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

hill providing for the finding of vcrdicts
by \ less number than six jurors in trials of
cases In Justices Courts was defeated In the
Senate on the 9th ult. A resolution to submit
a prohibitory amendment was the special order
In the Senate. and caused a protracted debate.
Talking began at 80 o'clock aud n vote was
not reached until . o'clock. when the resolution
10 nays-the Democrats voting against It. In
the House most OF the days session was occu-
pied I'm the discussion of the Ford bill provid-
of murder, which measure came up on third
reading After lengthy discussion the bill
was passed by vote OF so 10 %. BY its pro-
visions all persons convicted OF murder In the
first degree shall suffer death by hanging II the
jury so recommends Ii also provides that no
such sentence shall be carried into execution in
less than ten months after conviction. Two
bills previously passed allowing certain villages
TO raise money for public improvements were
recalled from the Governor and amended by
striking out the clause providing that no per-
sons should v te upon such questions who are
not property holding, tax paying electors. The
Governor approved the bill for general extern
sion or the time for the collection OF taxes to
March 20.
THE Senate held only brief session, de-
voted to routine work. on the 2sth ult., and
then adjourned to March 3. The following bills
were passed Incorporating Elsie: relative to
schools. asking Congress to build a soldiers
home In Michigan; amend NJ section SOIL,
dents: forbidding theuse OF explosives in kill
ing fish: incorporating Boyne City. The House
passed the Senate substitute for the bill incor-
porating Elsie and the House bill allowing the
incorpo alton OF lodges of the Sons OF Industry.
The House passed the following bills: To incor-
porate the village of Boyne City; to allow
School District Boards to change the time Of
holding annual meetings. either the first Mon
dav In September or the second Monday N July !;
to prevent the killing of fish by dynamite.
THE Senate was not in session at all, sd
the House did very little business on the I'd
inst. The time OF the latter body spent in
considering bills in committee Of the whole, not
enough members being present to attempt the
passage of bills. The Republican members de-
cdei, at a caucus held In the evening. to hold
two sessions daily. and when either the morn
ing or afternoon session Is omitted an evening
session will be held.
THE bill TO provide Board of Pharmacy Ex-
aminers gave rise TO debate in the Senate on
the Sd inst. that consumed nearly the entire
days session. Considerable opposition to the
bill shown. number Of unimDortant
amendments were made and the bill ordered re-
printed and placed on the calendar for third
reading. Many believe all that is desired can
be accomplished by simple legislative
enactment. The most important bill passed
number of jurymen in courts OF record Other
bills passed were: Amending the Grand Rapids
charter: empowering Glencoe, Lake County, TO
institute proceedings TO recover money; amend
ing sections 1000 aud TOOL. relative TO appeal
bonds in Justices Courts: regulating fees
OF Constables in civil cases; to prohibit
lish in the primary schools amend ng
the Ionia House of Correction act; providing
for the partition OF real estate in certain cases
providing for uniform examination OF school
teachers in Alpena County: amending section
6sis. Howell relative to Justices courts.
THE discussion of miscellaneous bills in COM
mittee of the whole engrossed the entire time
OF the Senate, at its session on March L. Moth
ing worthy of note occurred. The Senate Judi
ciary Committee began taking testimony In the
Greusel-Hueston contested case, and were au-
thoriZed to employ q stenographer and send for
persons and papers The House passed bills
amending the charter of Ishpeming, Dundee.
Armada, and INLAY City, and defeated the bill
making the usual appropriation OF $500 for the
State Pioneer Society-yeas. 40: nays, g. En-
crossing Clerk Hannah resigned on account OF the
sickness OF his wife, and his assistant, &. II.
Triplet, was promoted. The bill 10 provide toI
free textbooks in the public schools was in
definitely POSTPONED. The House postponed
discussion on the minority rep esentation bill
10 the 18th, after two hours discussion
Nearly the entire afternoon was spent in COM
mittee Of the whole. Both houses were pro-
flags, many Republicans having theirs at half
mast. The Democrats offered resolutions OF
coincidence and for adjournment, TO allow the
Republicans to attend the funeral OF the Re
publican party. They wero tabled.
MESsRs BROWN and Pencil, n majority Of
Committee on State Prisons, made an elaborate
report to the Senate on the 5th inst. dsapprov'
ing any changes being made in the laws regu
lating the employment of convicts in prisons
The law now gives discretionary power TO the
authorities to engage prisoners at labor fol
State account, and no legislation Is needed Il
carry the princiI lie into effect. The committed
questions the wisdom of making any changes
Mr.. McHenry, of the minority, recommended ar
immediate change to be made, az several con
tracts will soon expire. The following bills were
passed: The Senate bill fixing the boundaries
nnxa hill
incorporating Cadillac; House bill reincorpor
! ating Milan: Senate bill amending section GAIA
relating TO Jury fees: also the bin appropriatini
$40, 500 for the New Orleans Exposition. In tn,
House the Governor noted his approval OF the
following bills Asking Congress TO build ;
soldiers home in Michigan; authorizing the in-
CORPORATE n of Sons of Industry: protectinl
| fsh. Bills passed: Prohibiting the removal o.
certain civifcases to the Supreme Court, amend
ing the Grand Rapids charter; protecting fisf
and preserving fisheries.