The bill was ordered printed, referred to the committee of the whole, and placed on the general order. By the committee on State affairs: The committee on State affairs, to whom was referred Senate bill No. 106, entitled A bill to establish a bureau of industrial statistics, 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 amendment, and recommend that the amendment be concurred in, and that the bill when so amended do pass, and ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. L. WALKER, Chairman. Report accepted and committee discharged. On motion of Mr. Van Aken, The House concurred in the amendments made to the bill by the committee. The bill was referred to the committee of the whole, and placed on the general order. By the committee on State affairs: The committee on State affairs, to whom was referred Senate bill No. 132, entitled A bill to amend sections 793, 799, and 800 of the compiled laws of 1871, being sections 2, 8, and 9 of an act entitled "An act to provide for taking the census and statistics of this State," approved February 9, 1853; The amendment proposed largely increases the number of articles, statistics of which are required to be obtained by supervisors and assessors of townships when taking the census once in ten years, and increases their compensation one dollar a day. The committee do not clearly see the utility of the amendment, and Respectfully report that they have had the same under consideration, and have directed me to report the same back to the House, without recommendation, and ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. L. WALKER, Chairman. Report accepted and committee discharged. On motion of Mr. Kipp, The bill was laid on the table. By the committee on railroads: The committee on railroads, to whom was referred House bill No. 208, entitled A bill to authorize the employes of railroad companies to cut decayed or dangerous trees, standing within a certain distance of either side of their track, 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 amendments, recommending that the amendments be concurred in, and that the bill when so amended do pass, and ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. The committee on railroads report that they consider bill No. 208 of great importance as a preventive measure or safeguard to life and property on all roads running through timber lands where accidents from falling timber may occur. FRED. WALKER, Acting Chairman. Report accepted and committee discharged. On motion of Mr. Brunson, The House concurred in the amendments made to the bill by the committee. The bill was then referred to the committee of the whole, and placed on the general order. By the committee on State affairs: The committee on State affairs, to whom was referred 38 petitions, containing the names of 2,183 petitioners, that the Legislature frame and present to the legal voters of the State of Michigan a substitute for section 47, of article 4, of the constitution of the State, authorizing and empowering the Legislature of the said State to pass an act or acts authorizing the granting of licenses for the sale of ardent spirits, or other intoxicating liquors; also, 97 petitions, containing the names of 6,835 petitioners, that the prohibitory laws, so-called, of this State, in relation to the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, be repealed, and that an amendment to the constitution may be passed by the Legislature, and submitted to the people of the State, in regard to licenses, repealing section 47 of article 4, of the constitution; also, 52 petitions, containing the names of 6,563 petitioners, that the prohibitory laws, so-called, of this State, in relation to the manufacture and sale of liquors, be repealed, and that an amendment to the constitution may be passed by the Legislature and submitted to the people of the State, in regard to licenses, repealing section 47 of article 4 of the State constitution, and also that the legislature pass a law providing for a judicious system of taxation upon the manufacture of, and traffic in, intoxicating liquors; also, a memorial of William Wilmot, chairman of the committee of the anti-prohibition societies of the city of Detroit, for a repeal of the prohibitory liquor law; also, 64 remonstrances, containing the names. of 260 remonstrants, against the submission to the people of any amendment to the constitution on the question of the prohibition of the sale of spirituous liquors, or the repealing of the prohibitory law; also, 74 petitions, containing the names of 3,055 petitioners, to amend the law of this State, entitled "An act to prevent the manufacture and sale of spirituous or intoxicating liquors as a beverage," 1. By including beer and other fermented liquors in the same inhibitions with distilled liquors ; 2. By so amending section 4 of the law as to make signs, advertisements, and all other appliances for conducting the business prima facie evidence of being a common seller; 3. By providing for the appointment of a State constabulary, whose special duty it shall be to aid the local executive authorities in the thorough execution of the law; 4. By making women equally liable with men for any and all violations of the law; Also, 1. A bill for the repeal of chapter 69 of the compiled laws of 1871, and the acts suplementary thereto and amendatory thereof, being an act entitled "An act to prevent the manufacture and sale of spirituous or intoxicating liquors as a beverage;" Also, 2. A bill to provide a system of taxation upon persons or corporations engaged in the manufacture or sale of spirituous or intoxicating liquors; Also, 3. A bill to provide for the appointment of special tax collectors, to provide for a special tax upon persons engaged in the sale of intoxicating and malt liquors, and to repeal chapter 69 of the compiled laws of 1871, entitled "The manufacture and sale of intoxicating drinks as a beverage," and all acts amendatory thereto, and all acts inconsistent with the provisions of this act; Also, 4. A bill to amend section 19 of chapter 69, being section 2152 of the compiled laws of 1871, being section 19 of an act entitled "An act to prevent the manufacture and sale of spirituous or intoxicating liquors as a beverage," approved February 3, 1855; Also, 5. A bill to prevent the sale of spirituous and intoxicating drinks as a beverage, the same being a new section to chapter 69 of the compiled laws of 1871, being an act relative to the "Manufacture and sale of spirituous and intoxicating drinks as a beverage," to stand as section 22. These petitions, memorial, remonstrances, and bills are all on the same general subject, and may be embraced in one report. The subject is one with which every member of the House is too familliar to require further explanation from the committee. While all are intent in finding a remedy for the evils of intemperance, the committee cannot fail to recognize the fact that there are wide and honest differences of opinion as to the best means of accomplishing the desired result. Some think prohibition the true remedy, and desire that the prohibitory laws be continued and strengthened, and more facilities furnished for enforcing them. Others, claiming that the prohibitory system has proved a failure, insist that a well regulated license law would be more effective, and are anxious that such a law be adopted. Others still, think that what they call à judicious system of special taxation, would be the best of all, and ask that that be resorted to. The committee do not think it in their power to prevent a general discussion on this subject, if they were disposed to do so, which they are not, and have therefore concluded to report these bills back to the House, recommending that they be printed and placed on the general order, but without recommendation as to the final disposition to be made of them. No joint resolution providing for an amendment of the constitution, as asked for by several thousands of the petitioners, has been referred to this committee; but such a resolution has been introduced into the House, and referred to the judiciary committee. This committee have therefore directed me to report the above named petitions back to the House, and recommend that so much of them as relate to an amendment of the constitution be referred to the judiciary committee having that joint resolution in charge. The committee ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. L. WALKER, Chairman. Report accepted and committee discharged. The five named bills were ordered printed, referred to the committee of the whole, and placed on the general order. |