Resolved, That Tubal C. Owen is entitled to a seat in this House from the 1st Representative district of St. Clair county. D. L. CROSSMAN, Chairman. Report accepted and committee discharged. Mr. Stewart moved to lay the report on the table; Mr. Cameron moved that the resolution reported by the committee be adopted. Mr. Miles moved to amend the resolution by preceding it with the following: Resolved, That the seat in this House, occupied by N. S. Boynton, Representative from the 1st district of the county of St. Clair, be and hereby is declared to be vacant, by reason of the removal of Mr. Boynton from said district. The amendment was adopted. The resolution, as amended, was then adopted. Mr. Owen then came forward and took and subscribed to the oath of office, and took his seat. The Sergeant-at-Arms announced the Private Secretary of the Governor, who transmitted to the House a message from His Excellency the Governor in writing. By the committee on elections: The committee on elections, to whom was referred the credentials of Albertus L. Green, from the 2d Representative district of Eaton County, in place of Almon A. Thompson, respectfully report that they have had the same under consideration, and find as follows: The point referred is identically the same as in the case just reported of Tubal C. Owen, of St. Clair, viz: Is there a vacancy? And your committee find in the Governor's office, also, the certificate of the County Clerk of Eaton county, under the seal of the county, stating that the Hon. Almon A. Thompson, of the 2d Representative district, had removed from the district, thereby causing a vacancy; upon which the Governor called a special election to fill the vacancy, to take place on the 16th day of July inst. Your committee find in this case, further, that subsequent to that election, the Governor received the resignation of Almon A. Thompson as representative. Therefore recommend the adoption of the following: Resolved, That Albertus L. Green is entitled to a seat in this House from the 2d Representative district of Eaton county. D. L. CROSSMAN, Chairman. Report accepted and committee discharged. On motion of Mr. G. G. Briggs, The resolution reported by the committee was adopted. Mr. Green then came forward and took and subscribed to the oath of office, and took his seat. MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR. The Speaker announced the following: EXECUTIVE OFFICE, To the Senate and House of Representatives: My attention has been called by the Department of the Census Bureau at Washington to the great difficulty in obtaining from this State what are termed "Social Statistics," embracing The valuation of real and personal estate ; State, county, city, township, and village corporate debt; State, county, city, and township taxation; Pauperism; Statistics of crime, and other material interests. There can be little doubt of the importance of obtaining this information, not only for the report of the Superintendent of the Census, but for our own purposes. Much of the information would often be of value in shaping legislation. These statistics can only be obtained through the officers of the several counties. I respectfully suggest the propriety of requiring by law the proper county officers to procure and furnish to the Secretary of State, on or before the thirtieth (30th) day of November next, and annually or biennially thereafter, such statistics on these and other subjects of general interest as may be deemed essential, and that provision be made for the proper compensation for the duties discharged. The returns of lands delinquent for unpaid taxes in the counties of Isabella, Midland and Saginaw, were made at so late a date as to render such returns illegal, and the lands cannot be offered for sale for such taxes without legalizing legislation. The general interests of the State require that the lands shall be offered at the coming sales, on the first Monday of October. I recommend the necessary legislation for that purpose. On motion of Mr. Stewart, HENRY P. BALDWIN. That portion of the message which refers to the matter of social statistics was referred to the committee on State affairs. On motion of Mr. W. D. Williams, That portion of the message which refers to the matter of tax returns was referred to the committee on ways and means. MOTIONS, RESOLUTIONS AND NOTICES. Mr. Plimpton offered the following: Resolved, That there be printed for the use of the House 1,000 copies of the opinions of the Judges of the Supreme Court of this State, in the case of The People ex rel. the Detroit and Howell Railroad Company vs. The Township Board of the township of Salem. Also, the points of counsel in the argument of counsel in said cause. 66 Mr. Fuller moved to amend the resolution by striking out one thousand" and inserting "ten thousand" in lieu thereof. Mr. Curry moved to lay the resolution on the table; Which motion prevailed. Mr. Miles moved to take from the table the following resolution: Whereas, It is provided by the Constitution of this State, that no person holding any office under the United States is eligible to or shall have a seat in either House of the Legislature; And Whereas, It is further provided that a removal from their (Senators and Representatives) respective counties or districts shall be deemed a vacation of their office; And Whereas, It is understood that the seats of several members of this Legislature have become vacated by reason of such removal, and that others elected at the last general election are not entitled to seats in this House by reason of their acceptance of office under the Government of the United States; Resolved, That a select committee of five be appointed by the Speaker, with instructions to investigate without delay the matter under consideration, and report the result of such investigation to this House, and that in the meantime and until such report be made, those members who have removed from the districts in which they were respectively elected, or who have accepted official appointments of whatever nature from or under the government of the United States, be refused the privilege of voting upon any measure before this House; Which motion prevailed. Mr. Romeyn offered the following as a substitute for the resolution: Whereas, It is provided by the Constitution of this State, that no person holding any office under the United States is eligible to or shall have a seat in either House of the Legislature; And Whereas, It is further provided that a removal from their (Senators and Representatives) respective counties or districts shall be deemed a vacation of their office; And Whereas, It is understood that the seats of several members of this Legislature have become vacated by reason of such removal, and that others elected at the last general election are not entitled to seats in this House by reason of their acceptance of office under the Government of the United States, as follows, to wit: John N. Ingersoll, 1st district Shiawassee county; Resolved, That a select committee of five be appointed by the Speaker, with instructions to investigate without delay the matter under consideration, and to report the result of such investigation to this House, and that in the meantime and until such report be made, those members who have removed from the districts in which they were respectively elected, or who have accepted official appointments of whatever nature from or under the government of the United States, be refused the privilege of voting upon any measure before this House. Mr. Mead moved to so amend the substitute as to refer the matter to the committee on elections, instead of a select committee of five; Which motion prevailed. Mr. Mead moved to further amend the substitute by striking out all after the word "House," in the fourth line of the resolution; Which motion prevailed. The substitute was then adopted. The resolution, as amended by the substitute, was then adopted. Mr. Westover offered the following: Resolved, (the Senate concurring,) That this Legislature adjourn sine die, on Friday, the 5th day of August next, at 12 o'clock noon. Laid on the table for one day under the rules. UNFINISHED BUSINESS, Being the consideration of the following resolution: Resolved, (the Senate concurring,) That a committee of two |