Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-22
Colonel Bigger Replies 10 Colonel
Ruffin.
OFFICE OF CLERK OF HOUSE OF
DELEGATES AND KEEPER OF
THE Rolls or VIRGINIA,
March 81, 1888.

OFFICE OF CLERK OF HOUSE OF
DELEGATES AND KEEPER OF
THE Rolls or VIRGINIA,
March 81, 1888.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
BY virtue of my official position as
Keeper of the Rolls of Virginia, l am
required to prepare the acts of publica-
ton and superintend the publication Of
the and have been proud of the tes-
timony that | have for many years dis
charged the duty promptly and properly,
and shall continue to do so in my own
right way, regardless of the interference
of outsiders. I delivered to the printer
on March Is, 1883, such portions of the
appropriation bill as | had prepared for
publication, reserviDg the second report
Of the committee of conference for
publication in the journal before de-
hvering il to the printer to be published
in the acts. Being rest broken by con-
slant labor in my office 1 went 10 my
home in SpotsylyaDia on March Sth.
On Friday, March 10Th, | received
Dispatch Of the 18th instant, in which
appeared a statement that portion of the
enrolled copy of the appropriation bill
differed in language from 1t as 1t appear
ed in the engrossed bill as it passed both
houses. l returned to my Office on
Saturday, March 18th, and after answer
ing some accumulated correspondence,
went 10 the printing Office where the
Journal was printed to get the second
report OF the committee of conference,
hut the Office was closed. On Monday
morning obtained the report and COM
pared ii with the enrolled bill, and they
were identical. Soon after Mr.. j. b.
Craig, a clerk in the Capitol-known as
the expert clerk-came into my Office
and expressed himself as glad that the
enrolled bills had been returned from
the binder, as there was a mistake in the
appropriation bill l respectfully in-
formed him that there was no mistake in
the matter TO which the DispQtch had
alluded. l then took the appropriation
bill, which was in my oiiice-havng
been brought there some days before at
the request of the clerks who had en-
crossed and enrolled portion of the APP
preparation bill which had been referred
to in order to satisfy them that they had
made correct copy-and not, as Colo
mel Ruffin endeavors to have it appear,
for me then to put in something that
had omitted to put in the bill.
Will the Dispatch refer TO its columns
OF the 18th instant and notice that in re-
ferring to the alleged difference in the
two bills that it publishes the informa-
ton upon its own authority, not saying
that the information was obtained from
q prominent officer at the Capitol ?
leave it 10 the Dispatch to say whether
am not correct in stating that the natu-
raj conclusion OF the public mind would
10 that the Dispatch obtained the In
formation from me, being the only au-
thority 10 then make a declaration of
what had passed both houses The Dis !
patch knows full well from years of test
ing that IL has always had through me |
and my Office full and free access to me |
and all records, bills. and acts, and in my |
judgment should have had some authori- |
tatiye statement that the bills differed in |
language before it gave publicity to
statement from an unofficial source. 1t
is true that i was at home at the time
resting from over-work, but il would |
have been better 10 have waited for n
week. month, or a year for correct
statement than by hasty publication of |
what WAS not the fact and by such pub |
Ication doing an injustice TO the en-
rolling clerk, the committee who ex-
ahmed the bills, and the record of the |
facts in the case.
The first publication in the Dispatch |
has been the source Of much annoyance |
to me. l could publish written testimony
OF those who were witnesses of the man |
ner 10 which Mr. j. ID. Craig and Colonel !
Frank q. Rufiln conducted themselves
in my presence when in conversation
with me on the subject, but | forbear
any particular reference TO the undig-
nifed, threatening, and almost insulting
action on their part, as ] do not wish or
intend that anything in this communica-
ton shall be considered personal.
Why should i have anything to thank
Mr.. j. ID. Craig for He goes to the
printing Office, takes up pieces of paper
which is not part OF the act, copies
portions Of them, brings il to Colonel
Ruffn, and they decide without warrant
or authority that such is part OF the
act, and Colonel Rufin 30 certifies 10 the
satisfaction Of the Dispatch, and oil this
correspondence is the result OF it. And
yet must thank Mr.. Craig for attend
ing to my duty during nay absence.
When ] in my official capacity make a
that the act as ii passed both
houses is identical with the enrolled bill ,
rs signed by the Governor, the Dispatch
then for the first time says that ii OBJ
aimed its unofficial information from q ,