Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-09-05
MINNESOTA LAND BILL FRAUD.
Proceedings Of Select Committee Of the House Of Re-
personalities
(CoNTNUED.)


Proceedings selec, Committee Of the House Of Re-
representatives..
(coNTrNUED.)
July, Is, 1854.
The Committee met. Present: Messrs Wash
burne, Breckenridge, Campbell, Barry and Davis.
GERooE W. BILLINGS, SWORN.
Question. Where do you reside?
Answer. In the city Of New York.
Question. Have you any knowledge of a bill
(No. 342) introduced into the House Of Represen-
tatives Handing him the original
Answer. never had until it was after printed.
Question. Did you see the original bill after
it was printed.
Answer. saw it after it had passed the House,
but never saw the original bill. l went to the
Clerk of the House to get certified copy of it for
Governor Ramsey, but did not see the original,
but the engrossed bill.
Question. Did you ever see the engrossed bill9
Answer. think this looks like the bill / saw.
Question. Please to state anything you know Of
the alteration of the bill-striking out the word
COR" and substituting the word "and," in the
third section?
Answer. l recollect having conversations with
the chairman in relation to the word "Or." and
other words, which l was told was in the original
bill.
Question. When were the conversations, and
what were they9
Answer. They commenced some time about the
middle of last March, and were in relation to the
defeat of the first bill. think in our interview
asked why you were opposed to the bill; your
answer was, 81 am not opposed, except so far as
the olfbill would insure to the benefit of the Ill
nois Central Railroad Company, but was not op-.
posed to granting lands to companies for railroad
purposes )" that so far as the character was con-
cerned, he knew nothing of it, and that had said
nothing to him in regard to sending to obtain it.
Mr.. Washburne said that so far as the Illinois
Central Railroad Company was concerned, he
would fight it to death that it should not insure
to the benefit Of the company or its friends. l
asked him what he desired in relation to the bill,
if another was introduced the answer was: ssIt
must be framed so as to 60 to future legislature,
or include road from Tete de Mortz, on the Mis-
sifsippi river, on the ridge, fifteen miles back of
Dubuque, up to the Minnesota line that the con-
nexion of the Minnesota road must be made with
the road" l cannot rccollect what answer
gave him, and think for week or so had no
further conversation with Mr.. Washburne on that
subject. At our first interview, the question
put was direct in regard to the form in which
an arrangement could be made to make it salts
factory; the answer to that was, whoever obtained
the grant should enter into contract with the
parties interested in the St. Charles Airline road
to build the road from Tete de Mortz up to where
it would intersect the branch from Dubuque to
the Minnesota line; my answer to that was, there
were no parties in existence as corporation to
make that contract. He then proposed individual
security. told him it was doubtful if it could
be procured, that it would be satisfactory. l
think this conversation took place before the new
bill, as it was called, was drawn. When the new
bill was about to be drawn. 7 understood that
Governor GoIman, Mr.. Washburne and Mr.. Sibley,
of Minnesota, were the parties that drew the BILL
and was told that it was drawn so as to cut off
all prior legislation. l had some conversation
with Governor German while here, and his mind
seemed to be to prevent the present company
from having anything to do with the subject, but
to throw the operation of it into the nineteenth
section of the act of incorporation of the MINES
Ota and Northwestern Railroad Company. | con-
suited several parties from Minnesota in regard
to that matter, among whom were Governor RAM
sew, Messrs. Wilkin, LIE Due, and Steele and some
others whose name do not recollect they solc-
tied me to try and make some arrangement that
would satisfy parties who seemed to be dissatis-
fed | told them would use my best endeavors
to do so. | came to Washington again about the
time the bill was drawn, or | understood it was
drawn. had an interview with Mr.. Washburne.
At this interview asked him to name the precise
terms upon which he would enter into an arrange
ment to have the bill perfected as it was originally
propose; his reply was that the Tete de Mortz
road must be built, and the Illinois Central Rail-
answered him that, so far as the Illinois Com
pany was concerned, they would have nothing to
do with it, though some of the parties who were
IN the Illinois company were corporators in the
Minnesota company. told him that the Illinois
company had more to attend to than they could
do, and that it was not my intention that they
should have anything to do with it, and that he
might set his mind at rest on that score. Then
came the question about the Tete de Mortz con-
nection. | do not recolect whether it was at this
interview, or the one succeeding that | asked him
what would be the least that could insure the bill
in its passage in its original shape, to correspond
with the charter. The direct answer to that was
as before; his friends must be satisfied,
and if they were satisfied, he would con-
seat to the bill beng passed as originally
drawn. inquired who the friends were. lie said,
" Avah Hunt, of New York - and if Mr.. Hunt
was satisfied, there would be no difficulty about it
with the Airline road. went back to New York
and procured friend to see Mr.. Hunt, and
from the interviews had between those parties,
had supposed that Mr.. Hunt was perfectly salts
fed with the result.
HoN. HESTER L STEVENS SWORN.
Question. Are you member of the House of
Representatives?
Answer. | am.
Question. Do you know anything material out
side your statement made before the House, in re-
lat:on to making the alteration?
Answer. The first person that recollect who
spoke to me in relation to making the change was
Mr.. Billings. while the bill was before the Com
mittee on Public Lands. Mr.. Billings said that
the friends Of the bill wanted the change made in
the I'd section and if Billings did not see the
bill in my possession, think Mr.. Thompson did,
| think Mr.. Billings stated they wanted it SO
changed that the present legislature should act on
the subject, that the work might 20 on this sum-
mer. | remarked, that to act upon it they would
have to call an extra session, as the legislature
was not now in session, as was told. This con-
versation may have been with some other person
than Mr.. Billings-that is, in reference to the &C
ton of the legislature. 1t was also sale that the
friends of the measure wished to have that Sec
ton so constructed that a company. (what com
pany don't know could be the recipient of the
grant under the action Of the legislature.
l asked Mr.. Billings if it was satisfactory to
the friends of the bill that the change be made
among other friends, Mr.. Washburne. His re-
ply was, 4" Mr.. Washburne was satisfied and want
ed it," The word culture" was stricken out be-
fore it was reported, or ordered to be reported,
to the House, by myself, in my room or the COM
mite room.
Question. What senators spoke to you in re-
gard to the matter?
Answer. / said / conversed with senator's, but
do not think l ought to tell their names.
Question. Did you have any conversation with
any senator or senators in regard to the proposed
alteration, and if so, who and at what time, and
under what circumstances, and what was the con
versation?
this question as illegal. shall answer the qucs-
sc H.. &c IL,