JOINT RESOLUTIONS, 1917.

[No. 1.]

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to section one of article three of the constitution relative to the elective franchise.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the following amendment to section one of article three of the constitution, relative to the elective franchise, is hereby proposed and agreed to, that is to say that section one of article three of the constitution be amended to read as follows:

SECTION 1. In all elections, every male inhabitant of this State, being a citizen of the United States; every male inhabitant residing in this State on the twenty-fourth day of June, eighteen hundred thirty-five; every male inhabitant residing in this State on the first day of January, eighteen hundred fifty; every male inhabitant of foreign birth, who, having resided in the State two years and six months prior to the eighth day of November, eighteen hundred ninety-four, and having declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States two years and six months prior to said last named day; and every civilized male inhabitant of Indian descent, a native of the United States, shall be an elector and entitled to vote; but no one shall be an elector or entitled to vote at any election unless he shall be above the age of twenty-one years, and has resided in this State six months and in the township or ward in which he offers to vote twenty days next preceding such election: Provided, That no qualified elector in the actual service of the United States or of this State, or any student while in attendance at any institution of learning, or any regularly enrolled member of any citizens' military or naval training camp held under the authority of the government of the United States or the State of Michigan, or any member of the Legislature while in attendance at any session of the Legislature, or commercial traveler, or any qualified elector employed upon or in the operation of railroad trains in this State, or any sailor engaged and employed on the great lakes or in coastwise trade shall be deprived of his vote by reason of his absence from the township, ward or State in which he resides; and the Legislature shall provide by law the manner in which and the time and place at which such absent electors may vote and for the canvass and return of their votes:

Provided further, That the Legislature shall have power to pass laws covering qualified electors who may be necessarily absent from other causes than above specified.

Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment be submitted to the people of this State at the general election to be held in the month of April in the year nineteen hundred seventeen. The Secretary of State is hereby required to certify the foregoing amendment to the clerks of the several counties of this State as required by law. It shall be the duty of the board of election commissioners of each county to prepare a ballot for the use of the electors for the voting upon said amendment, which ballot shall be in substantially the following form:

"Vote on proposed amendment to the constitution relative to the elective franchise.

Amend section one of article three of the constitution so as to read as follows:

[Here insert said section one of article three of the constitution as proposed to be amended.]

Yes. [ ]

No. [ ]"

It shall be the duty of the board of election commissioners of each county to deliver the ballots so prepared to the persons designated pursuant to law to receive the official ballots for use in said county at said election, and within the time other ballots to be used at said election are required to be delivered. All votes cast upon said amendment shall be counted, canvassed and returned in the same manner as is provided by law for counting, canvassing and returning the vote for State officers.

[No. 2.]

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to article eight of the constitution of this State, by adding a new section thereto, to stand as section fifteen-a of said article, authorizing drainage districts to issue bonds for drainage purposes.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the following amendment to the constitution of the State of Michigan, authorizing any drainage district established under provision of law to issue bonds for drainage purposes, is hereby proposed, agreed to and submitted to the people of the State, that is to say, that a new section be added to article eight, to stand as section fifteen-a of said article, to read as follows:

SEC. 15a. Any drainage district, established under provision of law, may issue bonds for drainage purposes within such district.

Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment be submitted to the people of this State at the election to be held on the first Monday in April, nineteen hundred seventeen. The Secretary of State is hereby

required to certify the foregoing amendment to the clerks of the several counties of the State, as required by law. It shall be the duty of the board of election commissioners of each county to prepare a ballot for the use of the electors in voting upon said amendment, which ballot, after showing the amendment in full, shall be in substantially the following form:

"Vote on amendment to article eight of the constitution relative to permitting drainage districts to issue bonds:

Amendment to article eight of the constitution to permit drainage districts to issue bonds for drainage purposes. Yes. [ ]

Amendment to article eight of the constitution to permit drainage districts to issue bonds for drainage purposes. No. []"

It shall be the duty of the board of election commissioners of each county to deliver the ballots so prepared to the inspectors of election at the several voting precincts within their respective counties, within the time ballots to be used at said election are required to be delivered to such inspectors under the general election law. All votes cast upon said amendment shall be counted, canvassed and returned in the same manner as is provided by law for counting, canvassing and returning the vote for State officers.

[No. 3.]

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to article ten of the constitution by adding a new section thereto to stand as section twenty of said article with reference to the right of the State to acquire, hold and dispose of certain property under prescribed conditions.

Be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That it is hereby proposed that article ten of the constitution of this State be amended by adding a new section thereto to stand as section twenty of said article with reference to the right of the State to acquire, hold and dispose of certain property under prescribed conditions, and that such proposed amendment be agreed to and submitted to the people of the State, said added section to read as follows:

SEC. 20. It shall be competent for the State to acquire, purchase, take, hold and operate any railroad, or railroad property, belonging to any railroad or railway company in this State heretofore organized under a special charter still in force and effect and constituting a contract between the State and said company, wherein the right to purchase or acquire has been reserved to the State, whenever in the judg ment of the Legislature such aquisition or purchasing is necessary to protect and conserve the rights and interests of the State under such charter or contract. Any and all debts or obligations of such company constituting a lien upon such railroad, or railroad property, may

be assumed by the State; and such road or property may be leased, sold or disposed of in such manner as may be provided by law.

Be it further Resolved, That said proposed amendment be submitted to the people of this State at the election to be held on the first Monday in April, nineteen hundred seventeen. The Secretary of State is hereby required to certify said amendment to the clerks of the several counties of the State as required by law. It shall be the duty of the board of election commissioners of each county to prepare ballots for the use of the electors in voting upon said amendment, which ballots shall be in substantially the following form:

Vote on the question of amending article ten of the constitution of the State by adding thereto a new section to stand as section twenty of said article, with reference to the right of the State to acquire, hold and dispose of certain property under prescribed conditions, said added section to read as follows:

SEC. 20. It shall be competent by the State to acquire, purchase, take, hold and operate any railroad or railroad property, belonging to any railroad or railway company in this State heretofore organized under a special charter still in force and effect and constituting a contract between the State and said company, wherein the right to purchase or acquire has been reserved to the State, whenever in the judg ment of the Legislature such acquisition or purchasing is necessary to protect and conserve the rights and interests of the State under such charter or contract. Any and all debts or obligations of such company constituting a lien upon such railroad, or railroad property, may be assumed by the State; and such road or property may be leased, sold or disposed of in such manner as may be provided by law.

Vote on question of amending article ten of the constitution of the State by adding thereto a new section to stand as section twenty of said article with reference to the right of the State to acquire certain property under prescribed conditions. Yes. [ ]

Vote on question of amending article ten of the constitution of the State by adding thereto a new section to stand as section twenty of said article with reference to the right of the State to acquire certain property under prescribed conditions. No. [ ]

It shall be the duty of the board of election commissioners of each county to deliver the ballots so prepared to the inspectors of election in the several voting precincts within their respective counties at such time and in such manner as the general election law may prescribe. The votes cast upon the question of adopting said amendment shall be counted, canvassed and returned in the same manner as is provided by law for counting, canvassing and returning votes cast for State officers.