The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1908-06-19


No change from Sec. 6. Art " OF the pres
ont constitution.
Sec. T. No person elected member
Of the legislature shall receive any civil
appointment within this state or 10 the
senate of the United States from the
governor, EXCEPT NOTARIES PUB
Lie, or from the governor and senate,
from the legislature. or any other state
authority. during the term for which he
Is elected. All such appointments and all
votes given for any person so elected
for any such office or appointment shall
be void. No member of the legislature
shall be interested directly or indirect
ly In any contract with the state or
my county thereof, authorized by any
law passed during the time for which
he is elected. nor for one year there
after.
No change from Sec IS, Art. Nv except the
Insertion I'm capitals No public policy is to
be subserved by prohibiting the members of
the Legislature from serving as notaries pub
lie.
Sec. g. Senators and representatives
shall i'm all cases, except for treason,
felony or breach Of the peace. be privi-
legged from arrest during sessions of
the Legislature and for fifteen days
next before the commencement and
after the termination thereof. They
shall not be subject to any civil process
during the same period. They shall not
be questioned in any other place for
any speech in either house.
This modifes See T. Art. w OF the present
constitution so as to limit the privilege from
arrest to sessions of the legislature and for
fifteen days next preceding the commence
ment and fifteen days after the termination
thereof, and makes no other change except
in phraseology.
Sec. g. The compensation OF the MEM
bers OF the legislature shall be eight
hundred dollars for the regular session
When convened in extra session their
compensation shall be five dollars per
day for the first twenty days and Moth
ing thereafter. Members shall be enti-
tied to ten cents per mile and no more
for one round trip to each regular and
special session of the legislature by the
usually Travelled route. Each member
shall be entitled to one copy OF the
laws, journals and documents of the
legislature of which he is a member
but shall not receive, at the expense
of the state, books, newspapers or per-
quisites Of the office not expressly au-
thorized by this constitution.
No section received more extended discus
sion than the foregoing, which is revision
of Sec. 10, Art. " of the present consttu-
ton. All distinction between the compensa-
ton of upper and lower peninsula members
is abolished, the condition which originally
justified it having disappeared, viz: the
difficulty OF reaching the state capitol frCm
the northern portion of the state. 1t was the
unanimous conviction of the convention that
the former per diem was unreasonably low
and this is generally conceded. However
the Convention conservatively avoided max
ing too marked an increase. 1t is believed
the increase i'm salary will make IL possible
for men TO stand for the legislature who
could not possibly afford TO do so under the
existing per diem; and il will have whole
some tendency I'm encouraging more Of the
able men of the state to become members of
the legislature. The length of the average
session Of our legislature is about one hum
dred and fifty days which would render the
total compensation now received by members
of the legislature four hundred and fifty
dollars The Convention believes that the
provision OF salary per term Will not
only induce a stronger class Of men TO accent
service in the legislature, but will materially
shorten its ssious.
1t was argued that the compensation Of the
members of the Michigan legislature should
be fixed at twelve hundred dollars for tho
term, with no compensation for extra sgs-
stons; and IN support Of this position atten-
ton was called TO the compensation paid 20
members of the legislature Of our sister
states 1t appears that the State Of Massa-
chusetts, whore the term is one year, paws
seven hundred and fifty dollars The state
Of Pennsylvania pays fifteen hundred dollars
per anuum OF three Thousand dollars foI
term Of two years. Tho state of New York
pays fifteen hundred dollars per a1uum fer
term Of one year The state of Wisconsin
pays five hundred dollars per annum for
term Of two wears, and the state Of Illinois
lar sessions and Eve dollars per day for extra
sessions. The state of Colorado pays per
diem Of seven dollars, and the state Of Cali
tornia per diem OF eight dollars, while
the state Of Indiana pays a per diem OF SIX
dollars. BY analogy ii was conteudod that
Michigan should pay twelve hundred dollars
per term. majority of the Convention.
however, felt that eight hundred dollars for
the regular session and five dollars ler day
for extra sessions would fully accomplish the
objects sought 10 be reached, viz: to broaden
the field from which members of the leeis'a-
ture may be drawn and thereby increase TIE
average level Of the membership and. at the
same time, fix the compensation at a con-
SENTATIVE figure. 1t is estimated that the
decrease in expense incident to the shorten
ing of legislative sessions, will more than
compensate for the increase in salaries
Compensation for special sessions was con-
sidered necessary as matter of public
policy, to insure attendance and TO provide
remuneration for members who may have
been appointed to fill vacancies occurring
after the close Of the regular session.
The allowance made at present to members
for stationery and newspapers is omitted
stands, limiting the bills which may be
passed at a special session, Will be found in
Section p Of this article.
Sec. 10 The president of the senate
and speaker Of the house Of re. reseuta-
tives shall be entitled TO the same
compensation and mileage as
members Of the legislature and no
more.
No charge In meaning in this section from
Sec. Il, Art. ~ of the present constitution.
The words per diem" are eliminated.
Sec. H. In case Of a contested cleo
ton, compensation and mileage shall be
paid only to the person declared to be
entitled to seat by the house in which
the contest takes place.
No change In meaning from Sec. 20. Art.
~ OF the present constitution. rearrange-
ment Of the language OF this section is made
to improve the phraseology.
Sec. IL. The election OF senators and
representatives, pursuant to the provi-
sions Of this constitution, shall be held
on the Tuesday succeeding the first
Monday Of November, NINETEEN
HUNDRED TEN, and on the Tuesday
succeeding the first Monday of Novem-
Der Of every second year thereafter
No change from Sec 81, Art w OF the
present constitution except the change In
dates appearing in capitals.
Sec. 13. The legislature shall meet at
the seat of government on the first
Wednesday in January, NINETEEN
HUNDRED NINE, and on the first
Wednesday in January in every second
year thereafter, and at no other place
or time unless as provided in this con-
stituton; and shall adjourn without
day, at such time as shall be deter
mined by concurrent resolution, at
twelve o'clock noon.
This is a revision of Secs. 32 and 80. Art
" of the present constitution and except for