with instructions to report the same back to the Senate with the salaries of State officers fixed therein. Pending which, On motion of Mr. Dewey, The Senate took a recess until 2 o'clock this afternoon. AFTERNOON SESSION. 2 o'clock P. M. The Senate met and was called to order by the President. The Senate resumed business under the order of UNFINISHED BUSINESS, The same being a pending motion that Art. IX. be referred to the committee on State affairs, with instructions to report the same back to the Senate, with the salaries of State officers fixed therein. Mr. Gray moved, as an amendment, that Art. IX. be referred to the committee on State affairs, with instructions to report the same back to the Senate, with two alternate propositions, one fixing the salaries, and the other leaving the salaries of State officers to the Legislature. Mr. Gray called for the yeas and nays. The amendment was not agreed to, by yeas and nays, as follows: The question recurring on the motion to refer Article XI. to the committee on State affairs, with instructions to report the same back to the Senate with the salaries of State officers fixed therein, Mr. Childs called for the yeas and nays. The motion prevailed, by yeas and nays, as follows: Article X. was then read. And Mr. Summer moved that the Senate concur in the action of the committee of the whole, in striking out Sec. 3, of Article X. Mr. Childs moved to amend Sec. 3, of Article X. striking out the words "and one-half mills" in lines 2 and 3, and inserting in lieu thereof the word "mill," also by striking out the word "three" in line 6, and inserting in lieu thereof the word "two." The President called the President pro tem. to the chair. Mr. Crosby moved to amend Sec. 3, of Article X., so as to read as follows: SEC. 3. The board of supervisors of any county may borrow, or raise by tax, ten thousand dollars for constructing or repairing public buildings, highways, or bridges; but no greater sum shall be borrowed or raised by tax for such purpose, in any one year, unless authorized by a majority of the electors of such county voting thereon. The vote first occurring on the amendment offered by Mr. Childs, The amendment was agreed to, by yeas and nays, as follows: The question then recurring on the amendment offered by Mr. Crosby, The amendment was not agreed to, by yeas and nays, as follows: The question then recurring on the motion to concur in the action of the committee of the whole in striking out Sec. 3 of Art. IV., Mr. Dewey called for the yeas and nays. The action of the committee in striking out was not concurred in, by yeas and nays, as follows: Mr. Crosby moved that the Senate concur in the action of the committee of the whole in striking out the words "but the legislature may provide for the appointment, by the Governor, of prosecuting attorneys, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate." Which motion prevailed. Mr. DeLand moved to further amend Art. X. by striking out of Sec. 5 the words, "a register of deeds;" also all of said section after the word "law," in line 5. Mr. DeLand called for the yeas and nays. The amendment was not agreed to, by yeas and nays, as follows: Mr. Richardson moved to further amend Art. X. by adding to Sec. 15 the following: "Nor shall any city or village increase its indebtedness to exceed one per centum on its assessed valuation in any one year, without the assent of the electors thereof, at a public election, in such manner as shall be provided by law, but any city, the debt of which now exceeds ten per centum of such assessed valuation, may be authorized by law to increase the same three per centum in the aggregate upon such assessed valuation. Mr. Richardson called for the yeas and nays. The amendment was not agreed to, by yeas and nays, as follows: Mr. DeLand moved to further amend Article X. by striking out Sec. 15; Pending which, Mr. Brewer moved to further amend Article X. by adding to Sec. 15 the words, "unless authorized by a majority of the electors residing within such corporation voting thereon, as prescribed by law." Mr. Dewey called for the yeas and nays. The amendment was agreed to, by yeas and nays, as follows: Mr. Richardson, Mr. Isham, Beattie, Sparks, Sumner, Sutton, Wilber, 23 NAYS. Mr. Cook, Mr. Gray, Mr. Mellen, Mr. Neasmith, Dewey, Hewitt, 6 Pending the announcement of the vote, Mr. DeLand moved that Mr. Hewitt be excused from voting; Mr. Hewitt then voted as recorded above. The question recurring on the motion to strike out Sec. 15, By unanimous consent the motion to strike out was withdrawn. Mr. Sparks moved that the Senate concur in the action of the committee of the whole in inserting, after the word "the," in line one, of Sec. 16, of Art. X., the word "judicial; Mr. Hinds moved to amend Sec. 14 of Article X. so as to read as follows: "The legislature shall provide for the incorporation and organization of cities and villages, and shall restrict their powers of taxation, borrowing money, contracting debts and loaning their credit." Mr. Dewey called for the yeas and nays. The amendment was not agreed to, by yeas and nays, as follows: Mr. Hinds moved that Art. X. be placed on the order of third reading; By unanimous consent, Mr. Richardson presented the following: Hon. D. M. RICHARDSON: CITY OF DETROIT, SIR: Your attention is respectfully called to the following resolution, presented to the Common Council Tuesday evening, March 10, 1874, and unanimously adopted: By Ald. THOMPSON: Whereas, One-twentieth part of the taxable property, and probably onefourth of the available river front of the city is owned by railroad corporations, which pay no city taxes, and Whereas, Our fire and police departments extend protection over the property of said corporations, and the cost of maintaining said departments during the past year was $234,371 26, and Whereas, The Legislature has seemingly stood in awe of something in the Constitution of the State when appealed to on the subject; therefore, Resolved, That as the Legislature is now in session for the purpose of making a revision of the Constitution, we call on our representatives to secure the passage of such amendments as will enable us to secure just and equitable legislation on the subject. Resolved, That we do not recommend an alteration of the present State Constitution, so far as to subject the property of railroads to taxation for general purposes, but we earnestly recommend such an amendment to Sec. 14 of the present Constitution, as to allow a portion of the specific State taxes to be applied to municipal purposes, when any considerable portion of the property of railroad corporations lies within the limits of the city or incorporated village, and has the benefit of the protection of municipal institutions. Adopted. On motion of Mr. Richardson, CHAS. H. BORGMAN, City Clerk. The communication was referred to the committee on State affairs. Which motion prevailed. By unanimous consent, the committee on the judiciary submitted the following report: The committee on the judiciary to whom was referred Sec. 6, of Article 6, with instructions to so amend the same that the number of judicial circuits in the State be limited to eighteen until the year 1885, would respectfully report that they have complied with the instructions, and report the following, to stand as Sec. 6: SEC. 6. The Legislature to meet in the year 1875 shall divide the State into eighteen judicial circuits, which number shall not be increased before the year 1885; but the limits of any circuit may at any time be altered by the Legislature. In each of such circuits the electors thereof shall elect one circuit judge, who shall hold his office for the term of six years, and until his successor is elected and qualified. No alteration of any circuit shall have the effect to remove a judge from office. J. H. MCGOWAN, Chairman of Judiciary Committee. Report accepted and committee discharged. |