tainer," reported said bill with amendments; which was read a first time.

On motion of Mr. McGregor,

Ordered that the rule requiring all bills to be printed, on being read a first time, be suspended with reference to said bill, which was then read the second time.

On motion of Mr. M'Gregor,

The House resolved itself into committee of the whole, having the said bill, No. 7, under consideration. Mr. Durkee in the chair. After a short time, the committee rose and reported the said bill without amendment. The bill was then ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

Mr. Shanley gave notice, that he would at a future day bring in a bill to regulate weights and measures.

On motion of Mr. Quigley,

The House went into committee of the whole, having bill No. 1 under consideration, entitled "A bill to provide for the appointing of justices of the peace, to prescribe their powers and duties, and to regulate their proceedings." Mr. Teas in the chair.

After some time spent in consideration of said bill, the committee rose and reported the progress made therein, and asked leave to sit again.

Leave was granted.

On motion of Mr. Cox,

The House adjourned till 3 o'clock, P. M.

3 O'CLOCK, P. M.

On motion of Mr. Shanley, the House resolved itself into committee of the whole, having bill No. 1 under consideration, entitled “ A bill to provide for the appointing of justices of the peace, to prescribe their powers and duties, and to regulate their proceedings. Mr. Teas in the chair.

After some time spent in the consideration of said bill, the committee rose, reported the progress made therein, and asked leave to sit again.

Leave was granted.

Mr. Childs, agreeably to previous notice, introduced a bill, (No. 29,) entitled "A bill to locate and establish a Territorial road from Fort Howard to Fort Winnebago, and for other purposes," which was read the first time, and laid on the table. The House adjourned.

Tuesday, November 28, 1837.

Mr. Engle presented the petition of Mrs. Mary M'Arthur, praying for divorce.

Referred to a select committee, consisting of Messrs. Engle, M'Knight, Parkinson, Shanley, and Cox.

Mr. M'Gregor presented the petition of inhabitants of Davenport and its vicinity, praying for a charter of a manual labour school to be located at that place.

Referred to the committee on corporations.

Mr. Box presented the petition of inhabitants of Lee county, praying for an alteration in the boundary of said county.

Referred to a select committee, consisting of the delegation from Des Moines county.

Mr. Childs presented the petition of sundry persons, praying that the county seat of Portage county may be established at Kentucky city.

Referred to a select committee, consisting of Messrs. Childs, M'Williams, and Sholes.

Mr. Teas presented an account of W. C. Rice, for drafting ten copies of a map for the use of the House of Representatives. Referred to the committee on expenses.

Mr. McGregor presented the petition of inhabitants of Cook county, praying for an exclusive right of a ferry across the Mist sissippi.

Referred to a select committee, consisting of Messrs. M'Gregor, Nowlin, and Reynolds.

Mr. M'Gregor presented the petition of inhabitants of Louisa

county, praying that the seat of justice for said county may be established by the voters of said county.

Referred to the delegation from Des Moines county.

Mr. Reynolds presented the petition of inhabitants of Louisa county, praying an alteration of the boundaries of said county. Referred to a select committee, viz: Messrs. Reynolds, M'Gregor, Jenkins, Wheeler, Chance, and Nowlin.

On motion of Mr. Engle,

Resolved, That (if the Council concur) it shall be the standing order of the two Houses, that when a bill or other document shall be ordered to be printed, fifty copies thereof shall be printed for the use of the House, and twenty-five copies for the use of the Council. That when a bill which shall have been printed in one House, shall be passed in that House with amendments, it shall be the duty of the Clerk in which the same shall have passed to furnish the Clerk of the House to which the same shall be sent for concurrence, a copy of the amendments made, as compared with the printed bill, and fifty copies of such amendments shall be printed for the use of the House to which such bill may have been sent for concurrence.

Mr. Engle, from the committee to which were referred three several petitions concerning the boundary lines of the county of Muscatine and the county adjacent proposed to be called Scott, asked that all petitions presented having reference to the same subject, should be referred to the same committee.

Ordered, that they be so referred.

Mr. McKnight, chairman of the committee on corporations, reported the following bills, Nos. 30 and 31.

No. 30, entitled "A bill to authorize the president and trustees of the town of Milwaukee, on the west side of Milwaukee river, to borrow money."

No. 31, entitled "A bill to incorporate the Milwaukee and Rock river canal company," which was then severally read a first time.

On motion of Mr. Sheldon, the several rules were suspended with reference to bill No. 30; which was then read a second time, and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

Mr. Durkee moved to recommit bill No. 31, and the question

being taken, it passed in the negative; and the bill was laid on the table.

Mr. Durkee, from the joint committee of the two Houses, appointed to take into consideration the propriety of reporting a system of county and township government, made the following report, which was laid on the table to be taken up on to

morrow.

The joint committee appointed on the part of the House of Representatives, to take into consideration, in conjunction with a similar committee appointed by the Council, "the propriety or expediency of reporting a system of county and township government," beg leave to report the following general principles on the subject, as the result of their joint deliberations.

In relation to county government, the committee would recommend the passage of a law authorizing the qualified electors of the different counties of this Territory, at their next annual election, to elect three commissioners, of whom the highest. in vote shall serve three years: the next highest, two years; and the lowest, one year: their places, respectively, to be supplied by the annual election of another citizen, to serve three years. That said county commissioners have the regulating of the fiscal concerns of the county; levying and collecting county taxes; building court-houses, jails, with such other county buildings as may be necessary; erecting county bridges, and laying out roads; and be farther invested with the power, upon application of a majority of the citizens of any particular district, to form such district into a township; that said county commissioners have charge of the poor of their respective counties, and farther, that said commissioners be empowered to appoint their Clerk: that there be annually elected three auditors, whose duty it shall be to audit and adjust the accounts of the county commissioners; and, lastly, that there be annually elected a county assessor and treasurer, their duties and powers to be defined by law.

In relation to township government, the committee would respectfully recommend the passage of a law or laws authorizing the qualified voters in each organized township, annually to elect as many overseers of the highways as they have road dis

tricts, as many constables as they may deem necessary, and a township clerk.

On motion of Mr. Teas,

The House went into committee of the whole, on bill No. 13, entitled "A bill to incorporate the stockholders of the Rochester and Des Moines hydraulic and manufacturing company;" Mr. Sheldon in the chair. After some time spent in the consideration of said bill, the committee rose and reported the bill with an amendment. The House agreed to the amendment reported by the committee.

Mr. Quigley moved to amend the second section, by adding at the end thereof, the following:

"Provided, That the said company shall not, by virtue of this charter, appropriate their funds to the purchasing of the public lands, other than that which will be necessary for the construction of the works to carry on their manufacturing purposes."

The amendment was adopted, and the said bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

Mr. M'Gregor, by leave, introduced bill No. 32, entitled “A bill to charter the Davenport steam ferry company," which was read the first time, and laid on the table.

Mr. Chance gave notice, that on next Tuesday he would introduce a bill to establish a ferry across Skunk river, at Moffit's mill.

Mr. Engle gave notice of his intention to bring in a bill at a future day, to "authorize the appointment of commissioners out of the territory, to take and certify the execution of deeds, powers of attorney, &c., to be recorded in the territory of Wisconsin," and also, "A bill to incorporate the stockholders of the Wisconsin Mining Company."

On motion of Mr. Engle,

Resolved, That the speaker be authorized to draw his warrant upon the secretary of the territory, in favour of James Clarke & Co., printers to this House, for the sum of one thousand dollars, to be accounted for on the final settlement of their account.

The House adjourned.