New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-13
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
THE PAYMENT OF LAND GRANT RAILROADS FOh
TRANSFORMATIONS

WASHINGTON, July y, 1874
The War Department has issued an order, en-
bracing the opinion of the SOllcltOr-GeneIai, APP
proved by the Acknowledgement IN relation to the
act Of June 16 1874 regulating the payment of Land
grant railroad companies for transportation, etc
The question involved arises upon the language OF
the act upon which a doubt arises whether II III
cludes all railroad companies to which grants have
been made by Congress for the benefit OF Their
roads or only such as have received land grants on
condition of free transportation OF troops and prop
erty of the United States Reference TO the eglsla-
ton under which, especially within the last 10
years land grants have been made 10 railroad COM
panies shows that such grants may be divided into
three classes:
/ Cases in which. in form OF expression
other free transportation is expressly stipulated for
o Cases IN which conditions OF preference in trans
portaton OF ordinary rates " transportation or Of
average rates etc. all that have been expressly I'M
posed.
g. Cases where conditions FOR the use OF sald foau Oy
the Government have been imposed.
In nv opinion there can question that the first
are included within, and the third excluded from, the
operation the Of June &C. 1874 quoted above Inc
third class il a very small one, and probably exists by
nadvertence u the Legislature but as Congress mas
limited Its above prohibition TO Of grants upon
any other conditions for the Of such road these,
am OF the opinion under the second class are
included within the prohibition Indeed this is the only
class upon which the act has any effective operation
for the first class already excluded from the payment
bv the which grant the land az has been recog
uized heretofore by the Department Of War.
consideration OF the passage above quoted brings
me 20 the consideration that 1t was the inten-
non o Congress 70 make appropriation at present FOR
any case the original grant NAV nave cOntrO Oi
tbe question; and further by comprehensive expires
tall ms ID
troll 10 the Court Of Claims. Congress has SAID as IL
were waving all question OF the OblgatlOn OF the
United pay companies whose land grants con
tain any condition for the Of their road, unt de-
c,son Nv the Court of elaine we hereby direct that
par of this appropriation shall be used 10 pay such
claims IL 70 me that IN 40 doing Congress ha-
only resorted 10 method OF raising ami deciding such
questions that among parties business trans
actions controlled by rules OF law that are obscure III
the mean time what the has 70
do is 10 maintain issue which Congress has directed
with regard railroad companies having any cond,
tiOns for the OF their road incorporated with nelr
land grants until tine courts shall have settled H.
THE REDEMPTION OF NATIONAL BANK NOTES
The facilities in the office Of the L. ;. Treasurer
for counting the National bank notes and RENTING
new notes in place of those sent for redemption are
not vet up TO a standard which will allow as prompt
attention to the requests of the banks as the chief OF
the new division is DESTROYS of giving Additional
room for the counting force is necessary and II VIII
be necessary TO enlarge the space and provide for
additional accommodations with very little delay
in order TO take of the extensive business when
the hanks present for attention from the officials OF
the Redemption Division, 1t would be well if those
holding National bank notes for redemption would
withhold their remittances for few days until
their demands can be better complied
with All the available force in the
Treasurers Office is now busily occupied IN
counting the notes and collecting and credtIng the
drafts forwarded account of the five per cent de-
uosit but as the rcmlttances are numerous there
NAV be some delay IN acknowledging them. The
amount received up 10 this date on account Oh tue
five per cent deposit required 70 he Kept IN the reas
ury as reserve from the National banks Is Sl-,IT7-
THE CREDITlMoBILIER CASE.
The record of the Credit Mobiier case Is now
being prepared by the Clerk of the United states
Cont AT Hartford and will be filed with the United
States Supreme Court before the first Monday OF
October. 1t comes up appeal from the court
below. and will be argued at an early day IN the
term perhaps before the lst of December. The
counsel for the United States A. + Perry. I. A.
Jenckes and j H Ashton. and Sidney Bartlett, Is. IL
Curtis and William ~. Evarts for the defendants.
THE PROSECUTION OF THE SAFE BURGLARY
CASE.
The examination in progress before the Grand
Jury in regard to the safe burglary of the most
searching character. For the first time IN this Dis
trict the prosecutor for the Government has HIM
self conducted the examination OF witnesses. Among
the latter are quite a number who, Tor want OF time
and knowledge, not called before the Commit
tee Several important additional facts have been
ascertaned and every clew is being followed vgor-
ously. There IL no longer any doubt of the compli
city of the Secret Service force of the Treasury IN
the conspiracy, and every effort will be made to as
certain what persons were back of that force None
except those in very influential positions cond have
sd ia nd he