Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-09-12
MINNESOTA LAND BILL FRAUD.
Proceedings of the Select Committee of the House
Repre- natives.
JOIN WENTWORTH, SWORN

Representatives..
JOHN WENTWORTH, Sworn.
| Question. Did you ever have any conversation
with MIR. 5. S. JONES' or any other person, to the
effect that Mr.. Washburnc would be disappointed
or mistaken is his belief that the last bill before
the ilouse, granting andto Minnesota Territory for
railroad purposes, would debar the company
which the territorial legislature had chartered
from benefits of the grant?
Answer. | was not present when the bill passed.
AS my constituents felt an interest in the BILL
after my return went to MIR. Rice, the delegate
from Minnesota, and asked for a copy of the bill
as it psased. He gave me printed bill, and
made one alteration, substituting the word ''and''
for ''Or." l then fixed other copies, and sent
them to western newspapers and parties interested
and called their attention to the effect of the bill
One day 5. 5. Jones was in my room, and be-
lieving that MIR. Washburne was opposed to the
connexion at Dubuque, and believing that the bill
as passe would make the cOnnexion at that point,
| had curiosity to know how Mr.. Washburne
came to vote for it, and asked how he came to do
SO under the construction gave to it. MIR Jones
said Mr.. Washburne gave the bill no such con-
structiOn and | then went on by various remarks
to express my surprise that so shrewd a man as he
was should allow the bill to pass, when he was
generally believed TO be hostile to all the roads
which were interested in any connexOn ut Du.
buque, II being understood that Mr.. Washburne
was lnbo ing for system of roads in Iowa that
would tend mostly to carry trade and travel east
and vest without going to Dubuque. This is the
substance of what said to Mr.. Jones. as could
not account for his vote, if he understood the
vote did.
DANIEL BAKER, Sworn.
Question. State whether you were in Minnesota
when he legislature last winter, I;issc IL chatter.
IN anticipation of gran OF land by COngre3s
and if so, state whit yOu know of public Sc IN MT
on the Suhiect and I no raa son IL you tno,,
the charter passed before the gr, mt wa IN de:
Answer. was there the first ten or twelve DAVIS
up to two or three days of tn passage of the
bill. know of no sentiment of any we ght
against giving the lands; if there was any ques-
ton among the members, 1t was the direction the
road should run to the lake; the public opinion
Of all parties was, to pass the BILL and insure the
early completion of the road.
The reasons for granting the charter before the
lands were given were these LIST. We should
gain years time. I'd. The persons who came
among us before the House, W re, it was sid,
there was strong opposition to all grants in fa-
vor of railroads.
ton
Resolved, That on tomorrow morning the COM
mittee report bill providing that the grant of
land to Minnesota shall inure to the benefit of
any company heretofore. constituted or organ
led"
Rejected.
Mr.. Campbell introduced the follow ng rcso-
luton:
Resolued. That on to morrow morning the COM
mttee report bill repeating the act entitled can
act to aid the Territory of Minnesota in the con.
struction of railroad theren.''
Rejected.
AtGUsr l, 1854.
GEORGE HARRINGTON, Sworn.
Question. State what you know, if anything,
of the alteration of House bill No. 342-the per-
sons by whom such change was made, the motives,
interests, &C., by which the said alteration
accomplished.
Question. State what connex on you have had,
if any, with the passage of the MINI ,sota Land
bill-by whom you were employed, the nature of
the services rendered, the compensation pI omised
and paid, and everything within your knowledge
pertinent to the inres cation before this
mittee. State particularly the substance of any
conversation you may have had with George w.
Billings, Mr.. Z. b. Washburue, of Illinois, or Mr..
Alvah Hunt, of New York, in reference to the
Minnesota Land bill, having any connexion with
the investigation now being pursued by the com
mittcc.
To the first question answer know nothng.
To the second answer, was employed by MIR.
G. w. Billings, who called on me short time
before the bill passed the House, and requested
my services 10 aid in its passage. / charged him
IS 900 in money, which amount h. agreed to give
me. My duty was to ascertain, as far as my &C
quaintance went, how members were disposed to-
wards the bill; and if any objections existed
which could explain away, was to do so.
referred 10 the opposition of Mr.. Alvah Hunt,
of New York, to the former bill; to which MIR.
Billings replied, that by the bill as then proposed
the IN; objections of MIR. Hunt were removed. Mr..
Billings wished me to see Mr.. Z. B. Washburne,
as soon as he should return from Illinois, then
daily expected.
Mr. asnburne returned within day or two,
ana saw INN at the Capitol, and asked b m if he
was irie'oy 20 'ne Minnesota Land bill. He re-
Piled he was, if t was drawn risht: and tina, ne
bad inst retained from Illinois, and would see to