The Committee on Ways and Means, by Mr. Farrier, Chairman, reported A bill to authorize the State Administrative Board to assist in defraying the expenses of the National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, With the recommendation that the following amendments be adopted and that the bill then pass: 1. Amend section 1 by striking out of line 3 the word "Encampment" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "and State Encampments." 2. Amend section 2 by inserting in line 2 after the word "act" the words "as to the National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic and the further sum of three thousand dollars is hereby appropriated out of the general fund to carry out the provisions of this act as to the State Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic." The question being on the adoption of the amendments to the bill recommended by the committee, The amendments were adopted. The bill was referred to the Committee of the Whole and placed on the general orders. By unanimous consent the House returned to the order of Messages From the Senate. A message was received from the Senate transmitting A bill to amend sections 1 and 2 of Act No. 91 of the Laws of Michigan of 1839, entitled "An act to provide for the recording of town plats, and for vacating the same in certain cases", being sections 3350 and 3351 of the Compiled Laws of 1915. The message informed the House of Representatives that the Senate had passed the bill. The bill was read a first and second time by its title and referred to the Committee on Towns and Counties. A message was received from the Senate transmitting A bill to make an appropriation to erect and establish a Women's Training School at the village of Okemos, Ingham County. The message informed the House of Representatives that the Senate had passed the bill, and had ordered that it take immediate effect. The bill was read a first and second time by its title and referred to the Committee on State Affairs. A message was received from the Senate re-transmitting, together with the House amendment thereto, Senate Bill No. 163 (file No. 144) – A bill to amend Act No. 317, Public Acts of 1921-an act to license and regulate the business of making loans. The message informed the House of Representatives that the Senate had nonconcurred in the amendment made to the bill by the House of Representatives. Mr. Green moved that the House recede from its amendment. The motion did not prevail, a majority of all the members-elect not voting therefor, by yeas and nays as follows: Mr. Ming, having reserved the right to explain his vote, made the following statement: "The reason I voted for this amendment was not because I thought it was fair to the borrower, but because of the good provisions which are already in this bill, compared to the law under which the loan sharks are now loaning money. It seemed to me, that even with the three and one-half per cent, which this bill would allow them to charge, it is only a comparison between decency and honesty and highway robbery, as they are now operating. I was fearful that if this bill got into a jam in a conference committee it would lose all the good provisions now in it, and I am still fearful that this will happen." Mr. Ming moved to reconsider the vote by which the House refused to recede from its amendment. Mr. Wade moved that the House take a recess until 2 o'clock p. m. The motion did not prevail. Mr. Hartzog moved that the House adjourn. The motion did not prevail. After debate, Mr. Hartzog demanded the previous question. The demand was seconded. The question being, "Shall the main question be now put?" The previous question was ordered. The question then being on the motion made by Mr. Ming to reconsider the vote by which the House refused to recede from its amendment, The motion prevailed. After debate, Mr. Darin demanded the previous question. The demand was seconded. The question being, "Shall the main question be now put?" The previous question was ordered. The question then being on the motion made by Mr. Green that the House recede from its amendment. The motion prevailed, a majority of all the members-elect voting therefor, by yeas and nays as follows: Mr. Holland, having reserved the right to explain his vote, made the following statement: "I voted 'no' on this proposition for the reason that in my judgment there is no reason for a measure and a bill of this kind. When we stop to consider that the banks of this country are flooded with money and that a poor man is supposed to go to a loan shark and pay forty-two per cent for a small loan, it is a shame. For instance, if he should get one hundred dollars from the loan shark, the loan shark would say 'Yes, if you can give me forty-two dollars for the use of it.' Now, in the past ten years the United States government and the people of the United States have sent abroad the sum of eighteen billion fifty-six million dollars, which was earned by the producers of this nation, besides leaving seventythree thousand of the flower of our nation in foreign soil. That is the reason I voted against this measure." The Speaker called the Speaker pro tem to the Chair. Mr. Palmer, having reserved the right to explain his vote, made the following statement: "I voted against receding from this amendment, just as I voted against the original bill, because I believe this House is being stampeded into a measure which is a step back from the law of 1921; that this change, which we have now made, makes the action still worse; that instead of doing something to oppose the loan shark, we have passed a bill which is going to make it more difficult for the poor devil who really needs money to borrow, and we are really driving him into the grip of the loan shark." Mr. Archie M. Reid, having reserved the right to explain his vote, made the following statement: "I voted 'yes' on this question, not because I do not think thirty-six per cent a year isn't enough, but because this bill carries a great many improvements over the old conditions. The men who are behind this proposition and who want this bill are of fine caliber, the very finest men in the city of Detroit, and I think they know what they are doing. I still think that thirty-six per cent is enough, but one-half per cent at this time can be corrected in the next legislature, if it is necessary." Mr. Roxburgh, having reserved the right to explain his vote, made the following statement: "The question has always been in my mind, why the loan shark anyhow to prey upon the poor people in distress? To take advantage of them as some of these people do, is certainly no credit to America and her claim to a high state of civilization. I voted 'yes' because it seemed clear to me that this bill would be an improvement on the present law, not in the measure I would like, however, but because it would help some poor unfortunate individual in a small measure, For that reason, it seemed to me best to vote to reconsider." By unanimous consent the House returned to the order of Messages from the Senate. A message was received from the Senate transmitting A bill to amend section 5 of Act No. 179 of the Public Acts of 1891, entitled, as amended, "An act to establish, protect and enforce by lien the rights of mechanics and other persons furnishing labor or materials for the building, altering, improving, repairing, erecting or ornamenting of buildings, machinery, wharves, and all other structures, and the building and repairing of sidewalks, and wells, and to repeal all acts contravening the provisions of this act," being section 14800 of the Compiled Laws of 1915. The message informed the House of Representatives that the Senate had passed the bill. The bill was read a first and second time by its title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary. A message was received from the Senate re-transmitting, together with the House amendments thereto, Senate Bill No. 154 (file No. 132) A bill to amend Act No. 84, Public Acts of 1909-to provide that veterans of all wars of the United States may have use of State armories. The message informed the House of Representatives that the Senate had nonconcurred in the amendments made to the bill by the House of Representatives. Mr. Wade moved that the House insist on its amendments and ask for a conference on the matters of difference between the two Houses relative to the bill. The motion prevailed. A message was received from the Senate re-returning, together with the Senate amendments thereto, disagreed to by the House of Representatives, House Bill No. 393 (file No. 206)— A bill to amend section 107, title 3, chapter 14, Revised Statutes of 1846-to provide that the Governor may revoke commission of a notary public. The message informed the House of Representatives that the Senate had appointed Senators Woodruff, Brower and Quinlan, as conferees on the part of the Senate. The bill was referred to the conference committee. Mr. Brainerd asked and obtained leave of absence from the sessions of next week. Mr. Culver moved that the House adjourn. The motion prevailed. The Speaker pro tem declared the House adjourned until Monday, April 20, at 8:30 o'clock p. m. CHARLES S. PIERCE, |