same to school district No. 2 of Owosso fractional, with Bennington, and school district No. 1 of Owosso, Caledonia, Bennington, and Shiawassee respectively; Which motion prevailed. On motion of Mr. Ferguson, The bill was laid on the table. Mr. Gilmore introduced Joint resolution authorizing the issue of a patent to Joseph R. Smith upon school-land certificate 1616. The joint resolution was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the committees on State affairs and judiciary jointly. Mr. Ferguson moved that House bill No. 318, entitled A bill to provide for the payment of a bounty to certain soldiers who enlisted in Michigan regiments, companies, and batteries, and were mustered into the service of the United States during the years 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, and 1865, and to widows, children, and dependent parents of deceased soldiers; Be made the special order for the 11th day of April at 7 o'clock P. M.; Which motion did not prevail. GENERAL ORDER. On motion of Mr. Brunson, The House went into committee of the whole on the general order, Mr. C. W. Watkins in the chair. After some time spent therein, the committee rose, and through the chairman made the following report: The committee of the whole have had under consideration the following entitled joint resolution: House joint resolution No. 22, entitled Joint resolution for the payment of printing done by R. A. Beal, Have made no amendments thereto, and have directed their chairman to report the same back to the House, and recom mend its passage. The mmittee of the whole have also had under consideration the following entitled bills: 1. House bill No. 288, entitled A bill to regulate the practice of dentistry in the State of Michigan; 2. House bill No. 291, entitled A bill to provide for the distribution of the laws regulating the general elections, and the registration of voters, Have stricken out all after the enacting clause thereof, and have directed their chairman to report that fact to the House, asking concurrence therein. The committee of the whole have also had under consideration the following entitled bill: 3. House bill No. 289, entitled A bill to provide for the taxation of persons, associations, and corporations doing business in this State, in running sleeping and palace cars over or upon the several railroads in this State; Have made no amendments thereto, and have directed their chairman to report the same back to the House, and recommend its passage. The committee of the whole have also had under consideration the following entitled bill: 4. House bill No. 292, entitled A bill to convey the title of the State of Michigan in and to certain estates to Mary Jane Conroy, Have made sundry amendments thereto, and have directed their chairman to report the same back to the House, asking concurrence therein, and recommend its passage. C. W. WATKINS, Chairman. Report accepted and committee discharged. The joint resolution and third named bill were placed on the order of third reading. On motion of Mr. O'Dell, The House concurred in the action of the committee, relative to the first two named bills, and their titles were laid on the table. On motion of Mr. Smith, The House concurred in the amendments made to the last named bill by the committee, and it was placed on the order of third reading. On motion of Mr. Simpson, The House took a recess until 2 o'clock this afternoon. AFTERNOON SESSION. 2 o'clock P. M. The House met and was called to order by the Speaker. Roll called: quorum present. The House resumed the order of PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS. By Mr. Dinturff: Petition of H. H. Harmon, D. S. Shields, and S. F. Hubbell, attorneys of the Livingston county bar, for the passage of Senate bill No. 49; Referred to the committee on judiciary. By Mr. Van Aken: Memorial of Charles Upson and 13 other practicing attorneys of Branch county, for the passage of Senate bill No. 49; Referred to the committee on judiciary. By Mr. Mitchell: Petition of J. C. Fitzgerald and 18 other members of the bar of the city of Marshall, asking that all terms of the Supreme Court be held in the city of Lansing; Referred to the committee on judiciary. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. By the committee on State Prison: The committee on State Prison, to whom was referred A bill to amend section 50 of chapter 267, entitled "The State Prison and the government and discipline thereof," being section 8095 of the compiled laws of 1871, Respectfully report that they have had the same under consideration, and have directed me to report the same back to the House, without amendment, and recommend that it do pass, and ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. FAYETTE PARSONS, Chairman. Report accepted and committee discharged. The bill was referred to the committee of the whole, and placed on the general order. By the committee on State Prison and Reform School: The committee on State Prison and Reform School, to whom was referred A bill to establish a State Reformatory, Respectfully report that they have had the same under consideration, and have directed me to report the same back to the House, with the accompanying substitute therefor, recommending that the substitute be concurred in, and that the substitute, do pass, and ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. The reasons for recommending the passage of this bill are briefly as follows: First. A house of correction, an institution in which industrial pursuits are established, for the reception and punishment of those convicted of crime, has become a necessity. The amount paid to the house of correction of Detroit by the several counties of the State for maintaining convicts sent by these counties, is about $10,000 annually. This, added to the amount expended in maintaining those sentenced to the county jails, must amount to a very large sum; moreover, a county jail should be a place for the detention of witnesses, debtors, and those held for trial merely. Surely, it is an outrage to compel the innocent to associate for weeks, and perhaps months, with the vile and degraded convict. The State Prison and the house of correction of Detroit are not only self-sustaining but furnish a small income. Your committee have no fears that the institution proposed in this bill would do any less. Second. It would furnish a place for the reception of the older and more vicious of juvenile offenders. This is a need very seriously felt in the management of the Reform School. The influence of this class upon the younger and comparatively innocent boys is very pernicious, and is a hindrance to their progress in their reformation. It would also furnish a place for the young State Prison convicts, whose chances for reformation would be much increased by removing them from the influence of adepts in crime. By thus classifying offenders, the kind of treatment best adapted to each class could be practiced, which it is impossible. to do under our present system. FAYETTE PARSONS, Chairman State Prison Committtee. WM. CHAMBERLAIN, Chairman Reform School Committee. Report accepted and committee discharged. On motion of Mr. Warren, The House concurred in the adoption of the substitute reported by the committee. The bill was then ordered printed, referred to the committee of the whole, and placed on the general order. By the committee on roads and bridges: The committee on roads and bridges, to whom was referred the petition of Merrick, Fowler & Esselslyn, J. J. Lyon, Moore & Alger, and Moore, Foot & Co., of Detroit; J. L. Wood, of Lexington; Wm. Sanborn, of Port Huron; Lord, Gay & Co., of Au Sable; and Smith, Kelley, & Dwight, of Oscoda, for a State road in the county of Alcona, and appropriation of nonresident highway taxes to construct the same; |