The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-09-07
MINNESOTA LAND BILL FRAUD.
Proceedings of a Select Com nrittee of the
House of Representatives OF the United
States, under a Resolution in relati on
to a change of a word in the bill No.
342 after its EngrOssment.

to a change of word in the Bill No.
342 after its EngrOssment.
... .. . July %, 1854.
The Committee met. Present: Messrs.
Washburne, breckenridge Campbell, Bar
ry, and Davis. r
Testimony and Documentary Eridcnce toIen
before the Select COMMITTEE of the House
of Representatives, under the tollouing
resolution of tile House:
Resolred, That special committee of
five be appointed for the purpose of inquir-
ing whether the text of House bill 342, to
aid the construction Of railroad in the
Territory of Minnesota, was altered, or in
way changed in its language, subsequent to
its engrossment Or passage by this House;
without the authority of the House, and if
so, by whom, and under what circumstan-
ces, such change was made; and also in re-
gard to all other cases of Interpolation of
bills or joint resolutions of the House dur
ing the present session; and that said COM
mittee be empowered to send for persons
and papers, and to examine witnesses on
oath in the premises.
For the evidence of Hon. III. NJ Rice,
see editorial columns
John Uentrorth, sarora
Question. Did you ever have any CONVEX
sation with Mr.. S. S. Jones, or any other
person, to the effect that Mr.. Washbnrnc
would be disappointed or mistaken in his be-
lief that the last bill before the House, grant
ing land to Minnesota Territory for railroad
purposes, would debar the company which
the territorial legislature had chartered from
benefits of tie grant?
Answer | was not present when the bill
passed. AS my constituents felt an interest
in the bill, after my return l went to Mr.
Rice, the delegate from Minnesota, and ask
ed for copy of the bill as it passed. He
gave me printed bill, and made one alter
alton, substituting the word sand" for
"or." | then fixed other copies, and sent
them to western newspapers and parties in
terested, and called their attention to the eff
feet of the bill
One day S. S. Jones was in my room, and
believing that Mr.. Washburne was opposed
to the conneXion at Dubuque, and believing
that the bill as passed would make the con-
nexion 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. Mr. Jones
said Mr.. Washburne gave the bill no such
constructions; and l then went on by various
remarks to express my surprise that Mr..
! Washburne should give it any other; and
also to express my surprise that so sllreWd a
man as he was should allow the bill to pass,
when he was generally believed to I've hostile
to all the roads which were Interested in any
conncXion at Dubuque, it being understood
, that Mr. Washburne was labOring for sys-
, TEN of roads in Iowa that would tcndmost-
ly to carry trade and travel east and west,
without going to Dubuque This is the SUI
stance of what said to Mr.. Jones, as
: could not account for this vote, if he under
stood the vote as | did.
Dania Bcler, suorn.
Question. State whether yOuwerc in Min
nesota when the legislature, last winter,
passed a charter, in anticipation of a grant
of land by Congress; and if so, state what
You know of public sentiment on the subject
: and the reason, if You know, why the char
!, ter was passed before grant was made?
Answer was there the first ten or twelve
. days-up to two or three days of the pas
sage of the BILL know of no public sent,
iment of any weight against giving the lands;
if there was any question among the mem
= bers, it was the direction the road should
run to the lake; the public opinion of all
i parties was, to pass the bill, and insure the
early completion of the road.
: The reasons for granting the charter be-
: fore the lands were given were these :: LIST
); We should gain years time. Cd. The per
: sons who came among us pledged themselves
to aid us before the House. where, it was
said, there was strong opposition to al
grants in favor of railroads.
r Mr.. Campbell introduced the following
e resolution:
= ReMlred, That on tomorrow morning the
c committee report bill providing that the
n grant of land to Minnesota shall not nurt
8 to the benefit of any company heretofore
CONSTITUTED and organized
Rejected.
" Mr. Campbell introduced the following
'' resolution:
J.. Resolred, That on tomorrow morning tn
% committee report bill repeating the act en-
titled Gan act to aid the Territory of Min
Il nesota in the construction of railroad there
II in."
Rejected
e AUGrsr 1, 1854.
j. George Harrtngton sworm.
a Question. State what you know, if any
thing, of the alteration of House bill No
342-the persons by whom such change wa
<, made, the motives, interests, &c, by whicl
,e the said alteration was accomplished.