The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-07-04
CHICAGO.
Opinion Relative TO the Acts I'm Re.
gard to Warehouses and Rail.

Opinion Relative TO the Acts I'm Re-
gard to Warehouses and Rail.
reads.
CHICAGO, July 3.-A law firm Of this
city having been requested by the Chi
cago Board of Trade to give an opinion
upon the questions likely to arise in the
practical operations Of the acts recently
passed by the Illinois Legislature con-
cernlng warehouses and railroads, they
have done so, and it is published this
morning. They hold that the ware
house act is constitutional, and that
all provisions regulating the receipts,
storage, delivery and inspection OF grain
are valid, the principle governing all
such cases being that the use OF private
property and the exercises of q pursuit
must be subordinate 10 a proper pro-
lection of the rights Of the public.
They also hold that the law is applica-
bic to the warehouse corporations exist
ing before the passage OF the acts. In
regard to the railroad acts they hold
that the Legislature has the constitu-
tional power to make regulations rela.
ting to the receipt, transportation, and
delivery of grain. The power of the
Legislature to fix the maximum rates
for storage and carriage of grain is held
to be subject to prior consideration that
such rate be reasonable for service rem
dered; substantially, these gentlemen
sustain the constitutionality Of the en-
tire railroad and warehouse legislation.
Mr.. Hitchcock, senior member of the
firm, was a member and President OF
the Convention which framed the present
Constitution of the State, and this
judgement of the firm will have good
effect in settling the issue and in giving
practical effect to the law.
Position OF General Thomas In the
Regular Army.
A statement having appeared in the
Tribune coming from Gath, its Wash
ington correspondent, to the effect that
General George Thomas was passed
over by General Sheridan when the
latter was made Lieutenant General,
Major General Hartsuff, Adjutant Gen
eral of the Military Division of Mis-
souri,, makes the following statement Of
the facts in a card in the Tribune /:
When General Grant vacated the office
of General of the Army and General
Sherman succeeded him, the list Of
major generals, in the order of rank,
was as follows: Halleck, Meade, Sheri-
dan, Thomas, Hancock. Gen. Thomas
was made brigadier general in the
regular army before Gen. Sheridan, but
when Gen. Sheridan was promoted to
be major general for his distinguished
services in the Valley Of the Shenan-
doah, ending with the battle Of Cedar
Creek, not voice was raised against the
Justice and propriety Of his promotion,
which was accompanied by an auto
graph letter from President Lincoln,
thanking him for his great services to
the country. Subsequently General
Thomas, for his distinguished services
in the battles around Nashville, was
made major general, taking his place
next on the list below General Sheridan.
If therefore, General Thomas had been
made direct general, it would have been
General Sheridan, in addition to Gen
erals Meade and Halleck, who wonld
have been passed over.
Vice President CoIfax.
A special from Indianapolis says:
The editor of the Journal has a letter
from Vice President Colfax. in which
he denies the statement that he has re-
considered his determination to retire
from political life, with the sincerest
gratitude to his Republican friends for
thrir long continued confidence, and
expressing hopes for the continued
triumph of their principles and candi-
dates. He does not intend to be a can
didate for political honors, but to retire
to private life at the expiration of his
term. In speaking Of his health he
saws: / am feeling quite well and
strong again, and l am really enjoying
rest and relaxation, at home, which L
have not had for years.