Respectfully report that they have had the same under consideration, and have directed me to report the same back to the Commission with amendment thereto, recommending that the amendment be concurred in, and that the article when so amended do pass, and ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. H. G. WELLS, Chairman of Committee. Report accepted and committee discharged. The article was read a first and second time, ordered printed, referred to the committee of the whole, and placed on the general order. By the committee on townships: The committee on townships, to whom was referred Article XI. of the constitution of Michigan, Respectfully report that they have had the same under consideration, and have directed me to report the same back to the Commission with amendment thereto, recommending that the amendment be concurred in, and that the article when so amended do pass, and ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. H. G. WELLS, Chairman of Committee. Report accepted and committee discharged. The article was read first and second time, ordered printed, referred to the committee of the whole, and placed on the general order. EXEMPTING UPPER PENINSULA FROM SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE PROHIBITIONS. Mr. Devereaux offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Committee on Legislation be instructed to consider the expediency of exempting the Upper Peninsula of Michigan from the prohibitions relating to special legislation. The resolution was adopted. MINORITY REPRESENTATION. Mr. Devereaux offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the committee on elections be instructed to inquire and report upon the propriety of adopting a system of cumulative voting, with a view to give representation to minorities. The resolution was adopted. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. On motion of Mr. Riley, Indefinite leave of absence was granted to Mr. Willits. ADJOURNMENT. On motion of Mr. Devereaux, The Commission adjourned. THIRTEENTH DAY. LANSING, Wednesday, September 10, 1873. The Commission was called to order at 9 o'clock, by the Chairman. Roll called: quorum present. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. On motion of Mr. Crane, Mr. Mason was granted indefinite leave of absence, on account of sickness. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. By the committee on impeachments and removals from office: The committee on impeachments and removals from office, to whom was referred Article XII., impeachments and removals from office, respectfully report that they have had the same under consideration, and have directed me to report the same back to the Commission with amendment thereto, recommending that the amendment be concurred in, and that the article when so amended do pass, and ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. H. G. WELLS, Chairman of Committee. Report accepted and committee discharged. The article was read a first and second time, ordered printed, referred to the committee of the whole, and placed on the general order. By the committee on exemptions: The committee on exemptions, to whom was referred Respectfully report that they have had the same under consideration, and have directed me to report the same back to the Commission with amendments thereto, recommending that the amendments be concurred in, and that the article when so amended do pass, and ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. D. H. JEROME, Chairman of Committee. Report accepted and committee discharged. The article was read a first and second time, ordered printed, referred to the committee of the whole, and placed on the general order. By the committee on finance and taxation: The committee on finance and taxation, to whom was referred Article XIV., on finance and taxation, Respectfully report that they have had the same under consideration, and have directed me to report the same back to the Commission with amendments thereto, recommending that the amendments be concurred in, and that the article when so amended do pass, and ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. D. H. JEROME, Chairman of Committee. Report accepted and committee discharged. The article was read a first and second time, ordered printed, referred to the committee of the whole, and placed on the general order. PARDONS. Mr. Hatch offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the following propositions and regulations be embodied in and made a part of Article V., entitled "Executive Department," viz: "Whenever application shall be made to the Governor for the pardon of one under sentence of imprisonment for life, upon conviction for willful and deliberate murder, such application may be referred by the Governor to the Supreme Court, and notice thereof shall be given to the Attorney General. The Supreme Court shall fix a time and place for hearing such application, and may order the testimony of witnesses, touching the merits of such application, to be taken either orally in open court, or upon deposition. If the said court is of opinion that under the principles, hereinafter stated, the said prisoner should be pardoned, or his sentence mitigated, such opinion shall be entered upon the journal of said court, and certified to the Governor. The Governor may in his discretion grant the pardon recommended, or refuse it altogether. The Governor, in the cases above specified, shall have no power to grant a pardon without taking the opinion of said Supreme Court in relation thereto in the manner herein before provided, nor shall he have power to grant a pardon or mitigate the sentence of any prisoner in such case, to any greater extent than that recommended in the opinion of said court. In the cases above specified, no pardon or mitigation of sentence shall be granted unless it shall be made to appear: 1st. That there was some mistake of law, or of fact made by the court or jury who tried the cause, and which being correctly understood would dictate an acquittal, or conviction for a less offense; 2d. That the punishment imposed is disproportionate to the moral guilt of the prisoner; or 3d. That there are strong and controlling considerations relating to the prisoner which, under the dictates of humanity, require his enlargement or relief. The resolution was adopted. LIMITATION OF MUNICIPAL INDEBTEDNESS. Mr. Hatch offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the committee on finance be instructed to inquire into the propriety of adopting the following section: SEC. No county, township, city, village, school district, municipal or other public corporation shall have power to become indebted to an amount exceeding per cent of the assessed valuation of the property within such county, township, or other corporation; and in the construction of this section, all public corporations, excepting counties, townships, and school districts, embracing the same territory, shall be taken to be one corporation. The resolution was adopted. EDUCATION. Article XIII., relative to education, being first on the order, Mr. Jerome moved that the Article be taken from the order of third reading and referred to the committee of the whole, together with the substitute therefor, Which motion prevailed. SALARIES. Article IX., relative to salaries, being next on the order of third reading, Mr. Riley, by unanimous consent, moved to amend the article by striking out the word "salary" where the same occurs respectively in the fourth line of section one, and in the second line of section two, and insert in lieu thereof, in each case, the word "salaries;" Which motion prevailed. |