The House was called to order by the Speaker. 2 o'clock p. m. Reigious exercises were conducted by Rev. W. E. Doty. The roll of the House was called by the Clerk, who announced that a quorum was present. The following named members were absent with leave: Messrs. R. N. Adams, Anderson, Byrns, DeLisle, Dunn, John Lane, Sanderson, and Van Zoeren. The following named members were absent without leave: Messrs. Bolton, Colby, J. S. Monroe and Neal. Mr. Pettit moved that the absentees without leave be excused from to-day's session. The motion prevailed. PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS. No. 233. By the Speaker: Protest of William E. Robinson, of Evart, against the passage of a bill to prohibit the running at large of cattle in highways. The protest was referred to the Committee on Towns and Counties. No. 234. By Mr. W. C. Robinson: Protest of A. G. Studer and 4 other students of the Detroit Homeopathic College, against the passage of a bill affecting the admission of doctors to the practice of medicine in this State. The protest was referred to the Committee on Public Health. No. 235. By Mr. Lovell: Petition of S. G. Antisdale and 147 other citizens of Benton Harbor and vicinity, asking for the passage of a bill providing for the erection of a sailors' and soldiers' monument on the Capitol grounds. The petition was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. No. 236. By Mr. Seeley: Petition of H. C. Guillot and 34 other citizens of Pontiac and vicinity, on the same subject. Same reference. No. 237. By Mr. Seeley: Petition of L. D. Vankleek and 13 other members of Dick Richardson Post No. 147, G. A. R., on the same subject. Same reference. No. 238. By Mr. Herkimer: Petition of John Q. Adams and 48 other citizens of Bedford Township, Monroe County, asking for the submission of an amendment to the Constitution, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors. The petition was referred to the Committee on Liquor Traffic. No. 239. By Mr. Halladay: Protest of Hugh McKaig and 21 other citizens of Reed City, Osceola County, against the passage of the socalled Holmes bill, providing for the giving of bonds by liquor dealers. The protest was referred to the Committee on Liquor Traffic. No. 240. By Mr. L. C. Robinson: Protest of J. C. Snyder and 250 other citizens of the Township of Clarence, Calhoun County, against the passage of House bill No. 246, prohibiting the spearing of fish in Duck Lake, in said county. The protest was referred to the Committee on Fish and Fisheries. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. The Committee on Towns and Counties, by Mr. Seeley, Chairman, reported Senate bill No. 516, entitled A bill to establish a township road system in the Township of Farmington, County of Oakland, and to provide for the raising of funds therefor, and the appointment and election of four township overseers of highways, and to prescribe their powers and duties; With certain amendments thereto, recommending that the amendments be concurred in, and that when so amended, the bill pass. The report was accepted and the committee discharged. The question being on the adoption of the amendments to the bill recommended by the committee, The amendments were adopted. Mr. Seeley moved that the rules be suspended and that the bill be placed on its immediate passage. The motion prevailed, two-thirds of all the members present voting therefor. The bill was then read a third time and passed, a majority of all the members-elect voting therefor, by yeas and nays, as follows: The title was agreed to. Mr. Seeley moved that the bill be given immediate effect. The motion prevailed, two-thirds of all the members-elect voting therefor. The Committee on Drainage, by Mr. Willis, Chairman, reported A bill to amend Section 1 of Chapter 3 as amended by Act No. 254 of the Public Acts of 1897, entitled "An Act to provide for the construction and maintenance of drains and the assessments and collection of taxes therefor and to repeal all other acts relative thereto," approved June 2, 1897, the same being Compiler's Section 4319 of the Compiled Laws of 1897 as amended by Act No. 272 of the Public Acts of 1899; With the accompanying substitute therefor, entitled A bill relative to applications for the locating or establishing of drains within the County of Eaton; And recommended that the substitute be concurred in and that the bill, as substituted do pass. The report was accepted and the committee discharged. The question being on the adoption of the proposed substitute recommended by the committee, The substitute was adopted. Mr. Hallenbeck moved that the rules be suspended and that the bill be placed on its immediate passage. The motion prevailed, two-thirds of all the members present voting therefor. The bill was then read a third time, and, the question being on its passage, Mr. Hallenbeck moved that the bill be referred to the committee of the whole and placed on the general order. The motion prevailed. The Committee on Drainage, by Mr. Willis, Chairman, reported A bill to amend Sections 1 and 2 of Chapter 2, as amended, of Act No. 254 of the Public Acts of 1897, entitled "An Act to provide for the construction and maintenance of drains and the assessment and collection of taxes therefor and to repeal all other acts relative thereto," approved June 2, 1897, the same being Sections 4310 and 4311 of the Compiled Laws of 1897, as amended by Act No. 272 of the Public Acts of 1899, as amended by Act No. 200 of the Public Acts of 1901; With the accompanying substitute therefor, entitled A bill to provide for the election of county drain commissioners in the Counties of Eaton and Van Buren; And recommended that the substitute be concurred in and that the ,bill, as substituted do pass. The report was accepted and the committee discharged. The question being on the adoption of the proposed substitute recommended by the committee, The substitute was adopted. Mr. C. S. Adams moved that the rules be suspended, and that the bill be placed on its immediate passage. The motion prevailed, two-thirds of all the members present voting therefor. The bill was then read a third time and passed, a majority of all the members-elect voting therefor, by yeas and nays, as follows: The Committee on Drainage, by Mr. Willis, Chairman, reported A bill to amend Section 1 of Chapter 2 of Act No. 254 of the Public Acts of 1897, entitled "An Act to provide for the construction and maintenance of drains, and the assessment and collection of taxes therefor, and to repeal all other laws relative thereto," approved June 2, 1897, and to repeal Section 2 of said Act; With the accompanying substitute therefor, entitled A bill to provide for the election of county drain commissioner in the County of Berrien ; And recommended that the substitute be concurred in and that the bill, as substituted do pass. The report was accepted and the committee discharged. The question being on the adoption of the proposed substitute recommended by the committee, The substitute was adopted. Mr. Lovell moved that the rules be suspended, and that the bill be placed on its immediate passage. |