The Speaker announced Messrs. Ingersoll and Coe, as the committee on the part of the House under the joint resolution relative to revising the joint rules.

The Speaker also appointed Mr. Bowne to fill the vacancy created in the committee on elections, by the death of Mr. Noble.

On motion of Mr. Davis,

The House adjourned.

Thursday, January 11, 1849.

The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was called to order

by the Speaker.

Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Tooker.

The roll was called, and the members were all present.

The journal of yesterday was read and approved.

Mr. Chittenden presented the petition of the Michigan Insurance company, for a consolidation of their charter, which was referred to the committee on banks and incorporations.

Mr. Morton, from the committee on state affairs, reported a bill to change the name of Henry Mann, which was read twice, referred to the committee of the whole, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Ingersoll, from the committee on printing, made the following report, which was accepted, and the committee discharged from the further consideration of the subject, viz:

The committee on printing, to whom was referred the resolution relative to the journals of the last session, and instructing them to in. quire if the contract with the printers of last year did not require them to have such journals ready for distribution prior to the com. mencement of the present session, beg leave respectfully to report the following facts:

The journals of the last session, we are informed by the Clerk of the House, were placed in the hands of the printers, ready for publication, as early as the month of May last, and that not until the middle of November was the body of the work placed into the Clerk's hands for the purpose of making out the index of the same, which was immediately made out for the press by that officer. The committee have also been informed by one of the firm contracting to do the printing, that the journals of the House were in the binder's hands at the commencement of the present session, with the assurance that a sufficient number of volumes for the use of this legislature would be ready for distribution during the first week of the present session. Why they have not yet arrived, the printer above referred to is unable to answer.

In relation to the time specified in the contract with the State Treasurer, in which such printing and binding was to be performed, and the volumes placed in the possession of the proper officer, we are informed by the Treasurer that the present laws on the subject fail to prescribe any limit for the performance of such work, and that the contract bound the printers only in the obligation that they should use all due diligence in the completion of such printing as was enumerated in their bids for the same.

Your committee, therefore, would recommend such amendments to the existing law, as will bind the contractors for the public printing to some period of time in which such printing shall be performed, and which will ensure the delivery of the legislative documents in the department of state, within six months after the adjournment of the legislature. To meet this case, your committee will, on some future day, offer the necessary amendments.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

Mr. G. B. Turner, from the committee on claims, reported a joint resolution authorizing the Auditor General to draw a certain warrant, and

'A joint resolution relative to the claim of John W. Palmer. Which were severally read twice, referred to the committee of the whole, and placed on the general order, and ordered to be printed. The following communication was announced.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT OFFICE,)
Lansing, January 10, 1849.

HON. LEANDER CHAPMAN,

Speaker of the House of Representatives:

I transmit herewith a copy of the annual report of the board of internal improvement for the fiscal year 1848, ending the 30th of November last.

Yours, Very Respectfully,

GEO. B. COOPER,

Ch'n. Board of Internal Imp't.

The following communication was announced:

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,
Lansing, January 11, 1849.

Hon. LEANDER CHAPMAN,

Speaker of the House of Representatives:

SIR-I herewith transmit to you a copy of the annnal report of this office, printed for the use of the legislature, as required by law. I am, very truly, Yours, &c.,

On motion of Mr. Ingersoll,

GEO. V. N. LOTHROP,

Attorney General.

The annual report of the Attorney General was referred to the

committee on the judiciary.

The following message was received from the Senate:

SENATE CHAMBER, Lansing, January 9, 1849.5

To the Speaker of the House of Representatives:

SIR: I am instructed to return herewith "concurrent resolution relative to the election of United States Senator," which the Senate have passed with amendments, in which the concurrence of the House is respectfully asked.

Respectfully, &c.,

W. L. BANCROFT,

Secretary of the Senate.

The Senate amendment to the concurrent resolution relative to the election of a United States Senator was concurred in.

The following message was received from the Senate:

SENATE CHAMBER, Lansing, January 10, 1849.5

To the Speaker of the House of Representatives:

SIR:-I am instructed by the Senate to return herewith "a bill to extend the time for the collection of certain taxes in the township of Plainfield, in the county of Kent; also,

"A bill to provide for the payment of the officers and members of the legislature," and to respectfully inform you that the Senate have passed the same.

Respectfully, &c.,

W. L. BANCROFT,

Secretary of the Senate.

The bills returned with the foregoing communication were ordered

to be enrolled.

The following message was received from the Senate:

SENATE CHAMBER, Lansing, January 10, 1849.)

To the Speaker of the House of Representatives:

SIR:-I am instructed to transmit herewith, "a bill to legalize the proceedings of the trustees of the first society of the Methodist Episcopal church of Lapeer, in the county of Lapeer," which the Senate have passed, and in which the concurrence of the House is respect-❤ fully asked.

Respectfully, &c.,

W. L. BANCROFT,
Secretary of the Senate.

The Senate bill to legalize the proceedings of the trustees of the first society of the Methodist Episcopal church of Lapeer, in the county of Lapeer, was read twice and referred to the committee on the judiciary.

Mr. Ferguson gave notice that on some future day he would ask leave to introduce a bill to amend the several acts relating to the village of Marshall.

Mr. Ingersoll gave notice that he would on some future day ask leave to introduce a bill to incorporate the Pittsburg and Isle Royal mining company of Pittsburg.

Mr. Hammond, by unanimous consent, previous notice not having been given, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill to extend the time for the collection of taxes in the township of Bellevue, in the county of Eaton, which was read twice and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

On motion of Mr. Hammond,

The rules were suspended so as to enable the bill to be read a third time to day, and the engrossment having been dispensed with the bill was placed on the order of bills for a third reading.

Mr. Parkhurst gave notice that on some future day he would ask leave to introduce a bill requiring bachelors over thirty years of age to pay an extra tax of three dollars per annum for the support of indigent widows and orphans, and

A bill for the reduction of the price of certain school lands in the county of Oakland.

Mr. Fox offered the following concurrent resolution, which under the rule, lay on the table at least one day, viz:

Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Afichigan, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby instructed to furnish each of the officers and members of the present legislature with a copy of the session laws of 1846 and 1847.

Mr. O. C. Comstock, by unanimous consent, previous notice not having been given, asked and obtained leave to introduce a joint resolution relative to publishing the reports of the superintendent of public instruction; which was read twice, and

On motion of Mr. Hawley,

Referred to the committee of the whole and placed on the general order.

Mr. Ferguson, by unanimous consent, previous notice not having been given, asked and obtained leave to introduce a joint resolution in regard to a state convention, which was read twice, and

On motion of Mr. Hawley,

Referred to the select committee on the subject of a convention to to revise the constitution.

Mr. Cady, pursuant to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill to amend an act entitled an act to incorporate the New Baltimore and Romeo plank road company, which was read twice and ordered to be engrossed and read the third time.