| From the Savannah Morning News |
| |
| April 30, 1862 |
| |
| The Military Transportation Bill |
| |
|
We find in the Montgomery Advertiser the following
synopsis of the law passed by Congress, taking military possession
of the Railroads of the Confederacy. It will be seen that the
present Presidents and Superintendents are to hold the rank of
Majors and Captains without pay: |
|
The bill recently passes by Congress, to provide for the
prompt and uninterrupted transportation of troops and munitions of
war, over railroads, authorizes the appointment of a military chief
of railroad transportation, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
This officer is to hold his office at the pleasure of the President,
and to have a salary of five thousand dollars per year. The military
chief is required to divide the railroads of the Confederacy into
those less than two or more than four districts, over which shall be
appointed a military Superintendent. This ??? ranks, six Majors, and
salary of fourteen hundred dollars per annum, and holds office at
the pleasure of the President. |
|
The acting President and Superintendent of each Railroad
are to be the local military Superintendents of each such railroads,
and are to have the rank of Major and Captain respectively, but
without any compensation as such. Road Masters and Conductors are to
have the rank, but not the pay of first Lieutenant. Chief Station
agent and Station Masters are to have the rank but not the pay of
second Lieutenants. |
|
The military officers of the railroads are to have
complete and exclusive control of them, with full power to establish
such schedules as may be necessary to secure the safe and prompt
transportation of troops and munitions of war. Military officers
desiring transportation for troops and munitions are required to
give notice to the proper military officer of the railroad, and it
is made the imperative duty of each and all to be ready to move at
the appointed hour. |
|
The General commanding a Department or a Division, the
chief of military transportation or any of the District military
Superintendents, may order the removal of the whole or any portion
of a railroad, whenever in their judgment it may be necessary to
prevent it falling into the hands of the enemy. |
|
They are also authorized to repair, extend or alter the
roadway, structures or machinery of any railroad, to construct side
tracks, water stations, warehouses, or other structures connected
with railroads, and the cost of these alterations, repairs of
constructions, shall be paid from the Treasury of the Confederate
States. The value of the work performed to the Railroad Company
affected by it shall be determined by arbitrators, and the amounts
charged to the company. |
|
All officers of railroads who fail to perform their duty
ae to be considered guilty of a military offence. They are to be
punished at the discretion of the court, one part of the punishment
being, however, removal from all official connection with the road. |
|