Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-09-12

the lobby of the House, telling him was requested
to learn the exact phraseology of the bills; that
found fatal variance between the printed bill
of the Senate and the original and engrossed bill
of the House; that the engrossed bill of the
House gave millions Of dollars to a railroad COM
panv, and the printed one of the Senate made the
donation to the Territory; that had discovered
the original and engrossed bills had been altered
in the word ''or'' for ''and,'' without informing
him at whose solicitation il had been done that
as the people of Minnesota felt deep interest in
this grant of lands, and he had offered the bill
| would be happy to be informed whether it was
the intention of the Committee and of Congress
10 give these lands to the company and whether
che alteration had been made by the sanction of
The Committee and of Congress. giving him. at
the same time, the printed bill. Gen. Stevens
kept his eyes fixed upon the bill for several mimi
ties, and. after some reelection. answ erel that rs
the bill passed Congress sometime ago, be coult!
not give me the information, but that Ii, would
inquire into the matter, and Immediately babe me
good morning. As to the influences which Undue
Cd the alteration, know nothing.
QGe.tion. Was there any contest in the terri
torial legislature in reference TO the charter of
the Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad Com
J. my: MAS there unanimity in that body on III
passage of the act
Answer. The charter of that COMPANY was most
violently opposed and assaulted in boE branches
of the legislature, and it finally passed bya small
majority.
Question. You speak of the bill (cngrosscd)
giving millions Of dollars to a railroad company,
AMI the printed bill making the donation TO the
Territory. State. looking at the engrosSed bill,
If 1t does not make the donation the Territory,
and if any company take it. whether it takes it
under the act Of the Territory?
Answer. II does make the donation 10 the Ter
rtory. and it would have to take it under the act
of the Territory, the Minnesota and Northwestern
Railroad Company, under the charter passed by
the legislature last session, would be the company
entitled TO the lands.
GERoGE W. BILLINGs. RECALLED.
Question. Did you have any conversation with
Mr. Siblcy in relation TO this bill after it was
drawn up, and did Mr.. Sibley ever assent to the
change in the bill
Answer. None that | recollect, except in gen
eral terms rs to its passage; nor do recolect OF
having any conversation as to the change.
Question. What other persons than those al
ready Gamed. if any, did you have conversation
with in regard to the change?
Answer. | do not recollect Of any other conv cr-
sation!
Question. Did you ever have any converse
tion with John Wentworth of Illinois?
Answer. He asked me whether the sompnny
would 90 into operation. | answered, suppos-
ed so, but could not tell.
Question. Was there anything in the converse
ton with MIR. Wentworth in regard to the altera-
ton of the bill before it took place?
Answer. There was not, nor since.
Question. Have you had any onversation with
any person, since your arrival in this city, in re-
lation to the change of the BILL or in relation to
this Investigation.
Answer. have not, except have been asked
half dozen times what l was here for.
RrcH.-The following paragraph is going the
rounds of the press. We see it in number Of
our exchanges:
The St Paul Minnesotian says that Henry VI.
Rice Of that Territory. owned the hen that laid
the egg, that boiled in pot and sold to the
man that threw it at Frank Pierce and knocked
off his hat.
Mr.. Rice may well exclaim-''Deliver me from