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The Speaker expressed his gratitude for the gift and his appreciation of the friendly feelings conveyed by Mr. Culver's remarks in presenting the beautiful gift.

Mr. Butler, on behalf of the Assistant Sergeants-at-Arms and the janitors, presented Mr. Birkholm, Sergeant-at-Arms, with a gold chain.

The Sergeant-at-Arms expressed his thanks for the gift from his assistants during the session.

Mr. Baxter, on behalf of the committee clerks of the House, presented the Speaker with a Masonic charm.

The Speaker expressed his thanks for the gift and his appreciation of the friendly feelings evidenced by its presentation.

The Speaker presented, as a personal gift from himself to Clerk Charles S. Pierce, a gold fountain pen and a gold pencil.

The Clerk, in accepting the gift, expressed his deep appreciation of the friendly feeling which prompted such a beautiful gift.

William McQueen, on behalf of the House messengers, presented the Speaker with a leather desk set.

The Speaker extended his sincere thanks to the boys for the wonderful desk set and for the friendship expressed in presenting it.

Mr. Gray, Reading Clerk of the House, on behalf of the Clerk's force, presented Clerk Pierce with a bridge lamp and a Windsor chair.

The Clerk, in accepting the gifts, not only expressed his great appreciation for the friendship which prompted the giving of the beautiful lamp and the chair, but stated that he was pleased to have such a fitting opportunity to say to the members that no Clerk of the House of Representatives ever had a more competent force of assistants, and that the prompt handling of the business during the closing days had been possible only because of the wonderful work of the Clerk's assistants.

Mr. Lennon, on behalf of the members of the House, presented Speaker pro-tem Meggison with a leather traveling bag.

Mr. Meggison expressed his sincere appreciation of the gift.

Mr. Howell moved that the House take a recess until 1:30 o'clock this afternoon.

The motion did not prevail.

Messrs. Frees, Stevenson and Woodruff entered the House and took their seats.

Mr. Dacey moved that there be a call of the House.
The motion prevailed.

Proceedings Under the Call.

The roll of the House was called by the Clerk, and no members were reported absent without leave.

Mr. Meggison moved that the House take a recess until 1:00 o'clock p. m. The Speaker ruled the motion not in order during proceedings under a call of the House.

The Speaker announced that the hour had arrived for the special order for today.

Special Orders of the Day.

11:30 o'clock a. m.

Senate Bill No. 260 (file No. 214), entitled

A bill to provide for the registration, identification and regulation of motor vehicles and trailers attached thereto, operated upon the public highways of this State, and of the operators of such vehicles, and to provide for levying specific taxes upon such vehicles so operated, and to provide for the disposition of such funds and to exempt from all other taxation such motor vehicles so specifically taxed, registered, identified and regulated, and to create the State Highway fund and to make appropriations thereto and therefrom; and to repeal Act No. 302 of the Public Acts of 1915, as amended, and all other acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith or contrary hereto,

Was read a third time, and, the question being on its passage,

Mr. Smith moved to amend the bill by striking out of line 4 of section 26 the words "March, 1924," and inserting in lieu thereof the words "December, 1923."

The motion prevailed and the amendment was adopted, a majority of all the members-elect voting therefor.

By unanimous consent the Speaker presented to the House a message which he had received from the Governor, and directed the Clerk to read the message. The following is the message:

To the Speaker of the House of Representatives:

Executive Office,
Lansing, May 4, 1923.

There is now pending and awaiting final action before the Legislature adjourns tomorrow, Senate Bill No. 260, introduced by Senator Smith, which is a revision of our present automobile license law.

It was introduced for the sole purpose of providing a just and equitable basis for licensing motor vehicles and to furnish adequate means of financing our State highway program. A very careful and conservative estimate assures us that this bill will produce fourteen million dollars in revenue in 1924. This will allow the State to distribute to the respective counties at least four million dollars a year for construction and maintenance purposes and amply finance a reasonable highway program for the next two years.

My message of April 17th included the statement that it was unnecessary to raise an additional seven million dollars for these purposes; that in fact such additional amount was double that required to meet the state's needs. The statement thus made was absolutely correct. The slightest reflection will make this plain.

Under the present license law, in 1922 collections amounted to over eight million dollars, besides a million dollars derived from chauffeurs' licenses, transfers, etc. Because of the natural increase in the number of automobile registrations during 1923 and 1924, the collections for the latter named year will undoubtedly amount to eleven million dollars if no change is made in the present law. These amounts, when added to the proposed seven million dollars, would bring the total revenue up to approximately eighteen million, which as I stated then and now repeat would be four million dollars in excess of our requirements.

The Smith Bill provides just rates on trucks and rectifies a condition which has too long permitted these vehicles to use the highways without contributing their just share towards maintenance costs. The seventy-cent rate for passenger cars places all classes on the same basis and in this manner corrects the provisions of the present law which allow unreasonable and unwarranted discriminations. Under this bill the State's revenues from automobiles will be kept within reasonable bounds and our expenditures confined to proper limitations. It is indisputable that its enactment will accomplish the following:

1. Provide the necessary money to establish a sinking fund from which both principal and interest of the fifty million dollar bond issue can be paid.

2. Provide for the immediate distribution of at least four million dollars to counties for the purpose of paying back State rewards.

3. Relieve general property from State taxation for highway purposes. 4. Finance the highway program and insure its continuance upon a substantial and businesslike basis.

The people of the State undoubtedly expect these four things to be accomplished before this session ends. Mere differences of opinion as to the method of their accomplishment should not be permitted to interefere with a creditable and honorable solution of the problem and it is my hope that the same will be forthcoming.

Respectfully,

ALEX. J. GROESBECK.

The House resumed the consideration of
Senate Bill No. 260 (file No. 214) —

A bill to provide a weight tax on motor vehicles.

The Speaker called the Speaker pro tem to the chair.

Mr. Welsh rose to a question of personal privilege, and made the following statement:

"I do not expect to confine my remarks solely to the subject matter of the bill. I believe I owe it to myself and to the members of this House to say what I am going to say. I promised myself when I took the position with which you honored me, that I would not take the floor of this House to influence any legislation, and I am holding to that resolution now, in spite of the fact that am here on my feet. I am not before you for the purpose of changing any votes on this bill. What happens to the bill means nothing to me. We have good streets in the city I represent, and the money that is owed Kent county I presume they will be able to get along without for another two years, if this bill isn't passed. This is the last day of the session. On the first day of the session I made some remarks to this House, and in the Journal of the first day I read as follows:

'I don't feel that it is the province of the Speaker of the House to inject his personal views in regard to legislation that may confront us. I have no personal interest in any legislation that may come before us. I have only one object in view--that is, to devote such ability as I have in helping you to make a success of this session.'

Certain remarks have been made, since the arguments on this proposition started, which I believe make it necessary for me to answer. Before doing so, I want to read to you another extract from the first day's Journal:

'I believe that the greatest need, not only here, but in every legislative body throughout the country, whether civic, state or national; the greatest need today is for more moral courage. We need Legislators who have the courage and the backbone to stand by their convictions. As I view it, we are sent here as the chosen representatives of our various districts. We come here apparently with the confidence of our constituents-confidence that we have the ability to do the job that they have selected for us. They have sent us here to use our judgment and I believe that any Legislator who is true to his own convictions cannot possibly be false to his constituents.'

I didn't make those statements as mere high-sounding phrases when I made them. I stated them because I believed them, and I still believe them. It has been stated here by members in this debate that influence has been brought to bear upon them. My colleague from Kent county was quoted in one of the newspapers as stating that I had tried to influence his vote on this measure and on the gas tax measure, and I now challenge the gentleman from Kent, or any member from Kent, or any member of this House, to stand now upon the floor of this House and state to this House that I have asked them to vote for or against this measure. I am waiting now for some member to rise."

Mr. Dykstra arose and made the following statement: "I have been told by Senators that Mr. Welsh had asked them to hold up my bills in the Senate."

Mr. Welsh said, "I asked a direct question." Mr. Dykstra replied, "You did ask me to vote against the gas tax at the time of the Governor's veto." Mr. Welsh continued his statement:

"We now come to a matter of veracity. The gentleman mentions the gas tax. I will tell you gentlemen how the gentleman from Kent county arrived at his conclusion to vote for the gas tax over the Governor's veto, and in this instance, at least, there can be no question of veracity, because the gentleman's statement

was made in the presence of at least fifteen members the night before the vote for the gas tax over the Governor's veto was taken. He stated that he was going to vote against the gas tax, and before some fifteen members of this House he stated why he was going to vote against the gas tax. He said the cities of Michigan were not getting a square deal. The day before that this House had passed a proposition to reapportion the primary school fund money, and he said the gas tax was another case of taking money out of cities, and he was going to vote against it. The morning after he made that statement, he came into my office and said 'I have changed my mind; and today I vote for the gas tax.' Naturally I was interested to know what had changed his mind over night, and I asked him the reason, and the reason that the gentleman gave for his vote for the gas tax, a vote for which he now prides himself, and mentions in his speech as being proud of; the reason that he voted for the gas tax was because another member of the Kent delegation had gone before the city corporation committee, presented his views, and the committee had taken his judgment as against the judgment of the gentleman who has just spoken. He said, "They have not treated me fair-he talked against my bill, so today I vote for the gas tax.' Gentlemen of the House, I have taken the floor at this time to plead with you not to decide this issue on any such lines of reasoning as I have just stated, and I have taken the floor because I fear that is the way this issue will be decided. If this bill could have been presented at the early part of the session, simply as an amendment to our present license law, the roll call would have been attached.

I have listened to the arguments this morning, waiting to hear some arguments against the bill. I want to compliment the gentleman from Oakland for presenting the only clear, reasonable arguments against the bill. The other arguments consisted mostly of orations on representative government and autocracy. I hold no brief for the Governor of this State. I think he is capable of holding his own, but I have listened to some of the things said about him, and I couldn't help being envious of him. If some of the statements are true, the present Governor of Michigan is an infinitely bigger man than I believe he is. If he has the power that was attributed to him this morning, the people of the State of Michigan had better keep him on the job.

They speak of fearing for representative government-representative government is in danger. It is always in danger, but representative government is not going to be destroyed by any one man-not even by Alexander J. Groesbeck.

I take it for granted that this bill will receive some affirmative votes, and I believe it is a reflection upon those who will vote for it to have it stated on this floor that we are voting for it under pressure. I voted for the gas tax. I believed, as many of you did, that it was a popular measure, and if the people were willing to dig down into their pockets for money, we should give it to them. After the House passed it, and the Senate passed it, and it came back with the Governor's veto-and the Attorney General's Office had declared it unconstitutional, and the only supreme court in the United States that had passed upon the question had declared it unconstitutional, and after I had a chance to read the section of the Constitution in our little hand books-and any man who can read the English language wouldn't need a decision of the supreme court to tell him that the gas tax, as passed, was not constitutional-I refused to stifle my own power of reason to vote for a proposition which I knew was no good, and I voted 'No.' I shall vote for this proposition today, because I don't know any logical argument against it. It raises all the money that is required, and it is fair.

I want to say just another word about representative government. Some of the gentlemen this morning would make you believe that they were literal Davids hurling stones at some monster Goliath out in the front office. If there is a Goliath who is liable to destroy representative government he is not in the front office of this building. The danger to representative government sits at the press desks right here. Some gentlemen of the House here have flattered themselves that they have a great amount of moral courage. They are going to stand here, and in the face of the Governor of Michigan, are going to be able to throw out their chests and vote against this bill and go back home and say 'He didn't control me.' That isn't where the control is-the control is at these desks right here. I believe you will agree with me that it takes considerably more moral courage and backbone to defy these nimble gentlemen of the press than it does to defy one man in the front office whom many never see. I have the highest respect for the members of this profession, but I want to tell you gentlemen that they hold a powerful weapon. I have felt it during this session, but as

you gentlemen know, it has had little effect upon my attitude. There is nobody but what loves approval, and it is pleasing to pick up the paper and read flattering reports about one's self, and there is no man living, if he has his senses, who enjoys reading ridicule or scorn. And if representative government is ever endangered, it will become endangered when you and I are so fearful of our political lives that we will bow down to the whips of these men. Some of you will receive flattering reports in tomorrow's papers. The remarks that I am now making will be twisted into words of weakness and submission. I have been able to see things from the position with which you have honored me that perhaps have escaped you at times.

These newspaper boys know my attitude in regard to political publicity. No matter what they write, it goes 100 per cent with me, because I am foolish enough to think that the moment they don't say anything about me, I will have to get out of this game, and there is a sort of mutual agreement that they can write anything they please without hurting my feelings or making me have any malice or trying to get back in any way.

The reporter from Western Michigan's only morning newspaper is a good friend of mine; personally I like him, and as a newspaper man I think that this situation here today is paying tribute to his ability as a newspaper reporter; and for the votes that will be cast against this bill, I believe the gentleman on my left can take more credit for than the Governor of Michigan can take credit for the votes that are cast for it. I believe he came down to this session with an eye single to poisoning the minds of the members of this House and the Senate and the readers back home against the Governor of the State of Michigan. I happen to know the motives that have actuated him, and I think that he has done a successful job and it is a testimonial to his ability as a newspaper man. Don't you see the possibilities of it all? Don't you see the possibilities of half a dozen men with virile pens pouring poison out, if none of us have the moral courage to stand up and do what we know is the right thing to do in spite of it. There is your danger to representative government.

I

I have been asked time and again during the progress of this session as to the make-up of the membership of this House, and I have stated that I believe that this present House contained more real ability than any House that I have ever sat in, and this was demonstrated last night, as it has been demonstrated on several occasions during the session. The record during this Legislature is not as bad as some of the papers state. It hasn't been exactly a 'do-nothing' Legislature. The problems of taxation that have been discussed on the floor of this House were greater than have been discussed in the last three sessions. believe that the caliber of the individual members is the highest that I have known in the eight years I have been here. We have discussed and settled the problem of capital punishment-we have threshed out tax matters-two days ago we took a very bold, and I believe progressive stand, when we passed the eugenics bill. We discussed a changing of the election laws, which has been presented to every legislature for the last ten years-you showed moral courage when you even considered the bill. It was a high compliment to the House that it even got 37 votes. Some legislature will change our present primary election laws. This was the first that had the courage to even consider a bill.

The appropriation matters in my recollection have never been handled so well as they have been handled this session, and I want to take this occasion to compliment the Ways and Means Committee. I thought I was choosing a good committee, but they have surprised even me. Never in my recollection have financial affairs run so smoothly and so carefully as they have this session.

You have a good record, and it came to a fitting climax last night in the Sheppard-Towner bill. The discussion on that measure would do credit to any legislative body; the arguments of the gentleman from Wayne, the gentleman from Antrim, the gentleman from Monroe, the gentleman from Saginaw, and the gentleman from Clinton were masterpieces of legislative debate. If we could have such a discussion on this bill, with the same attitude of mind, there would be no question about its passage.

In conclusion I will read one more excerpt from my speech in the first day's Journal:

"They have sent us here to use our judgment and I believe that any Legislator who is true to his own convictions cannot possibly be false to his constituents.' Gentlemen, if you will settle this problem without any sentiment or false pride of courage, I believe you will complete a successful session of this House, and my only plea with you is to handle this proposition as intelligently as you have handled the others that have been presented before to you, and upon its merits alone."

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