The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-09-01
MINNESOTA LAND BEL FRAUD.

House OF Representatives Of the United
States, under n Resolution in relation
to Il change Of IA word i'll the Bill No.
342aftcr its EngrOssmcnt.
July "a, 1854.
The Committee met Present: MesSrs
Washburne, Breckenridge, Campbell, Bar
ry, and Davis.
Testimony and Documentary Eri1cnce taken
before the Select Committee of the House
Of Representatives., mmdcr tile tollouing
resolution of the House:
Rcsolred, That special committee of
five be appointed for the purpose of inquir-
ing whether the text of House bill 342, to
aid the construction of a railroad in the
Territory Of Minnesota, was altered, or in
way changed in its language, subsequent to
its engroSsment or passage 10y this House;
without the authority Of the House, and if
so, by whom, and under what circumstan-
ces, such change was made; and also in re-
gard to all other cases of Interpolation of
bills Or joint resolutions Of the House dur
ing the present session; and that said COM
mittcc be empowered to send for persons
and papers, and to examine witnesses on
oath i'll the premises.
Daniel Buck, smOra
Question. Are You employed in the
Clerks Office of the House of Representa-
tives; if so, in what capacity?
Answer | am employed in that office,
and have charge of the files of the Office and
of the House
Question. In whose hands come the bills
Of the House first
Answer Thomas De X. Harris
Question. When did you first see this
bill No. 342?
Answer l can't recollcct. When it first
came to the Office, numbered it.
Question. Look at the third section.-
DID you make copy of this bill for amy
one if so, for whom?
Answer. l made acopy for Mr. Stevens,
at his request, which went into the hands
of Mr.. Rice. | made but one copy, which
was prior to the passage of the bill, of the
word future" in the third section.
Question. Did you see the era,ure at the
time of the making of the copy?
Answer. l don't rccolect that | did,
Question. DO you rccolcct anything
about the change of the word "and" for
the word "or," in the same section?
Answer. A few days after the bill passed
the House, and went to the Senate, General
Patton, clerk Of the Senate, came to me
to change the word ''or' for the word and
SAYING it was the intention of Mr.. Stevens
and Mr. Jones to have it "and' instead of
"or' On my refusal to 10 it, he, Mr.. Pat
ton, stated it was Mr.. StcvcnSS intention
to have the word "and' instead of cor" in
serted that it ought to be done that it
would save time, and save Mr. Jones hay.
inT the bill amended in the Senate. Ike
then left me, and went to Mr.. Forncy, III
company with Mr.. Sproule, | believe
General Patton, at that time, said it was
customary to make such changes, and tia,
the Secretary of the Senate would have al
lowed such change or amendment to have
5 been made in his Office. did not observe
| the change until last Friday, when my at
tention was called to it by Mr. RosSer, who
stated that the bill was passed in different
form from what it was understood in Min
ncsota.
Mr.. Buck discharged for the present.
1 Hon. George W.. Jones, Of Iora, suorn.
| Question. Have you ever seen this bill
|, Original bill y
Answer. No, never before
Question. Did you ever see the engross
cd bill ?
5 Answer. Yes, as a member of the en-
t crossing committee.
Question. Has any alteration been mad
in it since you first saw it!
Answer. Yes; the word "Gnd' has bee
substituted for the word "or"
Question. Do you know by whom, ant
q q when and where, this change was made?
q Answer. | do not
! Question. Did you know Of the chang
/ being made!
h Answer. l don't know where, when, o
y by whom it was made
a Question. Did you have conversation wit
: any one in regard to the change before
= was made; and if so, with whom?
r Answer. Mr. George w. Billings aske
d me if l could not, as chairman of the Con
mittce on Enrolled Bills, change it fror
o "or7 to "dnd" and l told him could not
# Question. What reason did Mr.. Billing
G assign for asking the change to be made?
, Answer. None, except it was cleric;
), error Of the Clerk Of the House, or til