Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-11

Opening Session OF the State Legisla-
ture.
Luce . message.

January LIST. Peyton Itanney OF Kalama-
ZOO, was chairman OF the senate caucus and
Z. q. "A. Grirfey OF Marquette, secretary
The first action was to choose L. M. Miller
OF Muskegon. secretary of the senate.
Two ballots were taken for sergeant at
arms, resulting in the choice OF John d.
Brubaker Of Emmett county. For first as
sist.int X. NJ Allen OF Berrien was chosen,
and James Mckay of Kent, was chosen
second assistant.
+. NJ Howe or Lansing was elected en-.
crossing and enrolling clerk and Mrs. j. K
JanllsUn Oh Midland assistant.
William Ball OF Livingston, was selected
f. 'ros dent pro TEN.
The house caucus elected Representative
Diekema Of Ottawa for speaker. Mr.
Daemelna was escorted TO tho platform and
thanked the house gracefully for the great
honor conferred upon him. He said he felt
that he would be embarrassed by two cir
cumstances-frst TO be able 10 equal the
prince of parliamentarians, Marley, who
nad preceded him as speaker; second that
| there were more republican members than
there were committees, aud consequently
an insufficient number of chairmanships.
However, he was absolutely unpledged TO
any individual for any position OF any com
mittee. He would bring his best Judgment
10 bear upon the task before him.
w. w. Williams Of Eaton was chosen
speaker pro tenn, re ewing Al votes.
Dan. Crossman was nominated for clerk
II required two ballots to settle who
should be sergeant-at-arms w. III. Dunn
of Oceana being chosen, and Geo. w. Foot
first assistant, and Henry Spaulding OF
Van Buren, second assis ant
Henry NJ. Rose and Clarence III. Leonard
were chosen enrolling clerks
William Tomiinson was chosen keeper of
the cloak room. with John Wesley Of Jack
son for as istant.
Charles A. Lee was chosen by acclama
tion chief ianitor, with power to name his
assistan'.
The legislature was formally opened on
the 2nd inst. After the official list of sena-
tors elect had been read, Mir Wesselius
offered the protest OF Freeman II. Dicker
son OF Detroit against the seating OF Mr..
RENT, claiming that Mr. Rentz's majority
I for senator was attained by fraud in the
fourth and fifth precincts of the first ward
of Detroit legal votes being cast and, as
Mr.. Dickerson asserts, about fifty votes
being purchased. Mr.. Rentz was duly sworn
Ia.
Lieut. Gov. Macdonald congratulated the
senator's on the beginning of their duty,
asked their indulgence for the chair and eX
pressed q hope for q short session.
The officers of the senate were then elect
ed as follows Lewis NJ. Miller, secretary;
d. f.. Award, Clare assistant secretary
g. +. Baxter, Eaton, bill clerk; j. 5. Bru-
baker sergeant at arms; Robert NJ. Allen,
acknowledgements arms; James Mckay,
second acknowledgement alarms; Frank
NJ. Howe, Mrs. |. H. Jamison, enrolling
clerks.
William Ball was elected president pro
TEN. The democratic members voted for
Chauncey W.sner Of Saginaw.
The lieutenant governor announced the
following as pages for the senate: Walter
j. Hasse, Newaygo George III. Royce,
Livingston; John \. Quincy, Oceana; Wal
lace Edwards, Cass; Wm A. Chamberlain,
.Berrien; Geo Frost Jackson; II. a. Hop
/ kins. Ottawa
After the house ha been called TO order,
Representative Gcrit j. Diekema OF Otta-
wa was elected speaker, receiving is votes.
Henry W. Rose and Clarence III. Leonard
Were sclectel unanimously for enrolling
Clerks
w. W Williams Of Eaton was e'ected
speaker pro TEN. receiving sixty six votes,
John Killean Of Kent 81, being supported
by the democratic members Mr.. Killean
voted for NJ. II lister. Mark Walters Of
Oakland was elected keeper of the docu
ment room. Charles A, Lee Of Wayne was
chosen chief janitpr, with authority 10 APP
point his own assistants
William II Dunn Of Oceana was elected
. sergeant-at arms: O. w. Eoo'e Of Hillsdale
first assistant, and Henry Spaulding of Van
Buren, second assistant sergeant alarms.
! , The organization of the house being thus
effected, and ex Gov. Alger being observed
I'm the hall, lie was invited 10 address thu
house, and made "A pleasant little speech.
| MIR. Marley, speaker OF the last house, re-
ceived a similar compliment and replied
| with a speech that was much appauded.
The house and senate met in Joint conven-
tion at two o'clock on the Bird and listened
to the governors inaugural address. An
informal reception in the executive parlors
followed
- Gov. Luce began his inaugural by remind
ing the legislature that, by virtue Of the
laws enacted b. the legis allure, more than
S3O,OOO,O0 is annually cole ted from the
people OF Michigan. Then ne urged that
laws be passed more perfectly 10 guard the
ballot "Rumors are current he said,
"that the laws against bribery and the i'm
proper use Of money are violated with i'm
punity. Whether this is true or not it is
weakening confidence in our system He
recommended the Massachusetts system Of
voting.
Gov. Luce suggested that a special Joint
committee be appointed to look into the
I constitutiouality OF bills, in order 10 reduce
to a minimum the now alarming practice of
passing laws that the supreme court de-
, clares unconstitutional
The question of iudeterminate sentences
receives the governor cold shoulder. The
bill passed by the previous legislature, TO
allow the imposition Of such sentences, met
q veto because OF provision which allowed
the prison authorities 10 extend the limit of
punishment. "While other portions OF the
bin seemed faulty saws the governor. II
should probably have signed il but for that
provision, and now the question Will prob
ably again come before you"
PAROLE SYSTEM.
The Ohio system Of parolHg prisoners Is
commended to the consideration Of the leg
isature. IA very important feature" says
the governor. chat must be embraced in
this law, TO make il effective and useful,
is provisions must be made for the employ
ment of the prisoner before he is permitted
10 leave the prison. And in this connection
i desire TO call attention To the home for
discharged prisoners established in
the city Of Detroit through the eff
forts OF few Christian philan-
thropists. II ought not aud must not be
made in any sense "a state institution. Its
management and chief support must be
left TO private enterprise, hut an appropria
ton Of $1,000 per annum Will be of great
service TO it,
PENALINsTiTUTtONs.
The prison labor pays nearly all OF the
current expenses of the Jackson prison.
Demands for appropriations will be for re-
pairs only. aud il Is believed that $4,000
will meet the requirements. a portion Of
the men az the lonia house of correction are
employed on contract. another portion di-
rectly by the state. So far as competition