The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-05-31

that it was probably an error CT the
printer: the word was changed to ssaris-
ing" all the authority we had to engross
the bill was the endorsement 20. X. w
II. III.
Mr. Bailey Dawson, first assistant clerk
Of The house, said that he thought he
could save time by cutting bill 287 out of
a newspaper, pasting it on sheet OF
paper, and sending it to the engrosslng
department; witness had been Informed
bv State Jod7Rdl reporter that that paper
had correct copy of the bill; witness
invested in five cents worth of State Jour.
nal. clrt the bill as printed ont, and then
called in Mr. Morrison to compare the
bill as printed with the one as it passed
the house; Mr. Morrison said he guessed
it was all right. and that he (witness)
knew more about the correctness of the
printed slip" than did himself (Morrison.)
Witness then called in Mr. Gregg. and
comparison of Mr.. Gregg's amendment
was made and they were found to coin
eide. Mr.. Harper then came into the
clerks room and the slip as cut from the
journal was carefully compared by wit
ness and Harper and no errors were dis
covered Harper insisted on putting his
characteristics on the bill before it went
to the engrossing department; witness
thought it a little unusual and irregular,
as Clerk Reeves name always endorsed
the bill, but witness entered no strong
objection. After going through all
these maneuvres, the bill was afterwards
discovered materially incorrect-ED.
Witness did not know who altered the
slip he sent to the engrossing department
after it had gone there, but supposed it
was altered, as was the journal of the
house, in order that everything should be
harmonious" Mr.. Harrington wanted
to know who altered the. journal. The
witness evaded a direct answer for some
time, but finally said he believed it was
altered by Clerk Reeve.
Mr. Allen. first assistant enrolling clerk
of the house, was called, and testified
that when engrossing the bill as sent by
the clerk of the house, he did not think
that the word resulting" in the reference
title sounded right; witness finished en-
crossing the bill and then called Mr..
Harper up; witness and Harper then
compared engrossed bill with bill as sent
up by house clerk, and it was found to be
correct; however, witness consulted the
statutes and noticed error; witness
thought it might have been a clerical
error; Harper believed it to be error Of
printer; Harper took engrossed bill>f9wn
TO house floor, saying he would aSee
Gregg about it; witness followed, and
saw harper crossing center aisle on his
way to MIR. Morrisons seat; witness over
took Harper and said How is that
error? to which Harper replied: That's
all right. The journal has it correct.
Witness then saw Mr.. Dawson, and
showing him the printed slip, from which
he (Allen) had engrossed the bill, asked
Dawson if it was correct, to which the
latter replied, yes. Mr.. Harper and
it, witness thought he had the
of the journal TO make the al
teration, the bill or amendment ought to
agree with the journal; this was May IS;
when witness asked Harper near Nor
rson's seat how is this? he replied, its |
the printers mistake, the journal has it |
witness did not examine the |
journal, he took HaIper's word that the |
journal was correct in making the en-
crossed bill no original bill nor original |
endorsed by the clerk of the |
house were used; in case the journal was |
: variance with the bill as sent to him |
witness did not think he would have |
made the correction.
Clerk Reeve was recalled and in answer |
to IA question by Mr.. Harrington admitted |
that he had made the alteration on the |
Journal
Mr.. Harper was sworn. Never saw |
he original bill nor amendment until |
after the indictment" saw slip from the |
State JoltrnaI witness substantiated state
nents of Dawson and Alien as to com
parison of bill. and stated that he had |
lever asked that a correction be made to |
Journal or engrossed bill: Allen was mis- |
aiken in regard to the language near
Mornson's seat May 8. Allen. who was
yet in the room, excitedly protested that
Mss Patton would bear him out in his /
and that Harper had used the |
ame language afterwards in the enroll
ng room
Mr.. Morrison was sworn and stated |
hat when MIR. Harper asked his opinion
IA the error, he (MOrrison) had said he
egarded it as immaterial, and simply
lerical error that could bc corrected at
my time.
fhe testimony closed, and the com
nittee adjourned until Thursday eve ming
t 80 O'Clock.