The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-01-22
[FRoM OUR spECIA1 ooRREspoNpENr. l

TIL
WASHINGTON, January 18.-Since the recess
there have been but two measures introduced,
which are likely to be Of any immediate i'm
portance to the readers OF THE NEWS. The
first OF those is the bill proyi1ing for tho ecna-
pensation OF Southern men who rendered SER
vices in good faith, while holding civil posi-
tions for a few months after the close Of the
war, but who subsequently relinquished their
places rather than qualify in the required form,
by taking the oath commonly known as the
the 'tron-clad." The bill for the relief of this
large class Of persons, was introduced into
the Senate by Mr.. Sawyer, and is as follows !:
BILL AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO BE MADE FOR
CERTAIN SERVICES RENDERED TO TIE UNITED
STATES IN THE LATE INsURRECTIoNARY sTATKs
BE enacted by the Senate and House OK
Representatives Of the United States OF Amor.
ica in Congress assembled, That the heads of
they are hereby authorized to allow, and there
shall be paid from any proper appropriation. to
officers and employees Of the United States.
who failed to take the oath prescribed by the
act approved July second, eighteen hundred
and sixty-two, such sum or sums Of money as
may be found due to them, respectively, by the
accounting officers the Treasury Department..
for the services heretofore actually rendered,
ut the rates prescribed by law or the regula-
tions of the proper department: Provided.
That before any such compensation shall be
allowed or paid, it shall be made to appear
that said oath was duly taken after the rendi-
ton OF such services, or the person claiming
the same shall subscribe and take before some
competent officer, and file, with the account.
the oath or affirmation prescribed by the act
an Gaen o e. and to support
August six, eighteen hundred and s1xty-one:
and il any person entitled to compensa. ion
under this act shall have died before the pas
sage thereof, such oath or affirmation may be
waived.
The measure is 80 clearly equitable that
there is little doubt that it will speedily pass
both houses. The amount involved is not
large; but as the class of per.ons who would
be benefited by such an act are generally in
needy circumstances, they would welcome the
payment Of what is justly due them from the
government.
THE PORT ROYAL RAILROAD.
Another bill that will be watched with inter-
est by Charleston readers, is that granting aid
to tho Port Royal Railroad Company. The
friends OF this measure have been very active
ly at work here, and have at length got the
scheme reported from the Committee on Pub
lic Lands in an amended shape, which, it is
claimed, will satisfy those who have hitherto
opposed it. Strong hopes are now entertained
Of the carly passage OF the piiI. 1t is entitled
"a bill to provide for the sale OF certain lands
and lots on the sea islands OF Beaufort Dis
trict, s. O., and for other PURPOSES and reads
in its amended form as follows
Be ii enacted, &c., That the instructions given
to tho 'stax commissioners for the District OF
South Carolina" by Abraham Lincoln, Presis
dent Of the United state, dated the sixteenth
day Of September, Ammo Domini, eighteen hun
dred and sixty three, and oil sales made in
conformity Herewith, be, and the same are
hereby, confirmed and legalized, subject to
such notifications and exceptions as have
been or may be made by acts or Congress
passed after the date thereof. IN
Slc..2. That all lands set apart as school
farms in Saint Helena Parish, III South Caro-
the United States .dtrecttax commissioners for
South Carolina, which remain unsold, and oil
lots in the City OF Port Royal, in South Carolina,
Anbject by law to the disposal OF said tax COM
misRi0ners, which remain unsold, may be sold
for cash OF public sale by the said commits
sioners after three weeks notice published in
not less than three newspapers or general cir
culation in the City Of Charleston, in south
Carolina.
SEc. o. That the said tax commissioners be,
and they are hereby, authorized to sell, In lots
not exceeding twenty acres each, to the freed
men who are now aud before the tirst day or
January, eighteen hundred and gixty-tWo
were residents of the plantations on the sea-
Islands in Saint Lrlxe's paxish. in South Caro-
lina, at one dollar and kfsy cents per acre, all
the unredeenled~ lapds Of y said plantations
which may be at the disposal OF the said com.
missioners. * & Ess
sEc; 4 That ~ persons who rnay.haye 20.