Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-11-15
rRH REDisTAiCrise RILL,
Senator Bibb's Explanation Of
An Accidental Clerical
Error.

JONES VALLEY, November 6.-I
saw in the Daily American of Novem-
Der 4, a conversation purporting to be
between Governor Hawkins, Colonel
James II. Holman, CAPTAIN j. G.
Doueherty, yand other gentlemen
at Fayetteville, on the evening Of
Thursday the End inst, in which the
Governor charges that it was the duty
ofthe Chairman OF the Committee on
Enrolled Bills, to compare the enrolled
copy with the original, to see that it
was correct.
This statement does me injustice,
whether so intended or not. Now for
the information of the Governor, |
will inform him that the Chairman Of
the Committee on Enrolled Bills does
not compare engrossed copies nor en-
rolled copies of bills by himself, but
the chairman always requires at least
two Of the committee and three if he
car get them, besides himself to COM
pare bills.
My recollection is hal Senator
Smith, of Shelby, a Republican, and
a peer Of any other Republican in the
State. Senator Duggan, of Sewer, an
able Republican, and Senator Tillman,
of MeNairy. a State credit Democrat,
compared the enrolled copy OF the
redistricting bill with the original
bill, which was No. 30, and also
compared three other bills at the
same time and instructed me to report
them correctly enrolled, to wit; No.
q, in reference to the collection oil
back taxes; No. 20, to assess the prop
erty OF railroad compauies for taxa
ton, and No 81, to deiray the expenses
of the second extraordinary session
These bills were enrolled on the day
Of adjournment.
The Senate met at $50 pm. The
hour of adjournment was set at II
O'Clock. The enrolling clerk was
hurried in enrolling those bills SO they
could be carried to the Governor, in
order to obtain his approval before the
hour of adjournment arrived.
The wonder is that the Enrolling
Clerk succeeded as we'll as she did in
the time allowed her to enroll these
four bills | carried these four bills
to the Governor, and in a short time
they we're returned approved.
On page LAG, Senate journal, Sec
ond Extra Session, | find the following
entry:
REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON
ENROLLED BILLS.
Mr. Speaker Il am instructed by
the Committee on Enrolled Bills to
report Senate bills Nos. 81, 20, so and
50 correctly enrolled and ready for the
signature Of the Speaker.
BIBB Chairman.
On the same page Of the Journal |
find the following entry;
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
A message was received from the
Governor announcing his approval OF
Senate bills Nos. 20, 80, 81 and 81.
Senator'S Smith, Duggai and Till
man, of the Committee on Enrolled
Bills, we're always ready and prompt
in the discharge of their duties in the
committee, and | am satisfied the
failure of the committee to detect the
error in the enrolled copy Of the re
districting bill was accidental aud
caused no doubt by the hurry in the
closing hours Of the session.
In justice to the Enrolling Clerk it
is due to her to lay that she had made
an accommodating and an efficient
clerk, and the mistake in the enrolled
copy of the redistricting bill is the
only mistake in the many bills and
resolutions enrolled by her which are
on the statute book, and this, | am
satisfied, was caused by the hurry in
the last hours of the session.
With the foregoing statement, |
leave it with an appreciative public
to say whether or not the Enrolling
Clerk of the Senate and chairman OF
the Enrolling Committee shall be
made breastWorks of behind which
the Governor shall take shelter and
excuse himself for not discharging
what was thought to be an imperative
constitutional duty in converting the
General Assembly in extraordinary
session to correct the mistake in the
redistricting bill. Respectfully,
Y. +. BIBB.