order in which they were so ordered. He shall be responsible to the Senate for the care and preservation of every bill and joint resolution introduced in the Senate, and for each bill and joint resolution received from the House up to the time of its return to that body, which responsibility shall only be relieved by a receipt from a proper person when the bill is necessarily in the hands of a committee for consideration. When a bill has been finally passed by the two houses he shall attend to the enrollment printing of the same, in accordance with the statute relating thereto, and present the enrolled copy to the committee on Enrollment for final comparison and determination of correctness by said committee on Enrollment, and present the same to the Governor, taking a receipt therefor, showing the day and hour at which each bill was deposited in the executive office; Which resolution was referred to the Committee on Rules and Joint Rules. MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE. The President announced the following: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. To the President of the Senate: Sir--I am instructed by the House to return to the Senate the following concurrent resolution: Resolved (the House concurring), That the two Houses meet in joint convention at 2:30 o'clock p. m. today for the purpose of receiving any communication the Governor may be pleased to make; In the adoption of which the House has concurred. Very respectfully, LEWIS M. MILLER, Clerk of the House of Representatives. The Sergeant-at-Arms announced a committee from the House who informed the Senate that the House was in session and ready to proceed to business. The Sergeant-at-Arms announced the committee appointed on the part of the Senate to wait on the Governor and inform him that the Senate was in session and ready to receive any communication he may desire to make, who reported they had performed the duty assigned them and that the Governor sent his respects to the Senate and requested that the Senate meet the House in joint convention and that he would. communicate with the joint convention by message. Report accepted and committee discharged. The Sergeant-at-Arms announced the committee of the Senate appointed to wait on the House and inform that body that the Senate was in session and ready to proceed with business, who reported that they had performed that duty and asked to be discharged. Report accepted and committee discharged. On motion of Mr. Barnard, The Senate took a recess until 2:15 o'clock p. m. AFTER RECESS. 2:15 o'clock p. m. The Senate met and was called to order by the President. A quorum present. The Sergeant-at-Arms announced a committee from the House who reported that the House was in waiting and ready to meet the Senate in joint convention to receive such communication as the Governor might be pleased to make. The Senate then proceeded to the hall of the House of Representatives to meet the House in joint convention. [For proceedings in joint convention see House Journal.] The Senate returned to the Senate Chamber at 4:15 o'clock, and was called to order by the President. A quorum present. The President announced that the Senate had met the House in joint convention and listened to the message of the Governor. Mr. Moore, previous notice not having been given, asked and obtained unanimous consent to introduce a bill. Mr. Moore then introduced Senate bill No. 1, entitled: A bill to provide for the assessment and levy of taxes upon the property of railroad companies, express companies, telegraph companies and telephone companies. On motion of Mr. Colman the bill was referred to the committees on Taxation, Railroads and Banks and Corporations jointly. Mr. Merriman, unanimous consent being given, offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the message of the Governor in relation to the taxation of railroads and other corporations be referred to a committee of nine Senators to consider said message, its recommendations and suggestions and report to the Senate with all convenient speed such measures, bills and resolutions as such committee may deem advisable, and that all bills and resolutions relative to said message and bills offered by any Senator shall be referred to said committee and that said committee shall be appointed by the President of the Senate; The question being on the adoption of the resolution, Mr. Barnard moved as a substitute that the message be referred to the committee on Taxation, Railroads and Banks and Corporations jointly. The substitute motion was then adopted and the message was referred to the above named committees. Mr. Colman offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the daily sessions of the Senate shall commence at 2 o'clock p. m. until otherwise ordered; Which resolution was adopted. Mr. Westcott, previous notice not having been given, asked and obtained unanimous consent to introduce a bill. Mr. Westcott then introduced Senate Bill No. 2, entitled: The bill was referred to the Committee on Railroads. Mr. Merriman, by unanimous consent, offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate be and is hereby directed to draw an order of twenty dollars in favor of Allen N. Armstrong, the retiring Sergeant-at-Arms, for services in the organization of this special session; The question being on the adoption of the resolution, Mr. Youmans raised the point of order that Mr. Armstrong was a federal office holder and therefore could not be an officer of the Senate and entitled to draw pay. The President declared the point of order not well taken. The resolution was then adopted. Mr. Youmans then raised the point of order that it required a yea and nay vote to adopt the resolution for the reason that it carried with it an appropriation of money. The President declared the point of order not well taken for the reason that the resolution did not involve an appropriation of money, but was merely the payment of an incidental expense of the Senate. Mr. Colman moved that the Senate adjourn, Which motion prevailed, And the President declared the Senate adjourned until 2 o'clock tomorrow. Lansing, Wednesday, March 23, 1898. The Senate met pursuant to adjournment and was called to order by the President. Religious exercises were conducted by Rev. Clarence F. Swift. The following Senators answered to their names: Messrs. Barnard, Barnum, Blakeslee, Bostwick, Campbell, Colman, Flood, Forsyth, Hadsall, Holmes, Hughes, Jibb, Latimer, Lawrence, Loomis, Maitland, Mason, Merriman, Moore, Mudge, Prescott, Robinson, Savidge, Teeple, Thompson, Wagar, Wagner, Warner, Westcott, Youmans. The following Senators were absent without leave: Messrs. Covell and Preston. On motion of Mr. Warner the absentees were excused from today's session. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. By the committee on Railroads: The committee on Railroads, to whom was referred A bill to provide for the local taxation of railroads, Respectfully report that they have had the same under consideration, and have directed me to report the same back to the Senate and recommend that the bill be referred to the committees on Railroads, Taxation and Banks and Corporations jointly. Report accepted and adopted. EDMUND M. BARNARD, Chairman. MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS. Mr. Flood offered the following resolution: Whereas, The duties of the special committee to whom the Governor's message and the taxation bill introduced by Senator Moore were referred will necessitate the employment of a stenographer and typewriter, now, therefore, be it Resolved, That Miss Josephine Reason be appointed to this position, and that so far as consistent with the proper performance of these duties she assist the individual members of the Senate with their correspondence; Which resolution was adopted. Mr. Jibb offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Secretary of State be authorized and requested to furnish the Lieutenant Governor and each Senator and the Secretary of the Senate with a copy of the 1897 Michigan Manual for their use at the present special session. Mr. Jibb: "In support of that resolution I wish to say that the Secretary of State said to me about this matter this forenoon, that he had been requested by several members of the Senate for the Manual for their use, but that he could not furnish them without a resolution by this Senate, and requested me to introduce it; that is the reason I offer this resolution." The question being on the adoption of the resolution, Mr. Blakeslee offered the following resolution: Resolved, That Norton J. Miller, the present bill clerk of the Senate, be and hereby is assigned for service to the joint committees on Railroads, Taxation, and Banks and Corporations as their clerk for the remainder of the session, without extra compensation. Mr. Blakeslee: "This resolution is introduced by virtue of a resolution which was passed by the Joint Committees this morning, requesting that Mr. Miller be appointed as clerk of that committee." 1 The question being on the adoption of the resolution, Mr. Teeple offered the following resolution: Resolved, That Katharyn Henwood be appointed proof reader for this special session of the Senate. Mr. Loomis: "I would like a little light on the purpose of that resolution. what purpose is it necessary? I ask for information." Mr. Teeple: For "In view of the fact that this lady came here by the advice and notice of the Senator of that district, and in view of the fact that the probabilities are that her services will be needed in that capacity, I offer that resolution." Mr. Loomis: "I do not know as it could properly come under this resolution offered by the Senator from the 13th (Mr. Teeple), but I would be very glad if some expression could be given by the Senate here today with reference to those clerks who have come here from different parts of the State, expecting that they would be employed in their respective committees, or in some of the committees. I know there are several such clerks here upon the floor of the Senate, and it is embarrassing to them and embarrassing to the Senate, that is in adjusting in some way in fairness what course should be pursued in reference to them. I do not know whether the lady mentioned in the resolution of my friend from the 13th (Mr. Teeple) is one of these committee clerks or not. My only purpose in raising the question is to ask whether at this stage, at this time, we cannot settle this matter and have some expression made here today which will indicate clearly the judgment of the Senate in reference to the further continuance of these clerks here at this time." Mr. Wagner: "Under the law creating this proof reader did it not provide for the Secretary of the Senate making that appointment?" The President: “The statute I think authorizes the appointment of a proof reader, but a resolution was offered by some Senator yesterday to the effect that the rules be amended and in that amendment it was proposed that the Secretary be given the power to appoint the proof reader as well as certain other officials, and the proof reader comes within his department, inasmuch as their relations are very close. That resolution is before the committee on Joint Rules, and I suppose will be reported shortly, and that will dispose of the question.” Mr. Barnard: "I am a member of the committee on Rules. The committee has not yet been called together. Possibly it would be better, inasmuch as this resolution is there, relative to this official, that the matter be delayed until the committee has time to make its report. Therefore, I move that the resolution lie upon the table." The question being on the motion that the resolution lie upon the table; The motion prevailed. |