By a vote of two-thirds of all the members elect the bill was ordered to take immediate effect. Mr. Clark moved that the House take a recess until 1:30 o'clock this afternoon. The Speaker declared the House adjourned until 7:30 o'clock p. m., on Monday next. Lansing, Monday, March 15, 1897. The House met pursuant to adjournment and was called to order by the Speaker. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Campbell, Roll called: quorum present. Absent without leave: Messrs. Atkinson, Davis, J. H. Dickinson, Fos ter, Lee, Lusk, E. W. Moore, F. Shepherd, Washer and Whitney. On motion of Mr. Crippen, Leave of absence was granted to all absentees for the day. On motion of Mr. C. C. Phillips, Leave of absence was granted to Mr. Caldwell indefinitely on account of sickness. PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS. No. 1153. By mail to the Clerk: Protest of John Bell, mayor, and 58 other individuals and firms, of Benton Harbor, interested in commercial fishing, against the provisions of House bill Nos. 658 and 659 regulating the size of the mesh of nets, and granting the fish commissioners undue authority and discretion. Referred to the committee on Fisheries and Game. No. 1154. By mail to the Clerk: Remonstrance of Grange No. 494 against repeal of farm statistics law. Referred to the committee on State Affairs. No. 1155. By mail to the Clerk: Petition of Grange No. 494 asking for traveling library appropriation. Referred to the committee on Ways and Means. No. 1156. By mail to the Clerk: Petition of Grange No. 494 asking for the passage of the anti-color bill. Referred to the committee on Agriculture. No. 1157. By mail to the Clerk: Petition of Grange No. 494 asking for the passage of the Kimmis county official salary bill. Referred to the committee on Towns and Counties. No. 1158. By mail to the Clerk: Petition of Grange No. 494 asking for prevention of appeals from justice courts. Referred to the committee on Judiciary: No. 1159. By mail to the Clerk: Petition of Grange No. 494 asking for farmers' institute appropriation. Referred to the committee on Agricultural College. No. 1160. By Mr. Hammond: Petition of Farmington Grange No. 267 asking for traveling library appropriation. Referred to the committee on Ways and Means. No. 1161. By Mr. Hammond: Petition of Farmington Grange No. 267 asking for passage of the anti-color bill. Referred to the committee on Agriculture. No. 1162. By Mr. Hammond: Petition of Farmington Grange No. 267 asking for farmers' institute appropriation. Referred to the committee on Agricultural College. No. 1163. By Mr. Hammond: Petition of Farmington Grange No. 267 asking for traveling library appropriation. Referred to the committee on Ways and Means. No. 1164. By Mr. Hammond: Petition of Farmington Grange No. 267 asking for the passage of the Kimmis county official salary bill. Referred to the committee on Towns and Counties. No. 1165. By Mr. Hammond: Petition of Farmington Grange No. 267 asking for the prevention of appeals from justice courts. Referred to the committee on Judiciary. No. 1166. By Mr. Pearson: Petition of Andrew McLachlin and 7 other citizens of Argyle, Sanilac county, asking for the passage of the medical bill. Referred to the committee on Public Health. No. 1167. By Mr. Kelley: Petiton of Geo. A. Scheler and 45 other citizens of Muskegon asking for the passage of the Molster bill. Referred to the committee on Labor. No. 1168. By Mr. Kelly: Petition of P. S. Bacon and 26 other citizens of Muskegon asking for the passage of the Molster bill. Referred to the committee on Labor. No. 1169. By Mr. Buskirk: Petition of Allegan Central Grange No. 53 asking for the passage of the Kimmis county official salary bill. Referred to the committee on Towns and Counties. No. 1170. By Mr. Buskirk: Petition of Allegan Central Grange No. 53 asking for the continuance of the office of Tax Statistician. Referred to the committee on State Affairs. No. 1171. By Mr. Buskirk: Remonstrance of Allegan Central Grange No. 53 against repeal of farm statistics law. Referred to the committee on State Affairs. No. 1172. By Mr. Buskirk: Petition of Allegan Central Grange No. 53 asking for the prevention of appeals from justice courts. Referred to the committee on Judiciary. No. 1173. By Mr. Buskirk: Petition of Allegan Central Grange No. 53. asking for the passage of the anti-color bill. Referred to the committee on Agriculture. No. 1174. By Mr. Chamberlain: Memorial from the officers of the W. C. T. U. of Munith, Mich., protesting against the passage of the Teeple bill, lowering the age of consent to marriage. Referred to the committee on Judiciary. No. 1175. By Mr. Zimmerman: Remonstrance against passage of the uniform text book bill from the board of public education of public schools of Marine City. Referred to the committee on Education. No. 1176. By Mr. Miller: Petition of Greenville Epworth League for passage of the bill to prohibit the manufacture and sale of cigarettes. Referred to the committee on Public Health. No. 1177. By Mr. Miller: Petition of Greenville Christian Endeavor Society against the manufacture and sale of cigarettes. Referred to the committee on Public Health. No. 1178. By Mr. Chamberlain: Memorial from 843 members of the W. C. T. U. and Epworth League asking for the passage of the anticigarette bill. Referred to the committee on Public Health. No. 1179. By Mr. Madill: Petition of John C. Liken and 68 other citizens of Michigan asking for the defeat of house bills Nos. 658 and 659. Referred to the committee on Fisheries and Game. No. 1180. By Mr. Gillam: Petition of O. J. Hickey and 7 other citizens of Ogemaw county asking for amendment to the game law. Referred to the committee on Fisheries and Game. No. 1181. By Mr. Gillam: Petition of J. G. Taft and 23 other citizensof Foster township, Ogemaw county, asking for the organization of Foster township into a union school district. Referred to the committee on Education. No. 1182. By Mr. Donovan: Petition of Chas. F. Eddy and 128 other citizens of Bay City asking for the passage of the Anderson bill relative to carrying bicycles as baggage on railroads. Referred to the committee on Railroads. No. 1183. By Mr. Campbell: Petition of the mayor and common council of Ypsilanti asking for amendment of said city's charter. Referred to the committee on City Corporations. No. 1184. By Mr. Clute: Petition of Thomas Andre and 87 others of Calhoun county asking for the taxation of mortgages. Referred to the committee on General Taxation. No. 1185. By Mr. Clute: Petition of Geo. S. Woolsey and 50 others relative to taxation of mortgages. Referred to the committee on General Taxation. No. 1186. By Mr. Donovan: Petition of the W. C. T. U. of Albion asking for the passage of the "Curfew" bill. Referred to the committee on State Affairs. No. 1187. By Mr. F. M. Shepard: Petition of E. D. Warren and 29 others asking for the passage of the Kimmis county official salary bill. Referred to the committee on Towns and Counties. No. 1188. By Mr. F. M. Shepard: Petition of taxpayers of Shiawassee and Clinton counties asking for the passage of the county salary bill. Referred to the committee on Towns and Counties. No. 1189. By Mr. Clute: Petition of Alonzo Diehl and 51 other taxpayers of Calhoun county relative to the taxation of mortgages. Referred to the committee on General Taxation. No. 1190. By Mr. Clute: Petition of Peter VanSickle and 47 others, taxpayers of Calhoun county, asking for taxation of mortgages. Referred to the committee on General Taxation. No. 1191. By Mr. Gustin: Resolutions of Alpena Business Men's Association protesting against the passage of House bills Nos. 658 and 659, relating to the fish law. On demand of Mr. Gustin, The resolutions were read at length and spread at large on the Journal, as follows: At a meeting of the Alpena Business Men's Association, held on Tuesday, March 9, 1897, resolutions were unanimously passed protesting against the passage of two certain bills, now pending in the State legislature, which, if crystalized into law, would ruin the fishing interests in this State, bankrupt those now engaged in the business, and impose special hardship upon the people of Alpena and vicinity. Resolved (1.) That the passage of two certain bills, now pending in the legislature, numbered respectively 658 and 659, one of which is entitled "A bill to require all persons fishing with nets or similar appliances in the waters of this State to obtain a license therefor, and to provide a penalty for using such nets or similar appliances without such license;" and the other entitled "A bill to regulate the catching of fish in the waters of this State, by the use of pound or trap nets, seines and other apparatus," would practically destroy and thereby seriously damage the business interests of Alpena; (2) That the pasage of the bill imposing the license referred to, would be absolutely prohibitive, as if all kinds of fishing were a crime. (3) That the passage of the bill to regulate fishing by the use of pound or trap nets, etc., would render it practically impossible to catch fish without violating the law. (4) That, if the legislature would pass a law, containing one short sentence, absolutely prohibiting the catching of fish in any form, the entire grounds of said bills would be covered and the purpose of their promoters would be accomplished. Wm. T. Slator, Secretary of Alpena Business Men's Association. Referred to the committee on Fisheries and Game. No. 1192. By Mr. Peek: Petition of G. A. Mathew and 185 other citizens of Jackson county relative to uniting the school districts of the city of Jackson. Referred to the committee on Education. No. 1193. By Mr. Niedermeier: Protest of H. Niedermeier and 76 others against House bills No. 658 and 659. Referred to the committee on Fisheries and Game. No. 1194. By Mr. Niedermeier: Protest of Henry Lafountain and 70 others against House bills No. 658 and 659. Referred to the committee on Fisheries and Game. No. 1195. By Mr. M. F. Phillips: Petition of Mrs. H. F. Colby and 36 others of Cass county in favor of House bill No. 268, against the manufacture and sale of cigarettes. Referred to the committee on Public Health. No. 1196. By Mr. M. F. Phillips: Petition of Thomas Skinner and 70 others in favor of House bill No. 268, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of cigarettes. Referred to the committee on Public Health. No. 1197. By Mr. Harris: Petition of T. G. Anderson and 26 others in favor of direct legislation. Referred to the committee on Judiciary. No. 1198. By Mr. Scully: Petition in favor of taxing mortgages. No. 1199. By Mr. Scully: Petition in favor of the county salary bill. No. 1200. By Mr. Scully: Petition in favor of the Kimmis county salary bill. Referred to the committee on Towns and Counties. No. 1201. By Mr. Allison: Petition of the Genoa Farmers' Club, Livingston county, for the passage of the Kimmis county salary bill. Referred to the committee on Towns and Counties. No. 1202. By Mr. Harris: Petition of Eastport Grange No. 470 for the continuance of the office of Tax Statistician. Referred to the committee on State Affairs. No. 1203. By Mr. Harris: Petition of Eastport Grange No. 470 for a farmers' institute appropriation. Referred to the committee on Agricultural College. No. 1204. By Mr. Harris: Petition of Eastport Grange No. 470 for the passage of the anti-color bill. Referred to the committee on Agriculture. |