The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-03-12


from Our Own Correspondent.
LANSING, Feb. %, 1885.
The first fifty days of the session, after
which no bills can be introduced In either
house closed with the end Of the session
of the 25th, bu. to give little more time
the Senate simply took recess on Wednes-
day evening, aud SO extended the legisla-
tive day until Thursday noon. At that time
the Senate found itself with 412 bills and
SO joint resolutions, against POI bills and rs
joint resolutions in 1888, and the House
with TAO bills and As joint reso-
lutions. while they mad only 655 bills
and 80 joint resolutions in 1883--or
grand total Of 1888. This is
considerably in excess of any session for
many years. the figures for 1883 being 1,006.
for 1881, 1,095. and for 1879. /, IA. and We
think no session has ever equaled it. 1t
will thus be seen that the Legislative hopper
is full. pressed down, and running over,
and that our law makers have laid out for
themselves grist that they will be until
June, at least, in grinding. The session Of
1883 lasted until June 3, and this cannot
close earlier.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
For many years there has been growing
conviction that murders were on the in
crease in our State and that it might be
to that effect came within few votes OF
passing the House in 1881, and the increase
of murders since has changed public opiA-
ion SO that when Representative Ford bill,
'to provide for the penalty of death in GER
tain cases of murder" came up on q
special order on the 26th, it called out a
large crowd. Representative Blocks mo-
ton to strike out oil after its enacting
clause called out able speeches from
Messrs. Ford Cits author, Campbell, Park
hurst. Adams and Matthew, and was opposed
by Messrs. Block, Hampton, McNabb, Bar
ry. and o. n. Case. The motion to strike
out was defeated, and when the bill came up
on its final passage 1t passed by vote of
SO to %.
A careful canvass of the Senate makes it
quite certain that it will also pass that body
and become the law of the State. 1t is
quite long, but we give it entire, as fol-
lows:
SECTION 1. The people of the State of
Michigan enact, That every person who
shall hereafter be convicted of the crime of
murder in the first degree shall suffer
death, if the jury before whom such per-
son shall be tried SO recommend in their
verdict; but if the jury do not SO recon-
mend, such convict shall be punished by
Imprisonment in the State Prison for life.
SEC. 2. Whenever any convict shall be
sentenced to the punishment of death the
presiding Judge of the court at which said
conviction shall have taken place shall APP
point the day on which such sentence shall
be executed, which shall not be less than
ten and not more than twenty months from
the time of sentence.
SEC. 3. The presiding Judge of the
court at which said conviction shall have
taken place shall Immediately thereupon
| transmit, or cause to be transmitted to the
Governor of this State. by mail. state
ment of such conviction and sentence, with
| n copy of the notes of the testimony taken
| by such Judge, or by the official stenog-
rapher Of the court upon the trial. The
expense of such statement and copy shall
| be estimated at the rate allowed by law to
county clerks for making copies and ex-
emplitications of records and pleadings
and shall be audited by the Auditor Gen
eral and paid out of the treasury of the
State.
SEC. 4. Whenever any person shall be
convicted of any crime for which sentence
of death shall be awarded against him, the
clerk of the court, as soon as may be, shall
deliver TO the Sheriff of the county cert.
fed transcript of the conviction and sen
tence; and the Sheriff sha thereupor
cause to be executed on such sonvict the
| judgment and sentence of the law
SEC. 8. If it shall be made to appear tc
the Governor that any convict who is under
sentence of death has become insane, OF
for any other cause it appear to the Gov.
ernor to be advisable. the execution of sucf
sentence may be respited by the Governo
from time to time, so long as he shall thinl
proper.
SEC G. The punishment of death shall
IN, IL ,..a. ox, L. IL
convict by the neck until he is dead: anC
the sentence shall, at the time directed b,
the sentence, or by the warrant of the Gov.
ernor when the execution thereof has beer
respited by the Governor, be executed
within the walls of the Jail Of the county il
, which the conviction was had, or within
the inclosed yard of such Jail.
SEC. z. The Sheriff Of such county shall
be present ut the execution, unless he shall
be prevented by sickness or other casualty
and also two of his deputies, to be desig.
mated by him, and he shall request tn,
presence of the prosecuting attorney, clerl
of the court, and twelve respectable citi
zens, including physician or surgeon; ant
he shall permit the counsel of the convict
and such ministers of the gospel as tn,
convict shall desire, and his relatives mex
of kin to be present, and also such officer!
of the Jail. deputies and constables, mill
tary guard or other assistants, as he shall
see fit
SEC. 8. Whenever Sheriff shall infiic
the punishment of death upon any convic
in obedience to the judgment and sentenc,
of the court or warrant of the Governor. h,
shall make return thereof under his hand
with such warrant, if any, Of his doings
therein. to the clerk of the court in which
the conviction was had, as soon as may be.
SEC. 8. For his services performed in
executing the sentence of death upon any
convict, the Sheriff shall receive the sun
of $50, and his actual and necessary ex'
penses incident thereto and connected
herewith to be allowed and paid by the
county in which such conviction was had
in the same manner that other claims are
allowed and paid.
PRoHIBIToRY AMENDMENT.
The House prohibitory constitutions
amendment that passed that body last week
by Just the two-thirds vote, occupied the
entire day and evening of yesterday in the
Senate. The hall was literally packed with
spectators, many ladies being among the
number. The amendment was ably sup
ported by Senators Hubbell, Austin
Carveth. Brown, s. w. Smith, Henry
and Edwards, and opposed by
Senators Pulver, Cline, Shoemaker
Sherwood, Hawley, Hueston. and Curtiss,
and then the vote was ordered on its final
| .oeoooo op1 roculfa1. vaoo ,oro N