The joint resolution relative to a settlement of the claim of James Watkins, being under consideration, it was, On motion of Mr. Littlejohn, Recommitted to the committee on claims, with instructions to embody it in a bill together with such other similar claims as may come before the legislature. On motion of Mr. Lothrop, The joint resolution relative to the claim of W. W. Lawrence, and the joint resolution relative to the claim of Myron Collamer, were referred to the committee on ways and means, with instructions to embody them in the general appropriation bill. On motion of Mr. Pierce, The House adjourned. Tuesday, January 11, 1848. The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was called to order by the Speaker. The roll was called, and Messrs. Barlow, Emmons, Hazen, W. R. Martin, McKinney, Murray, Russell and Strong, were absent without leave. Mr. Williams asked and obtained leave of absence for Mr. Hazen for an indefinite period, on account of ill health. The journal of yesterday was read and approved. PETITIONS PRESENTED. Mr. Clark presented the memorial of Lieut. Col. A. S, Williams, commanding the second battalion of the first regiment of Michigan Volunteers, and fifteen other commissioned officers of the same, now stationed at the Detroit barracks, asking a further appropriation of funds for the completion and filling up of said regiment. Referred to the committee on ways and means. By Mr. Taylor, the petition of William S. Gunn and forty-eight others, asking that town six north, of range ten west, be set off from the township of Ada, in the county of Kent, and organized into a separate township; Also, of O. B. Galusha and thirty-two others, asking that town five north, of range eleven west, be set off from the township of Paris, in the county of Kent, and organized into a separate township; and Also, of William H Withey and forty others, asking that a portion of the township of Plainfield, in the county of Kent, be attached to the township of Alpine. Which petitions were referred to the committee on the organization of townships and counties. By Mr. Lothrop, the claim of Richard Hudson, for property lost on the Central rail road. Referred to the committee on claims. By Mr. Scott, of citizens of Dewitt, Clinton county, for an amendment of the act entitled an act to improve the Pontiac and Grand River road, together with the affidavit of Morris S. Allen, superintendent on said road. Referred to the committee on roads and bridges. REPORTS. Mr. Lane, from the committee on the organization of townships, reported back the bill to change the name of the township of Pewonagawink, in the county of Genesee, without amendment, and recom mended its passage. The report was accepted, the committee discharged from the further consideration of the subject, and the bill was referred to the committee of the whole and placed on the general order. Mr. Lane, from the same committee, reported back without amendment, the Senate bill to change the name of the town of Michigan, and reported adverse to its passage. Which report was accepted, the committee discharged from the further consideration of the subject, and the bill referred to the committee of the whole and placed on the general order. Mr. Kingsley, from the committee on the judiciary, reported a bill to authorize Joel Rathbone to sell certain lands; and A bill to legalize the tax roll for the township of Port Huron, in the county of St. Clair, for the year 1847, and to extend the time for the collection of taxes; Which bills were severally read twice, referred to tee committee of the whole and placed on the general order. Mr. Kingsley, from the same committee, reported back the petition of officers of school district number five, in the township of Brighton, in Livingston county, for the passage of a law legalizing the assessment and collection of certain taxes in said district, and reported adverse to any legislative action thereon. Which report was accepted and the committee discharged from the further consideration of the subject. Mr. Pierce offered the following preamble and resolution: Whereas, The state is the trustee of the school fund, and hence bound, like all other trustees, to do whatever shall be deemed essential to the fund committed to its care; And whereas, The capitol of the state is located upon a part of a section belonging to the school fund, thereby greatly enhancing its value, as well as the value of the balance of the section of which it is a part; And whereas, Further improvements on that part of the section aforesaid would still further increase its value by rendering the lots laid out thereon more saleable; And whereas, It is due alike to the state and to the school fund, that such improvements should be made, and the state not being required in its capacity of trustee to make such improvements by appropriations from the general fund, and as such improvements are essential to the building up of a town, and the ready sale of the lots located on the section aforesaid; therefore Resolved, That it is in perfect accordance with the duty of the state, as trustee of the school fund, and also in accordance with the best interest of said fund to appropriate so much from the proceeds of the sale of lots as shall be deemed sufficient to render the balance more valuable than the whole would otherwise be. On motion of Mr. Smith, The preamble and resolution were laid on the table. Mr. Young moved to reconsider the vote laying the preamble and resolution on the table, which motion was, On motion of Mr. Warren, Laid on the table. Mr. Eldredge, pursuant to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce joint resolutions relative to postage on newspapers, which were read twice and referred to the committee on federal relations. Mr. Noyes gave notice that on some future day he should ask leave to introduce a bill relative to the costs of prosecution in criminal cases. Mr. Young, pursuant to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill to amend chapter twenty-four of the revised statutes, which was read twice and referred to the committee on the judiciary. On motion of Mr. Pierce, The following entitled bills were taken from the table and referred to the committee on the judiciary, viz: A bill to amend section fifty-five of chapter sixteen of the revised statutes; A bill to amend section six of chapter twenty-five, and section nine of chapter twenty-two of the revised statutes; A bill to amend chapter fifty-eight of the revised statutes; and A bill to repeal certain sections of the revised statutes. Mr. Turner gave notice that on some future day he will ask leave to introduce a bill to amend section one hundred and sixty of chapter ninety-three of the revised statutes; and A bill to amend section six of chapter eighty-four of the revised statutes. Mr. Bingham gave notice that on some future day he will ask leave to introduce a bill to incorporate the Leoni theological institute. The following communication was announced from the Senate: SENATE CHAMBER, Michigan, January 11, 1848. To the Speaker of the House of Representatives: } SIR-I am instructed by the Senate to return the bill to provide for the payment of the officers and members of the legislature, and for other purposes, and to respectfully inform you that the Senate have passed the same. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, CHAS. SMITH, Secretary of the Senate. And the bill to provide for the payment of the officers and members of the legislature, and for other purposes, was ordered to be enrolled. Mr. Terry offered the following resolution : Resolved, That four hundred copies of the daily journals of this House be printed for the use of the members thereof. On motion of Mr. Taylor, The resolution was amended by striking out "four" and inserting "two," and The resolution as amended was then adopted. On motion of Mr. Patterson, Resolved, That the board of internal improvement be required to report to this House a list of the tools, instruments and other property, if any, yet belonging to the state, which have been used in the construction of the Central and Southern rail roads; and also, to state what portion of said property, if any, is now required for the use of the state. The House then resolved itself into a committee of the whole on the general order, Mr. Pierce in the chair. And after some time spent thereon, the committee rose, and by their chairman reported back to the House without amendment, A bill to authorize Joel Rathbone to sell certain lands; and A bill to legalize the tax roll for the township of Port Huron, in the county of St. Clair, for the year 1847. And also reported back with amendments, in which the concurrence of the House was asked, A bill to change the name of the township of Pewonagawink, in the county of Genesee; and A bill to change the name of the town of Michigan. Which report was accepted and the committee discharged. The amendments to the bill to change the name of the township of Pewonagawink, in the county of Genesee, and to the bill to change the name of the town of Michigan, were severally concurred in, and the bills ordered to be read the third time. The House bill to authorize Joel Rathbone to sell certain lands, being under consideration, Mr. Baldwin moved to strike out all after the enacting clause, which motion was lost, and The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. The bill to legalize the tax roll for the township of Port Huron, in the county of St. Clair, for the year 1847, was ordered to be engrossed and read the third time. On motion of Mr. Young, |