The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-07-10

| given for any such person shall be
| void.
No change from Sec 6, Art Nv Of the pres.
| ent cons tuition.
Sec. !. No person elected n 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
any 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. 49, Art w except the
Insertion in capitals. No public policy is to
be subserved by prohibiting the members OF
lie.
Sec. s. Senator's and representatives
snail In all cases. except for treason,
felony or breach of the peace, be priyi-
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. Z. Art, " 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. a
Sec. 9. The compensation of the menu
bers of the legislature shall be eight
hundred dollars for the regular session.
When convened in extra session. their
compensation shall be Ave 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 "a revision
OF Sec. 10, Art. " of the present constitu-
ton. All distinction between the compensa-
is abolished the condition which originally
Justified it having disappeared, viz. the
ullHcully OF reaching tue state GapltOl. from
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. It is believed
the increase in salary will make it possible
for men TO stand for the legislature who
could not possibly afford to do so under the
existing per diem; and it will have a whole
some tendency in encouraging more of the
able men of the state to become members OF
lp0iSlaturp Of he
session Of our legislature is about one hun
dred and fifty days, which would render the
OF the legislature four hundred and fifty
dollars. The Convention believes that the
provision of a salary per term will not
only induce a stronger class of men to accept
service in the legislature, but will materially
shorten its sessions.
1t was argued that the compensation OF the
members of the Michigan legislature should
be fixed at twelve hundred dollars for the
term, with no compensation for extra ses-
sions; and In support of this position atten-
ton was called to the compensation paid to
members of the legislature Of our sister
states. 1t appears that the State of Nlassa-
chusetts, where the term is year, pays
seven hundred and fifty dollars. The state
of Pennsylvania pays fifteen hundred dollars
per annum or three thousand dollars for a
term OF two years. The state of New York
pays fifteen hundred dollars per annum for
pays five hundred dollars per annum for.
term of two years, and the state of Illinois
pays one thousand dollars per term Tor regu-
lar sessions and five dollars per day for extra
sessions. The state of Colorado pays per
diem OF seven dollars, and the state Of Cali
fornia a per diem of eight dollars, while
the state of Indiana pays per diem of six
dollars. BY analogy it was contended that
Michigan should pay twelve hundred dollars
however, felt that eight hundred dollars for
the regular session and five dollars per day
foreextra sessions would fully accomplish the
objects sought to be reached, viz: to broaden
from which mpmbprs Of he leo St
ture may be drawn and thereby increase the
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-
sldered 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
and the provisions in this section as ii now
stands, limiting the bills which may be
passed at special session, will be found in
Section % of this article.
Sec. 10. The president of the senate
and speaker Of the house Of representa-
tives shall be entitled to the same
compensation and mileage as
members of the legislature and no
more.
No change in meaning in this section from
Sec. H. Art. w of the present constitution.
The words per diem" are eliminated
Sec. IL. In case Of contested cleo
ton, compensation and mileage shall be
paid only to the person declared to be
entitled to a seat by the house in which
the contest takes place.
No change IL meaning from Sec 49, Art.
" of the present constitution. A rearrange-
ment CT the language OF this section is made
to improve the phraseology
Sec. y. The election OF senators and
representatives, pursuant to the provi-
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. a. Art Nv of tbs
present constitution except. the Change in
dates appearing In capitals.
See Is. The legislature shall meet ut
the seat OF government on the first
"Wednesday z4n-s January NINETEEN
HUNDRED NINE, and on the first
Wednesday, in January in every second
year thereafter, and at mo other place
or time unless as provided in this con-
stitufion;e and shall S.Adjouf'h without
day. NJ such time as shall be deter
mined by concurrent resolution, at
twplNeto'Clo noon. 70 t f.n
This is revision Of Secs. % and 81 Art
" Of the present constitution and except for
makes no change In their effect. i. H ..
Sec. H. jority Of each house
shall constitute a quorum to 90 busi..
ht,t pIIun lfo,. a.