Lansing, Monday, February 1, 1864. The Senate was called to order by the President pro tempore, at 10 o'clock A. M. Roll called: a quorum present. PRESENTATION OF PETITION. By Mr. Babcock: petition of David Maiden, asking the State to recompense him for expenses incurred in procuring possession of certain University lands; Referred to the committee on State affairs. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES.. By the committee on roads and bridges: The committee on roads and bridges, to whom was referred A bill to lay out and establish a State road from the terminus of the Saginaw and Gratiot State road, to the Muskegon river, in Newaygo county, Respectfully report that they have had the same under consideration, and have directed me to report the same back to the Senate, without amendment, and recommend that it do pass, and ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. M. C. WATKINS, Chairmin. The report was accepted and the committee discharged. The bill was ordered printed, referred to the committee of the whole and placed on the general order. By the committee on internal improvements: The committee on internal improvements, to whom was referred A bill to authorize the several townships in any of the coun ties on the line of the proposed railroad, of the Grand Rapids and Indiana railroad company, to aid in the construction of said railroad, Together with petition accompanying the same, respectfully report that they have had the same under consideration, and have directed me to report the same back to the Senate, with amendments, and recommend that it do pass, and ask to be dis. charged from the further consideration of the subject. E. O. HUMPHREY, Chairman. The report was accepted and committee discharged. The Senate concurred in the amendments. The bill was referred to the committee of the whole and placed on the general order. By the committee on finance: The finance committee, in compliance with the instructions contained in the resolution of the Senate, "to report the present condition of the "war fund," and if further legislation is necessary, to provide means for the payment of a State bounty contemplated in the bounty bills now before the Legislature, that they report a bill for the purpose," would respectfully report that by the provisions of an act authorizing a "war loan," approved May 10, 1861, a loan of one million dollars was authorized to be negotiated, the proceeds of which was required to be paid into the "war fund," and by the provisions of act No. 109, session laws of 1863, this loan was increased two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, ($250,000,) making the whole "war loan" authorized to be negotiated, twelve hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($1,250,000). Of this loan there has been negotiated,, and the proceeds paid into the "war fund," six hundred and and seventy-eight thousand three hundred dollars, ($678,300,) which leaves of the loan five hundred and seventy-one thousand seven hundred dollars, ($571,700,) which may be negotiated and the proceeds paid into the "war fund." As the "war fund” is now overdrawn, or has been loaned from the "general fund," one hundred and eighty-seven thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven dollars and four cents, ($187,887 04,) which must be returned to the general fund from the proceeds of the sales of the "war loan bonds," to which must also be added three thousand five hundred dollars, ($3,500,) which has been appropriated from the "war fund," at the present session, to aid in fitting up and beautifying the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg. The amount thus made, one hundred and ninetyone thousand three hundred and eighty-seven dollars and four cents, ($191,387 04,) must be deducted from the proceeds of the war loan bonds now authorized to be negotiated, which would leave three hundred and eighty thousand three hundred and twelve dollars and ninety-six cents ($380,312 96,) unappropriated, which may be sold and the proceeds paid into the "war fund." From the most reliable data that your committee have been able to obtain, they estimate that one hundred and twentyfive thousand dollars will be required from this fund to pay the State bounty of fifty dollars now being paid to each veteran soldier who reënlists. If this estimate should prove to be correct, there would be two hundred and fifty-five thousand three hundred and twelve dollars and ninety-six cents ($255,312 96) of the war loan bonds, the proceeds of which would be applicable to the payment of any State bounty that may be authorized to be paid from said fund, by the action of this Legislature. Your committee, therefore, estimating that a larger amount will be required, before the meeting of the next Legislature, than is found unappropriated of the "war loan," should any permanent State bounty be authorized to be paid at this session, have instructed me to report the following bills; A bill authorizing a war bounty loan; Also, A bill to provide for the interest on the war bounty loan, And ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. All of which is respectfully submitted. E. O. GROSVENOR, Chairman. Report accepted and committee discharged. The bills were read a first and second time by their titles, order ed printed, referred to the committee of the whole and placed on the general order. By the committee on incorporations: The committee on incorporations, to whom was referred A bill to amend section seventeen, of an act to amend an act entitled an act to provide for the formation of companies to construct canals or harbors, and improve the same, approved March 13th, A. D. 1861, and an act amendatory thereto, approved January 18th, 1862, approved March 20th, 1863, Respectfully report that they have had the same under consideration, and find by an examination of said bill, that its sole purpose is to render null and void a proviso in the present law, whereby vessels and other craft are exempted from the payment of toll for entering any harbor constructed under the provisions of the act hereby sought to be amended, and also exempting such harbor from being taxed. They believe that such amendment is necessary and proper. But in the further exam, ination of the law, the committee find that House bill No. 3which has passed both houses of this Legislature, and will undoubtedly be approved by the Governor, (if such approval has not already been made,) has repealed chapter 149 of the compiled laws, which provided the mode whereby certain damages, as stated in the 12th section of the act now sought to be amended, should be recovered. It therefore becomes necessary that the bill should be so amended as to make the necessary provisions for the collection of such damages, by the requisite amendment of said section 12, and which amendments the committee have prepared, in accordance with these views. They have therefore directed me to report the same back to the Senate, 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. HENRY H. CRAPO, Chairman. The report was accepted and the committee discharged. On motion of Mr. Warner, The Senate concurred in the amendments. The bill was referred to the committee of the whole, and placed on the general order. By the committee on towns and counties: The committee on towns and counties to whom was referred A bill to extend the time for the collection of taxes in the township of Ingersoll, in the county of Midland, Have had the same under consideration, and ask leave to report the same back to the Senate without amendment, and recommend that the same do pass. J. M. LAMB, Chairman. The bill was placed on the order of third reading. The committee on towns and counties, to whom was referred A bill to legalize the organization of the village of Fenton, in the county of Genesee, and to legalize certain acts of the board of trustees of said village, Have had the same under consideration, and report the same back without amendment, and recommend its passage. J. M. LAMB, Chairman. The report was accepted and the committee discharged. The bill was placed on the order of third reading. MESSAGES FROM THE OTHER HOUSE. The President announced the following: To the President of the Senate:* HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SIR-I am instructed by the House to transmit the following entitled bills: 1. A bill to provide for the drainage and reclamation of swamp lands by means of a State road and ditches, from Alma, in Gratiot county, via Maple Rapids, to the south line of Clinton county; |