Consul at Guyamas, Mexico; John
F. Fisk, New York, to be Consul at Leith,
Scotland; Stephen w. tDonnev, 10 be Assessor
Internal Revenue, 2d District West Virginia;
samuel Comfort, to be Postmaster at Lewis