Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-09-05

have necessarily frequent intercourse with eacl
other, to keep themselves informed of the pro
gress of bills-to ascertain what bills have beer
| favorably reported on, those that have been re-
ported against, and those that have been reported
with amendments, &C., to enable them to know
what bills to enroll, and in what FORM in advance
of their passage; for it would be physically i'm
possible to enroll them for ultimate action in time
if deferred until their final passage. If we dis.
cover a material error, after a bill has gone from
would defeat the object of the bill containing il
such as the misspelling of the name of claim
ant, which, from the illegible manner in which
names are often written, sometimes Occurs-we
apprize each other of it, so that measures may be
taken to correct it, under the sanction of the ap
propriate committee, before the bill goes to the
President.
July 26, 1854.
JOHN WILSON, Sworn.
States Government?
Answer. Commissioner Of the General Land
Office.
Question. Have you seen the House Bill No.
342?
Answer. Yes, sir; have.
Question. Can you state what action has ta-
ken place in relation to this bill?
Answer. The only action at my Office has been
to recommend the withdrawal from sale entry
Of the lands along the route of that road, and
along the proposed extension of it, in Wisconsin
and Iowa.
Question. Were those lands withdrawn from
entry?
Answer. The lands withdrawn are in Mnneso-
ia Territory, and extended to Iowa and Wiscon-
sin.
Question. State whether you have been con-
suited in relation to the House bill No. 342, after
its approval, by any person or persons, In regard
to its legal effect /; and if so, by whom9
Answer. By the Hon. Mr.. Eastman, and no
other person, to the best of my knowledge and
belief. The object was to know whether this
grant extended to Wisconsin.
Question. Has your attention been called to
the alteration of the Bill
Answer. Has not until yesterday.
Question. Has any other person conversed
with you, other than MIR. Eastman?
Answer. Has not, but in general terms to in
quire whether the road would probably succeed,
&c.
Question. Did you ever know or hear of a
company claiming these lands?
Answer. | have not.
Question. Has your attention been directed to
the Sd section by any person?
Answer. 1t has not.
Question. Have you any knowledge Of any
railroad from Dubuque, Iowa, via. St. Paul, Min
nesota Territory, to the mouth OF Left-Iland riv-
or, at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, or any other grant
or of any bills pending in Congress to provide for
such grants
Answer. The act based on House Bill No. 342,
''to aid the Territory of Minnesota in the con-
struction of railroad therein" makes grant to
said Territory for the part of the above mentioned
railroad within said Territory. In relation to the
extension of said road north into Wisconsin and
south into Iowa, know nothing further than is
shown in the application of the senators, repre-
scntatives, and delegates, for the withdrawal of
the lands along the route of said road, from Du-
buqu,, via. ST. Paul, to the mouth of Left Hanl
River, at the head Of Lake Superior.
JOHN w. FoRNGY, SWORN.
Question. State to the committee the Office
you hold.
Answer | am Clerk of the House of Repre-
sentatves of the United States.
Question. As clerk of the House of Repre-
sentatiycs, state whether you have seen original
bill No. 342.
Answer Never, until exhibited to me yestcr-
day.
Question. State to the committee whether
you have ever seen the engrossed bill now eXh.b
tied.
Answer. I saw the engrossed bill after its pas
sage in the House,
Question. State what you know in relation
to its engrossment and enrolment.
Answer. All know in relation to the bill is
since its engrossm mt. Then Gen. Stevens. Mr..
Patton, engrossng clerk of the Senate, and Mr..
Sproulc, cngross;ng clerk in my office, came to
my room after the bill had passed the House.
General Stevens stated that there was mistake
in the bill, and that, as he understood, pointing
to the word ''Or'' in the Sd section the Commit
tee on Public Lands intended that the word ''or''
should be sand" said the alteration was imma-
terial, and hoped that would agree to m Ike it,
because unnecessary delay would follow. |
paused AMI looked over two lines of the bill, and
not over, and said to General Patton, who
standing near me: ''What is your practice in the
Senatc:'' He sid: ''We maze immateral alter
atoms Observation-Disclosures that do not inter
fere with the context" Said 500 you think
ought to agree to the alteration, for this seems
to me to be immaterial 20 He said ''lf were
in your place, would do it; think ,ce should
do it''-or words to that effect General Stevens
was so positive to the fact that he understood
the committee intended "dnd' should he in the
place of s'Or,'' that after this consultation, di-
rccted Mr.. Sproule to make the alteration. At
that time, if my recollection serves me, General
Stevens retired from the Office. | have heard
nothing of this matter until Sunday, when a
friend called to let me know that a Mr.. Rosser
complained that that alteration interfered with
certain private rights in Minnesota Territory.
Question. Did you know the legal effects that
the alteration would have on the bill?
Answer. did not.
tive of General Stevens in wishing the change?
Answer. | could not know, as General Ste
vens was not in the habit of coming to my Office !;
nor was he a personal, and hardly political,
friend
Question. Have you had any conversation
with any person or persons, before or since the
passage of the bill, in regard to the grant of land
contained in the bill
Answer have not it passed out of my
memory.
Question. Do you now see the difference be-
tween the word ''or' and 'and,'' as in the bill?
Answer. | do not, except explained by Others
Question Have you any interest in any way
with the railroad, or had you any conversation
with any other persons than those before men
toned in relation to the bill?
Answer. | have not.
Question. DO you know George w. Billings?
Answer. do not.
Question. Have You ever known case, where
bill has reached its cngrossment and enrolment,
where word has been struck out, through all
the stages of the bill, and another and different
word inserted?
Answer. | have not known of any such case :,
but an alteration made must run through all bills.
Probably a case might happen of the kind, and
alterations are made of an lmmaterial character.
Question. Was this alteration made, as testi-
fed by you, after the passage in the House, and
previous to its passage in the Senate?
Answer. 1t was.
eY-The St. Anthony Express says that the
mill at Anoka is now in operation.
G1yThe officers of the land Office at Minneapolis