Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-09-12
MINNESOTA LAND BILL FRAUD.
Proceedings Select Committee the House Of Re-
presentatives.
(CONTJNUED.N

Proceedings of Select Committee Of the House Of
(coNTNUED.)
Answer. To the first part, don't recollect
to the latter part, have answered it before.
Question. Did you ever have word of con-.
versation with Mr.. Washburne, after the bill was
ticular part Of the bill?
| Answer. don't recollect whether before or
after the bill was drawn up; but had several
conversations with Mr.. Washburne, in his room.
on the subject half dozen times.
| Question. After the bill was drawn up BY Nh.
Washburne in regard to any alteration whatever
made or to be made in the bill?
Answer. had repeated conversations in re-
lation to the alterations of the third section of
the bill. These conversations spread over O term
of two weeks or more, and were all held in Mr..
Washburne's room, from the 25th of April to tho
10th of May.
Question. What werc those conversations?
Did ever Mr.. Washburne assent or know of anv
alterations in the third section by striking out the
word '.filture?"
Answer. l cannot say what the words were
that were stricken out l never knew till it was
done. 1t was to make the new bill conform to the
| old bill. The object was to keep the charter as
it stood, that the work might 60 on. My instruc-
| tions from the leading men in the Territory were
| to preserve the charter.
| Question. Did Mr.. Washburne ever assent to.
or know of the striking out of the word stuture,"
and changing the word ssor, !" for the word "and,n
| in the third section of the bill? -
Answer. never new the words of the bill till
it passed, but he did assent that the new bill
should conform to the old one.
Question. Did you ever have any conversa-
tion with Mr.. Washburne on the substitution Of
the word s'and'' for s'os2"
Answer. cannot state the words. l was not
aware of the language of the bill until saw the
printed bill in the Senate, after it passed tho
House. l had no conversation with Mr.. Wash
burne after discovered the error in the third
section did not consider it important.
Question. What person did you have the COM
versaton with in regard to the error?
Answer. With General Jones, of Ievpa.
j. TRAVIS RossER, SwoRx.
Question. Where is Uour residence, and what
is your occupation?
Answer. St. Paul, Minnesota, and am Scene
tary of the Territory.
Question. Have you any knowledge Of House
bill No. 342, here presented3
Answer. saw the bill since my arrival in this
city, the latter part of last week. received let
ters from st. Paul stating that there were two
versions of the bill-one excluding the company,
and the other version donating the lands 10 it.
Question. Do you know facts having bearing
upon the alleged alteration of the engrossed bill
No. 342, granting lands to the Territory Of Min.
nesota for railroad purposes, or of the influences
or agencies which procured such alterations? Il
you do, please state them state oil you know in
relation to the matter.
A few days after my arrival in this city, about
the 18th of this month, / received a letteH from
the Governor of Minnesota, desiring me to, ascer.
tain whether Congress had given the lands to tftt
Territory or to the railroad company chartered
last winter two different versions Of the bill had
been sent to the Territory. Being aware that tn
company had organized, and that Messrs. e. Rice
Ex-Governor Ramsey, and - Dayton had beer
elected directors FOR Minnesota-Mr. r. Rice also
elected attorney for the railroad company con.
cluded that Congress had given the lands to thu
company; but, upon examination of the printed
bill Of the Senate, found that the company wa.
expressly excluded. therefore desired Mr.
Sproue the engrossing clerk of the House, TO show
me the original and engrossed bills, and fount
that the word "or0 had been altered into. .ssand'
} in both bills, between the words "constituted'
and ssorganized." I then stated to Mr.. Sproul'
that the bill had been altered, and asked him st
, what times and under what circumstances
the alteration had been made, as it rendered thu
bill so entirely different from the printed ono ol
, the Senate. He replied, that after the bill he'd
passed the House, Gen. Stevens Of Michigan, cam
into his Office, and said, that the bill had pass
: ed the House with the word saad~ and not ''cr'
between the words ssconstituted" and ssofganised'
Ehe desired him to make the alteration n the osi
! ginal and engrossed bills; which Mr. s. said p
declined doing, until he was ovcrruled by Mr
: Forney. - = A%
It Is proper for me to state, that Mr.. sproul'
has subsequently s6d TO me that he was mistsker
In being overnled about the alteration Of the MIN
nesota railroad bill, be having, at the time, con
founded Il with another bin, n which hc and Mr.
Forney declined making any alteration. Fs
: r. few minutes after discovering this palpabl
: violation of the record of the House, Isent 70
! Gen. Stevens, and introduced myself to him i
* s tsse 9 nth pace.l