The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-03-13
MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE.

FRIDAY, March 6.-.S1ldte.-The Senate
agreed to the provi3on making the Supreme
Bench consist of Ave Judges. The motion
to amend the suffrage article by striking out
the word male" not debated on its
merits. and was decided affirmatively-l3 TO
II The question OF appointment or election
of Attorney General brought out warm dis
cussion, resulting in adhering to the elective
system
House.-In the House, in Committee of the
Whole, nonfeasance was made ground for
removing State officers as we'll as misfeasance
or malfeasance Action was taken requir-
ing the Regents of the University to apply
funds voted by the Legislature as provided in
the conditions accompanying the appropria-
tons .. Attempts made to secure instruction
i'm the common or high schools in languages
other than English, both failed. The mat
ter of the application of fines to the support
of township libraries was committed to the
Committee on Education for a new section. =.
An attempt to do away with taxation on prop
erty or business failed. An amendment was
sought to be grated on the Constitution
authorizing municipalities to levy taxes on
lands and buildings owned by corporations
within their limits 1t failed by a large ma
jority The House voted to allow the ex-
emption from execution OF personal property
OF inhabitants with families to the amount OF
$500 homestead exemption, cut down
from $4,000, as reported by the Commission,
to II, 500 as now.
SATURDAY, March 7.-Sendte.-The Senate,
in Committee of the Whole, had long debate
over the salary article. An attempt to refer the
article to the Finance Committee failed. -.
The clause prohibiting amendment of existing
charters of corporations other than municipal
was struck out. The Senate is much behind
the HOnRa in buSinasa The latter has read
the whole Constitution.
HouSe.-The House, in Committee of the
Whole, agreed to the substitute of the Com
mittee on Education, recommending that
moneys from fines. forfeitures, etc, be ap-
| piled either to library purposes or for the
| support of schools, rs township or city school
boards may decide 1t was decided, in Com
mittee of the Whole, not to tax the liquor
| traffic 1t was determined to give two Sena-
tors to the Upper Peninsula, which now has
! only one.
MONDAY March 9.-lSendte. homestead
exemption of real estate Was maintained at
81 600, that body disagreeing With the House.
which fixed Il, 500. Much discussion took
ace concerning corporations, and many men,
re- inveigh strongly against men,
bers receiving passes from railways No
| definite action was taken about either matter
Along discussion took place in the Senate
concerning the proposed taxation of the
| liquor traffic.
House.-The Judiciary Committee reported
a proposed section doing away with the neces-
sity of the concurrence of more than two
thirds of jury in civil cases. 1t will be at
tempted to make the verdict of ten or eleven
| final in criminal cases Many petitions were
received in favor of female suffrage a.. The
Committee. on State Affairs reported that
| the boundaries OF the State as reported in the
proposed Constitution are correct, and no
change will be made. The boundaries are the
same az the old Constitution. A resolution
was adopted expressing sympathy with the
women in the present temperance crusade. -.
| The Auditor-General was instructed to report
how much the State paid during 1873 for eXtrs
legal services, besides the salary paid to the
Attorney-G eneral.
TUESDAY March 10.-Sendte. discus
sion of taxation of the liquor traffic occupied
nearly the whole day. The proposition was
finally rejected by vote of IA to IA TIL,
State Treasurer reported funds on hand Il
the amount of Il .230 900. satisfactorily Be
cured and deposited in bank in this State.
Rouse.-A plan for an elective judiciary wa
reported, five Supreme Judges and ffteel
circuits being agreed upon "A schedule O
salaries also reported, and after numer
Gus amendments, was finally agreed upon. a
follows: Governor, $4,000 Supreme Judges
$4,000; Circuit Judges, $4,000; Stat,
Treasurer, 81, 500 Auditor General, g, 500
Superintendent of Public Instruction, S2. 900
Secretary of State, $4,000; Land Commits
sioner, $4,000 Attorney General, g, 500.
substitute was adopted for the section re
curing a vote of two-thirds of the Board o
Supervisors to raise money for building pur
poses, etc. Supreme and Circuit Judge
were ordered by the House in Committee o
the Whole to be ineligible to other than ju
dicial offices for che year after their terms O
Office expire. The Judicial Circuits are not t
exceed fifteen, and the judges must resid
, in their circuits. Verdicts by less than tn
, whole jury was warmly discussed, and tn
verdicts of two-thirds of the jury in civil case
was agreed on.