The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-02-02
LEoIsLArIEE.

VIII cOlnHlehuaoio unahihhoy vi ioohnS
of respective parties toward each other.
The bill granting an appropriation to
Judges of the Circuit Courts to defray
travelling and other necessary disburse-
ments while in discharge of their official
duties, received its death blow by mo-
ton on its first passage to strike out all
after the enacting clause. The principal
objection to this bill, on the part Of many
members, arose from its conceived uncon-
stitutionality.
A bill has been introduced in the Sen
ate, by Mr. Barns, Chairman of the COM
mittee ON State Affairs, to provide for the
drainage and retaining of the swamp
lands by system Of State Roads, TO be
constructed at convenient intervals thro'
the length and breadth Of the northern
portions of the State.
The bill amending the tax law-re-
curing supervisors 10 place in the tax
rolls the amount assessed for State pur-
poses in column by itself-has passed
both branches of the Legislature and can
not fail to be approved by the Governor.
The opinion prevails at Lansing that
the bill for the restoration of the death
penalty will be permitted to die natural
death on the vote for its final passage. To
that we heartily respond, Amen.
The bill annihilating Grand Juries-
that detestablc relic of the dark ages, and
we might with aptitude perhaps say of
the Inquisition-has passed the House,
only three opposing votes. 1t provides
that criminal prosecutions may take place
on information.
The bill relative to making the Office
of Judge of Probate a salaried one, has
passed to third reading in the House
and re-committed with instructions to
strike out as a maximum of salary $4,000
and insert $500. 1T will, doubtless,
with this amendment become law.
The bill granting $4,000 from the
State Treasury, for the relief of the citi-
zens of Gratiot, Isabella and other north
ern counties, now suffering from famine,
has passed both branches of the Legisla-
ture-in the Senate, by only one oppos-
ing vote; in the House, the vote on its fl
nal passage stood, yeas, ga; nays, 16.
The bill to organize the county of Mus
kegon was taken up for third reading on
Friday last.
Mr.. Monroe moved to pass it over until
tomorrow. Decided out of order.
Mr.. Monroe moved TO lay the bill on the
table. Withdrawn.
After the bill had been read, Mr.. Mon
roe moved q call of the House, which was
sustained. All the members were pres
ent except two, when further proceedings
under the call were dispensed with.
Mr.. Dalton said that a majority Of the
people of the county Of Ottawa were OPP
posed to the organization Of the new
county. RESPONSIVENESS had been pre-
scented him, and were row in the hands
of the chairmen Of the Committees ON
Towns and Counties in the two houses,
upon which were the names of 500 per-
sons, while the names of but 4s0 persons
had been presented upon petitions for it.
In the proposed county there are actual
ly but three towns of good farming lands !;
the remainder being swamps, and hills,
and pine lands. The village of Muske-
gon is DESTROYS of being the county seat,
and that accounts for the pressure made
upon the Legislature for the organization.
Besides this, the constitution says that no
county shall BIO reduced TO less than six
teen townships in the organization of new
counties. If the new county should be
organized, it would leave but thirteen or
ganized townships in Ottawa.
Mr.. Kore stated the reasons why the
Committee on Towns and Counties had
made the recommendation for the organ
ization of the new county, and chief