The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-09-02

he did not see how it could affect the mean
ing or sense of the bill, but as it's friends
wished it to pass as it was reported by the
committee, he wasdisposed to crafty them.
| told him, as the bill had originated in the
House of Representatives, | could not
make the correction, and that, if made, it
must be done by the engrossing clerk of
the House; and as it seemed to be mere
verbal error, it was probable, that on
representation of the facts by the Commit
tee on Public Lands of the House to Mr..
Sproule, the engrossing clerk Of the House,
he would make the correction. He intima-
ted to me, that if it could be done proper
", he would like to have it DONE He said
he had understood that Gen. Stevens had
reported the bill to the House, and presum-
ed that he would state the facts to Mr..
Sproule, the engrossing clerk of the House
of Representatives. l got the engrossed
bill and started over to see Mr.. SprOule. |
accidentally met Gen Stevens at the south
door of the rotunda, and called his atten-
ton to the subject. He said it was mis-
take, at finding the word cor" there instead
of the word "and" He mentioned two
alterations he had made in the original bill
One was striking but the word future"
and the other was changing the word cor"
to "and," and told me, if | would look at
the original bill, he thought l would find it
so. then told him in brief the CONVERSE
ton that had passed between Gen. Jones
and me, and proposed that he should go
with NE to Mr.. Sproulc and see about it.
We went to the engrossing room where Mr..
Sproule was, and Gen. Stevens represented
the facts to Mr. Sproule, and said the word
corr was a mistake-that it was not in ac-
cordance with the report of the committee,
and ought to be corrected. The original
bill was then referred to, and from what |
overheard of the conversation, for at the
moment my attention was partially drawn
off in conversation with other gentlemen in
the Office l understood they found the
word future" had been. stricken out, as
Gen. Stevens had told me; but that the
word cor" had not been changed to "and,
as he had supposed it was, and at which he
manifested much surprise. lie stated that
lie really did not see how he came to omit
that alteration, and until he saw it was
omitted he was confident that he had made
it. He said it was the intention of the
committee to make the change, or that they
had approved the change, and that lie
thought it ought to be done. Mr.. SprOulc
then said, will go and see COL Forney
about it; and he, Gen. Stevens and myself,
went into Col. FOrneyS room together
Gen Stevens stated the facts to Col. For
ncy, and said that the correction ought to
be made if it could be; to who l also stated
the substance of what Gen Jones had said
to me concerning the BILL Col. Forncy
turned to me and asked me what the prac-
tee, in such cases, was in the Senate |
told him that, at the request of the COM
mittce who reported the bill, verbal altera-
tons not affecting the sense OF the bill were
made. Col. Forney then, in an under tone,
repeated over the words CONSTITUTED or Or
gained" constituted and organized" and
said, why really do not see that it affects
the sense Of the blu at all; and as it was
the intention of the committee that it should
he "and," and as the object Of the change
seems to be solely to prevent delay, think
the correction might as well be made.
returned to the cngrUssing room, and Mr..
Sprou!e came in soon after with the bill in
his hand, and soon after gave me the bill
and Oh looking into it | saw the correction
had been made, l went back to the Sen
ate chamber and informed Gen. Jones that
the correction had been made, to which he
replied Every wcll7 He did not seem te
manifest any feeling upon the subject.
do not think | had any other interview:
with Gen. Jones Oh the subject than those
mentioned. l had 10 conversation with any
other person on the subject than those
have mentioned. l may have been in Mr.
Sproule's room several times that day, but
do not remember having went over to se'
Mr.. Sproulc on this subject more than once
Gen. Jones, | think, pointed out the erro
in printed bill. l have made verbal cor
rcctions in engrossed bills when requested
by the committee who reported them.
have also made them in engrossed bills b.
direction of the engrossing committee, ant
| have made similar corrections by direction
of the enrolling committee, in enrolled bills
but never by the direction or request of 9th
ers, without the sanction of a committee, il
the cases | have mentioned. The engrOSs
ing clerks of the two houses have ncccssari
ly frequent intercourse with each other t.
keep themselves informed of the progress o