The Clerk announced that Wayne R. Rice, having received a majority of all the votes cast for the office of Speaker, was duly elected Speaker of the House. The Clerk then named as a committee to conduct the Speaker-elect to the Chair, Messrs. Petermann, Croll and Thomas Read. The committee performed the duty assigned it and through its chairman introduced the Speaker-elect, who then addressed the House as follows: Gentlemen of the House: We launch today upon the session of 1917; an important event, for at this time we write the initial words in another page of Michigan's political history. The people of this great commonwealth have delegated to us a solemn power; vested in us a certain and responsible authority, and have reposed in us explicit confidence. It remains for us, in starting upon this high undertaking, to be mindful of the responsibility which rests upon our shoulders and to proceed with the utmost care and deliberation. I do not believe there is today a demand for any great volume of legislation, but there is a decided demand for good legislation. It is quality rather than quantity that is needed in present day legislation. Big issues confront us, issues which must be met fearlessly and faithfully. We are face to face with needful and necessary legislation and the greatest problem is not the mere passing of laws to meet those needs but the problem of carefully drawn measures, constitutional, sane and efficient. I believe in every man standing for what he thinks is right and against what he thinks to be wrong, and I urge upon you the necessity of following the courage of your own convictions and the exercise of your own judgment after it has been maturely and deliberately formed. I want no machine except a machine for efficiency, and every man who proves himself capable can be a cog in that machine. I shall measure you as I expect you to measure me, not by your reputed ability but by your real ability, which will be manifested by your sincerity, your integrity and your application, which alone determine true worth. The office which you have given me is one of great responsibility and I wish to impress upon you, gentlemen, that I am in sore need of your help, your counsel and your guidance, and I would have been loath, indeed, to have sought the office had I not felt sure of your assistance and co-operation. It is one of the greatest honors I shall ever expect to receive and I hope I am duly appreciative of it. You have placed the highest confidence in me and I assure you that I shall do my best to make the session of 1917 a success. The people of our state will be watching us from this day and when we have done our work we can receive no greater tribute than to have them say to us: "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into thy reward." I thank you most sincerely for this splendid manifestation of your esteem and confidence. The Speaker announced the next business in order was the election of a Speaker pro tem. The roll was called by the Clerk and the members voted as follows: Mr. Amon For Lynn J. Lewis: Mr. Ford, Sheridan Mr. Leland Mr. Ross Schmidt, H. L. Smith, F. A. Lemire Leveque Littlejohn McArthur McGillivray Martin Sours The Speaker announced that Lynn J. Lewis, having received a majority of all the votes cast for the office of Speaker pro tem., was duly elected Speaker pro tem. of the House. The Speaker announced that the next business in order was the election of a Clerk of the House. The roll was called by the Journal Clerk of the preceding session, and the members voted as follows: The Speaker announced that Charles S. Pierce, having received a majority of all the votes cast for the office of Clerk, was duly elected Clerk of the House. The Speaker announced that the next business in order was the election of a Sergeant-at-Arms. The roll of the House was called by the Clerk, and the members voted as follows: The Speaker announced that Harry J. McGrane, having received a majority of all the votes cast for the office of Sergeant-at-Arms, was duly elected Sergeant-at-Arms of the House. The Clerk-elect and the Sergeant-at-Arms-elect appeared at the desk and took and subscribed the constitutional oath of office, which was administered by the Speaker. By unanimous consent, the House took up the order of MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS. Mr. Jerome offered the following resolution: House resolution No. 1. Resolved, That the rules of the House of Representatives of 1915 be and are hereby adopted as the rules of this House and that such rules be printed in today's journal. The resolution was adopted. The following are the rules: CHAPTER I. Quorum. GENERAL PROVISIONS. Rule 1. A majority of the members elected to the house shall constitute a quorum. Admission to Floor. Rule 2. No person, unless introduced by a member, shall be admitted within the bar of the house, except the governor, members of the senate, heads of the departments of the state government, judges, members of congress, those who have been members of congress, of the constitutional convention of the state and of the state legislature and such persons as the speaker shall assign places as reporters. All persons provided for as above shall be known to the sergeant-at-arms, and persons introduced shall be admitted within the bar only upon the personal request of a member each time such courtesy is granted. Bar of the House. Rule 3. The words "within the bar of the house," when used in these rules, shall mean the space on the main floor of representative hall, together with the cloak, document and toilet rooms. CHAPTER II. OFFICERS. SPEAKER. Duties as Presiding Officer. Rule 4. The speaker shall take the chair each day at the hour to which the house shall have adjourned. He shall call the house to order, and, except in the absence of a quorum, shall proceed to business in the manner prescribed by these rules. Rule 5. He shall preserve order and decorum; may speak to points of order, rising from his seat for that purpose; and shall decide questions of order, subject to an appeal to the house. When two or more members rise at once, the speaker shall name the member who is first to speak. Appointment of Committees. Rule 6. He shall appoint all committees, except where the house shall otherwise order. Naming of Acting Speaker. Rule 7. He may substitute any member to perform the duties of the chair, but not for a longer time than one day without leave of the house. Naming of Chairman Committee of the Whole. Rule 8. When the house shall have decided to go into the committee of the whole, he shall name a chairman to preside therein. Voting. Rule 9. He shall vote in all elections, on all divisions called for by any member and on all questions taken by yeas and nays, except on appeals from his decisions. Putting the Question. Rule 10. He shall distinctly put all questions in this form, to-wit: "As many as are in favor of (as the question may be), say ‘aye.'” and after the affirmative voice is expressed, "as many as are opposed, say 'no.'" If the speaker doubt or division be called for, the house shall divide those voting in the affirmative shall first rise, then those in the negative. Recognition During Roll Call. Rule 11. After a question has been stated by the speaker, and the calling of the roll has been begun by the clerk, the speaker shall not recognize a member for any purpose, except to demand the vote of another member or upon points of order, until after the announcement of the vote by the clerk; but he shall preserve order and direct members who are not in their seats to resume them and vote when their names are called. Powers and Duties. SPEAKER PRO TEM. Rule 12. In the absence of the speaker, the speaker pro tem. shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of speaker and shall preside over the house unless the speaker shall have designated a member to preside for any day. Roll Call. CLERK. Rule 13. The clerk shall call the roll at the opening of each session of the house and announce whether or not a quorum is present. He |