Mr. Greusel asked and obtained leave of absence for Mr. Pierce for the day. Mr. Hoyt asked and obtained leave of absence for Mr. Remer until Friday. Mr. Blackman asked and obtained leave of absence for Mr. Thomas and Mr. Watkins for the day. Mr. Welker asked and obtained leave of absence for Mr. Van Aken for the day. Mr. E. R. Miller asked and obtained leave of absence for Mr. J. Walker for the day. Mr. Grant asked and obtained leave of absence for Mr. Walton indefinitely. Mr. Bartholomew asked and obtained leave of absence for Mr. Haire and Mr. Thompson for the day. Mr. Striker asked and obtained leave of absence for Mr. Collins for the day. Mr. Knapp asked and obtained leave of absence for Mr. Zimmerman for the day. Mr. Wheeler asked and obtained leave of absence for Messrs. Briggs, Watkins and Eggleston for the day. Mr. Buell announced that Hon. William Harris of Keweenaw, etc., was present and desired to take his seat. Mr. Greusel announced that Hon. James Caplis of the First District of Wayne and Hon. James E. Haywood of Huron were present and desired to take their seats. Mr. Bartholomew announced that Hon. Orcott V. Hosner of Leelanaw, etc., was present and desired to take his seat. The above named gentlemen then came forward and took and subscribed the Constitutional oath of office and took their seats. Mr. Scott, by unanimous consent, offered the following: Resolved, That each officer of this House be included in the resolution authorizing the Clerk to furnish each member with a copy of the manual of the last regular session of the Legislature; Which was adopted. COMMUNICATIONS FROM STATE OFFICERS. Lansing, January 3, 1873. Hon. Daniel L. Crossman, Clerk of the House of Representatives, Lansing : DR. SIR: Your favor of yesterday, relative to obtaining a sufficient number of copies of the Compiled Laws of 1871 to furnish each member of the House, with a copy, in accordance with a resolution of the House of the 1st inst., to you directed, is at hand. In reply, allow me to say, that in view of statutory provisions concerning their distribution, and in consideration of the future needs of the State, arising from the organization of new counties and townships, and of the precedents in the case, I do not feel authorized to distribute them on a simple resolution of the House. SENATE CHAMBER, To the Speaker of the House of Representatives: SIR-I am instructed by the Senate to transmit the following concurrent resolution: Resolved (the House concurring), That Benjamin B. Baker of Ingham county be and is hereby appointed postmaster, and that his compensation shall not exceed three dollars per day; Which has passed the Senate, and in which the concurrence of the House is respectfully asked. Very respectfully, JAMES H. STONE, Secretary of the Senate. On motion of Mr. E. R. Miller, The House concurred in the adoption of the resolution. NOTICES. Mr. Hoyt gave notice that on some future day he would ask leave to introduce A bill to repeal section 124 of act number 169 of the session laws of 1869, being an act entitled "An act to provide for a uniform assessment of property, and for the collection and return of taxes thereon," approved April 6th, 1869, and being section 1090 of chapter 21 of the compiled laws of 1871. Mr. Greusel gave notice that on some future day he would ask leave to introduce A bill to provide for the deposit and safe keeping of the public moneys belonging to the several counties of the State, and prescribing the duties of the Treasurer and Board of Supervisors, and Auditors in relation thereto. Mr. F. Walker gave notice that on some future day he would ask leave to introduce A bill to compel railroads, at their crossings, to connect on equitable terms. Mr. Bartholomew gave notice that on some future day he would ask leave to introduce A bill to amend section 13 of chapter 268 of the compiled laws of 1871. MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS. Mr. Drew offered the following: Resolved, That the Sergeant-at-Arms be instructed to remove the cobwebs and dust from the American Eagle over the Speaker's chair; Which was adopted. Mr. E. R. Miller offered the following: Resolved, That no smoking be permitted in this hall during the present session: Which was adopted. Mr. Bartholomew offered the following: Resolved, That rule No. 41 of the rules of this House be amended so as to provide for a standing committee on public health. On motion of Mr. Bartholomew, The resolution was referred to the select committee appointed on Thursday to amend rule 41 of the House. Mr. Bonine moved that the special committee on the amendment of the rule 41 of the House be instructed to amend the same so as to provide for a committee on the State Public School; Which motion prevailed. Mr. Morse offered the following: Resolved, That rule number 41 of the rules of this House be amended so as to provide for a standing committee on amendments to the Constitution. On motion of Mr. Morse, The resolution was referred to the select committee on amendments of rule 41 of the House. Mr. Speed moved that the communication of the Secretary of State be taken from the table and referred to the committee on the judiciary; Which motion prevailed. Mr. Rich offered the following: Resolved (the Senate concurring), That the State Librarian be instructed to purchase for the use of the Senate and House of Representatives, six copies of Cushing's Parliamentary Law and thirty-five copies of Cushing's Manual; Laid over under the rules. UNFINISHED BUSINESS. Being the consideration of the following: Resolved (the House concurring), That Mr. James W. King be and he is hereby appointed to compile and publish, without delay, under the supervision of the committees on printing in the two Houses, when the same are appointed, a manual for the use of members and officers of both Houses in this and the next Legislature, and the State officers. Said manual to contain the Constitutions of the United States and of this State, with all amendments thereto; the rules and joint rules of the Senate and House of Representatives of this State; a diagram of the Senate Chamber and Representative Hall; names, ages, occupation, and residence of members of both Houses; a map showing the Senatorial and Congressional districts, the judicial circuits of the State, the various Senatorial and Representative districts of the State, with the population thereof; the votes for President in 1872 and 1868; the post-offices, newspapers, banking institutions, railroad routes; a history of the Constitutional conventions; and the latest statistics of the educational, charitable, reformatory, and penal institutions, and such other statistical matter as is usually contained in the work. The same to be printed and bound in the usual style by the State printer; and the compiler of said manual to receive for his services a sum not exceeding two hundred ($200) dollars. Mr. Shaw moved to amend the resolution by inserting the following, after the words "Reformatory and Penal Institutions" "The table on Equalization of State Board for 1871; Which motion prevailed. Mr. E. R. Miller moved to amend the resolution by taking out the words, "not exceeding two hundred dollars," and inserting in lieu thereof the words, "which shall be fair and adequate, to be determined by said Committee;" Which motion prevailed. Mr. Speed moved to amend the resolution by adding thereto the following: "But no compensation shall be paid unless the manual shall be ready for the printer within fifteen days from the passage of this resolution;" Which motion prevailed. The resolution, as amended, was then adopted. Also the following: Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the State printer be directed to transmit to the resident clergymen of the city of Lansing, one copy each of the daily journal of the Senate and House during the present session; |