A message was received from the Senate transmitting To provide for investigation of the advisability of establishing a central purchasing board. Whereas, The various State institutions of the State of Michigan yearly spend large sums of money for the purchase of food, supplies and material for such institutions; and Whereas, At present the only co-operation that exists in the matter of making such purchases is a purely voluntary association composed of the stewards or agents of a portion of such institutions; and Whereas, The opinion seems to prevail in the State at large that a considerable sum of money could be saved if all of such purchases so far as practical were made by a central purchasing agent or board; therefore be it Resolved, By the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That the President of the Senate appoint forthwith a committee of three of the members of the Senate to act jointly with a similar committee of three members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, which committee shall proceed at once to investigate the advisability of establishing such central purchasing board or agent, and if deemed advisable, formulate and present to this Legislature not later than sixty days from date a bill containing its conclusions on this subject. The question being on concurring in the adoption of the concurrent resolution, Mr. Amon moved that the concurrent resolution be referred to the Committee on State Affairs. The motion prevailed. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS. Mr. Croll introduced House bill No. 112, entitled A bill to repeal Act No. 208 of the Public Acts of 1913, entitled "An act to exempt certain cut-over and wild lands from taxation in certain cases," approved May 7, 1913. The bill was read a first and second time by its title and referred to the Committee on General Taxation. Mr. Thomas Read introduced House bill No. 113, entitled A bill to provide for the appointment, defining the duties, and fixing the compensation of an assistant law librarian, and to make an appropriation therefor. The bill was read a first and second time by its title and referred to the Committee on State Affairs. Mr. Kooyers introduced House bill No. 114, entitled A bill to provide for the validating, confirming and legalizing of certain city charters of the State heretofore adopted. The bill was read a first and second time by its title and referred to the Committee on City Corporations. Mr. Person introduced House bill No. 115, entitled A bill to amend section 1 of chapter LXVII of the revised statutes of 1846, entitled "Of title to real property by descent," the same being section 9064 of the Compiled Laws of 1897, as last amended by Act No. 286 of the Public Acts of 1909. The bill was read a first and second time by its title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary. Mr. Frank A. Smith introduced A bill providing that any common carrier by railroad, their officers, agents and employes, employing any special agents or detectives for the purpose of detecting and reporting any misconduct or violation of any order or rule of such common carrier by railroad, shall before disciplining or discharging any employe upon the report of any such detective or special agent give the employe so reported an opportunity to be heard ; to be confronted with such special agent or detective reporting him and to have the right and privilege to cross-examine such detective or special agent; to be represented by counsel if he so desires, and providing a penalty for the violation thereof. The bill was read a first and second time by its title and referred to the Committee on Railroads. MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS. Mr. Wiley made written request for the printing of A bill relating to vinous, malt, brewed, fermented, spirituous, and intoxicating liquors; to prohibit the manufacture, sale and keeping for sale, giving away, bartering or furnishing thereof, except for medicinal, mechanical, chemical, scientific, and sacramental purposes; to regulate the sale thereof for medicinal, mechanical, chemical, scientific, and sacramental purposes; to enforce the amendment of section 11, article 16 of the Constitution, ratified November 7, 1916; restricting the use, receipt, and possession of such liquors, and regulating the delivery thereof; providing for the enforcement of this act; providing for the appointment of a prohibition commissioner; prescribing his powers and duties, and fixing his compensation; providing for the appointment of counsel associate to the prosecuting attorney in the prosecution of cases arising under this act; to provide for penalties and rights of action in case of violation thereof; prescribing the time when this act shall become operative, and repealing laws in conflict herewith. The request was referred to the Committee on Printing. GENERAL ORDERS OF THE DAY. Mr. Curtis moved that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole on the general orders. The motion prevailed. The Speaker called Mr. Curtis to the chair. After a time spent in the consideration of bills upon the general or ders, the committee rose, and, through its chairman, made a report recommending the passage, without amendment, of the following entitled bill: House bill No. 59 (file No. 12), entitled A bill to amend section 41 of chapter II of Act No. 314 of the Public Acts of 1915, entitled "An act to revise and consolidate the statutes relating to the organization and jurisdiction of the courts of this State; the powers and duties of such courts, and of the judges and other offi cers thereof; the forms of civil actions; the time within which said civil actions and proceedings may be brought in said courts; pleading, evidence, practice and procedure in civil actions, and proceedings in said courts; to provide remedies and penalties for the violation of certain provisions of this act; and to repeal all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with, or contravening any of the provisions of this act," and to add thereto a new section to be known as section 58 chapter II of said act. The bill was placed on the order of Third Reading of Bills. Mr. Croll moved that when the House adjourns today it stand adjourned until Friday at 9:00 o'clock a. m. The motion prevailed. Mr. Foote moved that when the House adjourns tomorrow it stand adjourned until Monday at 8:45 o'clock p. m. The motion prevailed. Mr. Copley moved that the House adjourn. The motion prevailed, the time being 2:31 o'clock p. m. The Speaker declared the House adjourned until Friday, at 9:00 o'clock a. m. CHARLES S. PIERCE, Clerk of the House of Representatives. SIXTEENTH DAY. Lansing, Friday, January 26. The House was called to order by the Speaker. 9:00 o'clock a. m. Religious exercises were conducted by Rev. Dr. George Luther Cady, of the Plymouth Congregational Church, of Lansing. The roll of the House was called by the Clerk, who announced that a quorum was present. Messrs. Anderson, Brower, Chapin, Chew, Crawford, Culver, Diehl, Ewing, Farrier, R. L. Ford, Sheridan Ford, Francis, Gayde, Gettel, Hallett, Hassenger, Jackson, Lamphere, McGillivray, Martin, Nelson, Newkirk, Petermann, Peterson, Clarence J. Reed, Root, H. L. Schmidt, Stearns, Stevenson, Vine, Warner, Weissert, Wood and Woodruff were absent with leave. Messrs. Bosch, Copley, Cowan, Flowers, Foote, Griggs, Houghton, Ivory, Jerome, Kooyers, Martz and Toepel were absent without leave. Mr. Clark asked and obtained leave of absence for Mr. Bosch from today's session. Mr. Blinn asked and obtained leave of absence for Mr. Ivory from today's session. Mr. Thomas Read asked and obtained leave of absence for Mr. Toepel from today's session. Mr. Daprato asked and obtained an indefinite leave of absence for Mr. Cowan including today's session. PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS. Mr. Evans presented Petition No. 23. Resolutions adopted by the Men's Class of the First Methodist Church of Adrian, favoring the passage of a law that will abolish the saloon and make certain that no city or village will allow such an institution within its corporate limits in any guise, but that will permit the purchase of liquor for personal use in the future, as in the past. The resolutions were referred to the Committee on Liquor Traffic. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS. Mr. Ormsbee introduced (by request) House bill No. 117, entitled A bill to provide for the taxation of personal property and credits. and cash surrender values on life insurance policies held by taxpayers in this State. The bill was read a first and second time by its title and referred to the Committee on General Taxation. Mr. John Schmidt introduced (by request) House bill No. 118, entitled A bill for the protection of the public health; by providing that persons, firms, or corporations, who are operating or conducting hotels, restaurants, dining cars, bakeries, confectionery shops, or other public eating places, or manufactories of food products in this State, shall not employ or keep in their employ, as cooks, waiters, kitchen help, chambermaids, bakers, manufacturers of candies or food products for public use, or other house servants, any person or persons who are suffering from trachoma, active tuberculosis of the lungs, open skin tuberculosis, syphilis, gonorrhea, open external cancer, barber's itch, or any other dangerous communicable disease, or who are carriers of typhoid fever or diphtheria germs. The bill was read a first and second time by its title and referred to the Committee on Public Health. MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS. Mr. McArthur made written request for the printing of A bill to prohibit the manufacture, sale, keeping for sale, giving away or furnishing of vinous, malt, brewed, fermented, spirituous or intoxicating liquors, except in certain cases; to define intoxicating liquors; to prohibit the soliciting, advertising, and taking orders therefor, its carriage to or possession at dances, dance-halls, or other public gatherings; and the maintaining of locker or club-room where such liquors are kept for beverage purposes; declaring certain places and things to be nuisances and providing for their abatement and injunction; de |