Mr. Watson asked and obtained an indefinite leave of absence after today's session. Mr. Miles asked and obtained leave of absence from next Tuesday's session. PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS. Mr. Daprato presented Petition No. 1.. Resolution of the County Road Commission, of Manistee county, in favor of legislation increasing the salary of the State Highway Commissioner to $7,500 per year and vesting in him the sole responsibility for the management of the State highways. The petition was referred to the Committee on Roads and Bridges. Mr. Daprato presented Petition No. 2. Resolution of the County Road Commission, of Alger county, in favor of legislation increasing the salary of the State Highway Commissioner to $7,500 per year and vesting in him the sole responsibility for the management of the State highways. The petition was referred to the Committee on Roads and Bridges. Mr. Daprato presented Petition No. 3. Resolution of the County Road Commission, of Dickinson county, in favor of legislation increasing the salary of the State Highway Commissioner to $7,500 per year and vesting in him the sole responsibility for the management of the State highways. The petition was referred to the Committee on Roads and Bridges. Mr. Daprato presented Petition No. 4. Resolution of the County Road Commission, of Schoolcraft county, in favor of legislation increasing the salary of the State Highway Commissioner to $7,500 per year and vesting in him the sole responsibility for the management of the State highways. The petition was referred to the Committee on Roads and Bridges. Mr. Daprato presented Petition No. 5. Resolution of the County Road Commission, of Menominee county, in favor of legislation increasing the salary of the State Highway Commissioner to $7,500 per year and vesting in him the sole responsibility for the management of the State highways. The petition was referred to the Committee on Roads and Bridges. Mr. Daprato presented Petition No. 6. Resolution of the County Road Commission, of Gogebic county, in favor of legislation increasing the salary of the State Highway Commis sioner to $7,500 per year and vesting in him the sole responsibility for the management of the State highways. The petition was referred to the Committee on Roads and Bridges. Mr. Daprato presented Petition No. 7. Resolution of the State Good Roads Association, 300 members present, in favor of fixing the salary of the Present State Highway Commissioner at $10,000 per year. The petition was referred to the Committee on Roads and Bridges. Mr. Young presented Petition No. 8. Petition of 108 residents and taxpayers of Kent, Muskegon and Newaygo counties, asking the Legislature to include in the State Trunk Line Highway Mileage the road running from Grand Rapids to White Cloud via. Kent City, Casnovia, Bailey, Grant and Newaygo; also the road running from Casnovia to Muskegon and the road from Rockford to Belding. The petition was referred to the Committee on Roads and Bridges. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. The Committee on State Affairs, by Mr. Martin, Chairman, reported House bill No. 4, entitled A bill to promote the establishing of deep-water connections between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean; to provide for a commission to carry out the object hereof; to make an appropriation for expenses incurred hereunder, and to provide a tax to meet the same, With the recommendation that the bill pass. The bill was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR. The following messages were received from the Governor and read: Executive Office, Lansing, June 5, 1919. To the Speaker of the House of Representatives: It seems desirable to enact legislation providing for the removal of the ten per cent surcharge on fire insurance. I, therefore, recommend the passage of a bill covering this matter. Respectfully, Governor. June 5, 1919. Executive Office, Lansing, To the Speaker of the House of Representatives: Sir:-It has become evident since the passage of the Lewis Amendment to the Wiley Act, which Act is No. 53 of the Public Acts of 1919, that the penalty clause, as passed, is in conflict in certain ways with the provisions of the indeterminate Sentence Law. In order to correct this conflict, it is only necessary to insert an additional half dozen words in this section and such a change should be made in order to clear up an uncertainty which now exists. Respectfully, Governor. Executive Office, Lansing, To the Speaker of the House of Representatives: Sir: I wish to submit to you for consideration an amendment to Act 279 of the Public Acts of 1909, as amended, entitled "An act to provide for the incorporation of cities and for revising and amending their charters," more commonly known as the Home Rule Act; such amendment to permit cities to provide in their charters for the annual issuance of bonds for the improvement of streets and highways and the construction of sewers, without the necessity of election. I understand there are several cities in the State which are having bonds held up from sale on account of a slight defect in this act and it will be necessary to amend the act in order for them to dispose of the bonds. I trust you will give this matter consideration. Respectfully, ALBERT E. SLEEPER, Governor. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE. A message was received from the Senate transmitting Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That when the Legislature adjourns on Thursday, June 5, 1919, it stand adjourned until Tuesday, June 10, 1919, at 4:00 o'clock p. m., And informing the House of Representatives that the Senate had adopted the concurrent resolution. The Speaker announced that under Rule 50 the concurrent resolution would lie upon the table one day. Mr. Jerome moved that Rule 50 be suspended. The motion prevailed, two-thirds of all the members present voting therefor. The question being on the adoption of the concurrent resolution, A message was received from the Senate transmitting Concurrent resolution with reference to dismissing proceedings now pending against the Traverse City, Leelanau and Manistique Railroad, and the settlement of taxes accrued and unpaid by said railroad company. Whereas, The continued operation of the line of railroad known as the Traverse City, Leelanau and Manistique Railroad is a matter of vital interest to the people of the communities served by said road, and touches and concerns the welfare of the people of the entire State; Whereas, The taxes due from the said railroad company for the years 1905 to 1913, inclusive, were unpaid, the Auditor General of the State of Michigan commenced a proceeding against said company in the Circuit Court for the county of Ingham for collection of the same. On May 1st, 1916, a decree was rendered by said court against said company declaring a lien against the property of the said company in the sum of $31,238.41, which said amount together with the interest thereon to date totals the sum of $35,937.19; Whereas further, The taxes due from said railroad company for the year 1914 with interest total $684.43, for the year 1915 with interest total $699.22, for the year 1916 with interest total $532.86, for the year 1917 with interest total $507.21, for the year 1918 with interest total $504.49, making a total sum due upon the lien decreed by the Circuit Court in Ingham county and for unpaid taxes to date the sum of $38,865.40; Whereas, The ownership of said property has been, or will shortly be acquired by a newly organized company financed by the people living in the communities directly concerned; Whereas, The enforced collection of said taxes by the State of Michigan will not only jeopardize the future prospects of said railroads but will result in a dismantling of said road to the detriment of the people of this State; Whereas further, The assessment against the property of said company was recognized by the State Board of Assessors to have been much in excess of its actual value for a number of years and was radically decreased each year from the year 1905, and finally placed at the sum of $25,000 in place of the sum of $250,000, as originally assessed, demonstrating that the tax upon the greater assessment was a tax in excess of what the said company should actually pay; and Whereas, In order that the said railroad be continued and service rendered to the people of that vicinity, it is necessary that the lien against said road and the taxes accrued against said road be cancelled; therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That upon due proof that the title to said property has been acquired by the new company, mentioned aforesaid, composed of the residents of the community served by said railroad company, free and clear from all other obligations with the exception of the lien now held by the Auditor General of the State of Michigan, that the Auditor General be, and is hereby, directed to discontinue the proceedings now pending in the Circuit Court for the County of Ingham and take such action as may be necessary to discharge said lien; and be it further Resolved, That the Auditor General of the State of Michigan be, and is hereby, directed to refrain from instituting or prosecuting any action for the enforced collection of the taxes for the years 1914 to 1918, inclusive; be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives be, and they hereby are instructed to serve a duly certified copy of this resolution upon the Auditor General immediately on the passage hereof, And informing the House of Representatives that the Senate had adopted the concurrent resolution. The Speaker announced that under Rule 50 the concurrent resolution would lie upon the table one day. Mr. Brower moved that Rule 50 be suspended. The motion prevailed, two-thirds of all the members present voting therefor. The question being on the adoption of the concurrent resolution, INTRODUCTION OF BILLS. Mr. Weidenfeller introduced House bill No. 6, entitled A bill to amend section 4 of Act No. 279 of the Public Acts of 1909, as amended, entitled "An act to provide for the incorporation of cities and for revising and amending their charters," being compilers' section 3307 of the Compiled Laws of 1915. The bill was read a first and second time by its title and referred to the Committee on City Corporations. Mr. Lewis introduced House bill No. 7, entitled A bill to amend section 51 of Act No. 338 of the Public Acts of 1917, entitled "An act to prohibit the manufacture, sale, keeping for sale, giving away, bartering, furnishing, possessing, importing, or transporting of any vinous, malt, brewed, fermented, spirituous or intoxicating liquors, except for medicinal, mechanical, chemical, scientific and sacramental purposes; to regulate the manufacture, sale, possession, importation and transportation thereof for such excepted purposes; to provide for the enforcement of, and to prescribe penalties for violations of this act; to prohibit certain advertising and advertisements pertaining to the liquor traffic; to prescribe the duties of officers, and of carriers pertaining to the liquor traffic; to prescribe rights of action, recovery of damages and rules of evidence thereunder; and to repeal all acts in conflict therewith," as amended by Act No. 53 of the Public Acts of 1919. The bill was read a first and second time by its title and referred to the Committee on Liquor Traffic. |