tax-paying electors of this State to vote aid in the construction of railroads, Have made some progress therein, but not having gone through therewith, have directed their chairman to report that fact to the House, and ask leave to sit again. Report accepted. On motion of Mr. Osborn, GEO. G. BRIGGS, Chairman. Leave was granted the committee to sit again. The Speaker announced as the committee on the part of the House to act with a committee of the Senate to report on the advisability of re-submitting to the electors the Constitution of 1867, Messrs. Holt, Stockbridge, Baxter, Huston, Miles, Kingsley and W. D. Williams. On motion of Mr. Cogshall, The House took a recess until 24 o'clock this afternoon. AFTERNOON SESSION. 2 o'clock P. M. The House met and was called to order by the Speaker. By unanimous consent, Mr. Cameron offered the following: Resolved, That the use of this Hall this evening be granted for the purpose of listening to several addresses on railroad aid legislation; Which was adopted. GENERAL ORDER. On motion of Mr. Sanford, The House went into committee of the whole on the general order, Mr. Crossman in the chair. After some time spent therein, the committee rose, and through the chairman, made the following report: The committee of the whole have had under consideration the following entitled joint resolution: House joint resolutlon No. 2, entitled Joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Michigan for the purpose of enabling the tax-paying electors of this State to vote aid in the construction of railroads, Have made sundry amendments thereto, and have directed their chairman to report the same back to the House, asking concurrence therein, and recommend its passage. D. L. CROSSMAN, Chairman. Report accepted, and committee discharged. On motion of Mr. Smith, The House concurred in the amendments made to the joint resolution by the committee. Mr. Plimpton moved that the House reconsider the vote by which the amendments were concurred in; Which motion prevailed. Mr. Avery moved to amend the amendment to the first proviso of the resolution by striking out the words "a majority of;" Which motion prevailed. The amendments as amended were then concurred in, and the Joint Resolution placed on the order of third reading. Mr. Sanford moved that the Joint Resolution as amended be printed in the journal; Which motion prevailed. The following is the joint resolution : JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Michigan for the purpose of enabling the tax-paying electors of this State to vote aid in the construction of railroads. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the following amendment to the constitution of the State be and the same is hereby proposed, the same to stand as an additional section of article eighteen, to be known as section seventeen: SECTION 17. The Legislature may provide by law that cities, incorporated villages, and townships may aid by loan or donation in the construction of railroads: Provided, Two-thirds of the qualified electors voting thereon shall so determine, none of whom shall be deemed qualified unless he shall have resided in his ward, village, or township, for three months previous to the date of such election: And provided further, That such aid, together with all previous unpaid indebtedness incurred in aid of railroads by such city, village, or township, shall not exceed five per cent. of the equalized valuation of such municipalities, and shall be raised and paid by annual tax within five years after the road is completed through such municipality. The aforesaid amendment shall be and is hereby submitted to the people of this State at the next general election to be holden on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November, 1870, as provided in section one, article twenty, of the Constitution; and the Secretary of State is hereby required to give notice of the same to the Sheriffs of the several counties of this State in the same manner that he is now by law required to do in the case of an election of Governor and Lieutenant Governor; and the inspectors of election in the several townships and cities of this State shall prepare a suitable box for the reception of ballots cast for and against such amendment. Each person voting for said amendment shall have written or printed on his ballot the words: "Amendment anthorizing future aid to railroads-Yes;" and each person voting against it, the words: "Amendment authorizing future aid to railroads-No." The ballots shall in all respects be canvassed, and returns be made as in elections of Governor and Lieutenant Governor. MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE. By unanimous consent, the Speaker announced the following: SENATE CHAMBER, Lansing, August 2, 1870. To the Speaker of the House of Representatives : SIR-I am instructed by the Senate to inform the House that the Senate has appointed Senators Norris, T. G. Smith, Koon, Warner and Prutzman, as members, on the part of the Senate, of the joint committee to consider the advisability of submitting the constitution of 1867 to a vote of the people at the ensuing general election. Very respectfully, HENRY S. SLEEPER, Secretary of the Senate. The message was laid on the table. On motion of Mr. Green, The House adjourned until to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. Lansing, Wednesday, August 3, 1870. The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was called to order by the Speaker. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Davis. Roll called: quorum present. Absent without leave: Messrs. Purcell, H. G. Williams and Yawkey. Mr. Riopelle asked and obtained leave of absence for himself until Friday noon. PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS. By Mr. Ashley: petition of Levi Aldrich, W. W. Sweetland and 24 others, citizens of Cass county, asking for the submission to the people of amendments to the Constitution legalizing railroad aid bonds, and authorizing future aid to be voted by municipalities to an amount not exceeding five per cent. of assessed value of property. Referred to the committee on judiciary and internal improvements, jointly. THIRD READING OF BILLS. House joint resolution No. 2, which reads as follows: JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Michigan, for the purpose of enabling the tax-paying electors of this State to vote aid in the construction of railroads. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the following amendment to the constitution of the State be and the same is hereby proposed, the same to stand as an additional section of article eighteen, to be known as section seventeen: SECTION 17. The Legislature may provide by law that cities, incorporated villages, and townships may aid by loan or donation in the construction of railroads: Provided, Two-thirds of the qualified electors voting thereon shall so determine, none of whom shall be deemed qualified unless he shall have resided in his ward, village, or township, for three months previous to the date of such election: And provided further, That such aid, together with all previous unpaid indebtedness incurred in aid of railroads by such city, village, or township, shall not exceed five per cent. of the equalized valuation of such municipalities, and shall be raised and paid by annual tax within five years after the road is completed through such municipality. The aforesaid amendment shall be and is hereby submitted to the people of this State at the next general election to be holden on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November, eighteen hundred and seventy, as provided in section one, article twenty of the constitution; and the Secretary of State is hereby required to give notice of the same to the sheriffs of the several counties of this State in the same manner that he is now by law required to do in the case of an election of Governor and Lieutenant Governor; and the inspectors of election in the several townships and cities of this State shall prepare a suitable box for the reception of ballots cast for and against such amendment. Each person voting for said amendment shall have written or printed on his ballot the words " Amend |