The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-03-06
MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE.

noon to-day. quorum OF each House was
present, and an organization was effected in
the usual way. Several new members were
sworn in, both in the Senate and House. Lee
vi Walker, OF Genesee county, and b. Walker.
OF Shiawasee county, members Of the House,
have died since the last regular session.
Other vacancies occurred by removals from
the State, and these were filed by elections
recently held.
A com mittee appeared in the House from
the Senate and announced that it was ready
for business. After little unimportant
work, both houses adjourned to 2 p. m.
On reassembing, the House went into joint
tatives, to hear the message Of Gov. Bagley,
which is as follows
E3ndtors and Representatives:
In accordance with the provisions Of Joint
Resolution No. 10, passed ut your last session,
l appointed s. M. Cutcheon, Of Washtenaw
county; /. ID. Grouse, Of Livingston county;
John Divine, of Sanilac county; j: II. Deve-
reaux, of Houghton county !. w. nj. Ferry, Of
Ottawa county Il. w. Giddings, OF Macomb
county Ii. II. Hatch. of Bay county; ID.
III. Jerome, of Saginaw county; Il. w.
Meddaugh, Of Wayne county; s. G, Moffatt OF
Leelanaw county; Ashley Pond, Of Wayne
county; II. II. Riley, of st. Joseph county;
Charles Epson, of Branch county; IL. G.
Wells. of Kalamazoo county; +. Willis, of
Monroe county; s. l.. Whitney, Of Kent coun-
ty and l.. Woodward, of Oakland county, as
Commission to prepare such amendments
and revision of the constitution as, iii THEW
judgment, might be necessai J for the best in
terests Of the State and the people. The Com
mission met at the capitol on the 9th day OF
August last, aud completed their labors on
the 10th day OF October, having been in session
tbirty-nine days. In the appointment OF this
Commission underworld to select gentlemen
representing, not only the varied interests OF
the State, but also the different shades OF
opinion on public matters. 1t seems to be the
import of the resolution that the report OF the
Commission be submitted to the present Leg
islature and there are many good reasons
why this should be done, which have influenc-
ed me in calling you together IN special ses-
sion. These are patent to anyone upon
moments reflection, and need not be enumer-
ated here.
The resolution under which the Commission
met declares what is we'll understood by al
whose business or inclination has called upon
them to examine it 1.-The existing constitu-
ton Of the state OF Michigan is defective in
many respects, and needs to be amended to
conform to the growth and development OF
the State, and the advanced ideas of the peo-
ple."
The work of the Commission has now be en-
before the people since October last aud it is
fair to presume. has received candid aud care
full attention. In calling you at this time to
consider their report, the proposed amend
ments will be kept before the people until
they shall have an opportunity to express their
will xpon them at the ballot box in November
next, aud cannot fail to have more intelligent
fair, and careful consideration than If the
matter be postponed by waiting for regular
session, until the general election in 1876,
when the heat and partisan strife OF a Presi-
dental contest will assuIedly prevent ques-
tons Of State interest, Of however much i'm
nrfa frnrs tvin ha ind 10
judgment of our citizens, doubt not that each
one OF you has already given the subject care
full and earnest attention, and Lope your ac-
ton as body may be such as will, approved
by the people, give to the State Consultation
that will be chart without errors for every
public officer-a sure guarantee to every citi-
zen OF his individual lights, and by and under
which our State may continue its proe ressive
march in the development OF its material re
sources, and est.-biish eC onomy, prudence,
and fidelity in the management OF public af-
fe'rs, as the organic law.
feel it hardly my province to express an
opirion as to the merits or dement's OF the
amendments, or to make suggestions, OF
recommendations as would be expected upon
usual matters OF legislation, yet / cannot re-
frain flom briefly slluding to some Of the
propositions Of the Commission. dee N frs
Of impoI lance The provisions relating ia
finance and taxation.
SECTION /, ARTICLE Y. No county, city
tow nship, or other municipal corporation SHE !
become stakeholder in, or make any loan OF
git to, or lend its credit in aid OF, any per-
son. private operation, or association; mol
sha' any county, city, township, or Other
municipality construct or become the owner
Of any ra'lro. I. The provisions Of this g. ;.
ON shall not prevent such municipalities
from aiding eD'istments and IN the support OF
the families of soldiers in time OF war or sup
a
prov .ded by law.
SEC. 2. ART. y. Eech organized county shs'
be body corporate, with such powers anC
immunities as shall be [es.abiishedl prescribed
by law. All suits and proceedings by oil
against county She be in the name thereof
The power Of counties to levy taxes boz row
money, and contract debts, shall be restricted
by law.
Sec. Is, ART. Y. No city or village shall in
cur indebtedness, including that incurred by
or on behalf of any school district within III
corporate limits, 80 that its aggregate debt a
any time shall exceed 10 per cent on the vau
alton OF its taxable property, a. shown by TIL,
assessment roll.
SEC. 5, AET. XIV. Every law hereafter en-
acted by the Legislature, creating debt o.
authorizing a loan, shall provide a sinkin,
fund for the payment of the same.
Sec. 8, ART. XIV The State shall not aid, b,
gift, or pledge CT it's credit, any person o.
corporation, nor shall it subscribe 10, or be
come interested in, the stock of any corpora
ton, nor assume any indebtedness Of mu
picipal or other corporation. The provisions
Of this section shall not apply to educational
charitable reformatory or penal i'm tuition
which are, or may be, under the care and con
| troll OF the State.
These are golden words and might we'll b
engraved on stone and placed in the walls o
every Capitol in the land. They say to us
keep out Of debt il possible, but il 20,
must make a debt, let it be for legtimat
| pun pose restrict it to your ability to pay, au,
provide for its payment" Happily 70
us as people, we have not been a
wastefu and improvidcnt in contracting
debts for schemes which ought either to b
paid out Of current taxation or not sanctione,
at all as many OF our sister States have been
While our State debt is d. creasing annually
every year sees the bonded indebtedness O
our cities and towns increase. The policy o
issuing bonds for municipal ndlocal purpose
is unwlse, expensive, and leads to public ex
travagance. The people OF a municipality il
voting for the issue of thousand-dolsr
per cent bond for twenty years, forget tina
the moment the bond is issued they have rs
sumed an obligation of $4,000. There is, o
course, a class Of county, city, and TOWNSHIP
improvements that the future should perhap
help pay for. This, however, is amply pre-
vided for by permitting an indebtedness
equaling 10 per cent. OF the valuation. Tn
adoption Of the several provisions above emu
merated in the organic law OF the State wi