Lansing, Saturday, February 8, 1851.

The Speaker called the House to order.

The roll was called, and the members all answered to their names. The journal having been read in part by the Clerk,

Mr. Hart moved that the further reading thereof be dispensed with Agreed to.

PETITIONS PRESENTED.

Mr. S. M. Case presented the petition of Eliza Jane and Catharine Robson, asking for a change of name from Robson to Twitchel.

Mr. P. D. Warner: of H. S. Buel, Daniel Parkhurst and 33 others, asking for a reduction of the price of university lands in Southfield, Oakland county, and asked its reference to the committee on public lands.

It was ordered so referred.

Mr. Montgomery: of Jeremiah Sperry and other inhabitants of fractional township 9, in the county of Hillsdale, for the imposition of a special tax of five mills on the dollar in said town, to improve the Vistula road.

Referred to the committee of ways and means.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.

'Mr. Church, from the committee on the judiciary, to whom was referred a bill to provide for the better security of public records, reported the same back to the House, with a substitute therefor, recommended its passage, and asked to be discharged from further consideration of the subject.

The report was accepted and the committee discharged.

Mr. Shearer moved a suspension of the rules, and that said bill be put upon its final passage.

Which motion prevailed.

The bill was ordered to a third reading, was so read, and passed by the following vote:

Mr. P. D. Warner, from the select committee on the revision of the rules, submitted the following report:'

The committee appointed to draft and report rules for the government of the House, have had the same under consideration, and have directed me to report:

That the committee would respectfully recommend the adoption of the rules of the last House of Representatives, with the following amendments, alterations and additions, viz:

Amend rule 7, by adding: “but in all cases the member who shall first arise and address the chair, shall speak first.”

Amend rule 8, by adding: "except chairmen of committees upon matters reported by them."

Amend rule 9, by adding between the words "Speaker" and "desire," the words: "or any member."

Amend rule 10, by placing the words "amendment or" before he word "decision;" and also by adding: "but all motions, resolutions or amendments shall be entered at large upon the journal, whether they are withdrawn, rejected or adopted."

Amend rule 13, by adding: "on a motion for the previous question, and prior to the seconding of the same, a call of the House shall be in order; but after a majority shall have seconded such motion, no call shall be in order prior to a decision of the main question."

Amend rule 23, by adding: "on the final passage of all bills, the

vote shall be by yeas and nays, and entered upon the journal; and no bill or joint resolution shall be declared passed unless on a vote of a majority of all the members elected to the House."

Amend rule 32, by striking out "a committee on claims," and also by adding: "a committee on agriculture and manufactures;" and also, "a committee on the organization of counties."

Amend rule 33, by striking out "a committee on agriculture and manufactures," and also "a committee on the organization of townships and counties."

Amend rule 37, by striking out the words "of the State convention forming the constitution," and insert: "of the constitutional conventions of the State;" and also, by striking out the words "or the legislative council when, Michigan was a territory," and insert: "or of the legislative council."

Amend rule 38, by adding: "unless otherwise ordered by the House."

Amend rule 39, by adding between the words "day" and "which," "and to number the same;" and also, to strike out the word " entered" and insert "numbered."

And the committee have further instructed me to report, that they have adopted two additional rules to stand as rules 19 and 29, which are as follows, viz: and which are respectfully recommended to the consideration of the House:

RULE 19. No mail shall be distributed in the House; nor shall any newspapers, or other matter foreign to the business of the House, be read within its bar during the sessions thereof.

RULE 29. When notice of the intention to move the reconsideration of any bill or joint resolution shall be given by a member, the Clerk of the House, shall retain the said bill or joint resolution until after the time during which the said motion can be made, uuless the same shall be previously disposed of.

All which is respectfully submitted.

P. D. WARNER, Chairman.

The report was accepted and the committee discharged.

Mr. Turner moved that the report be laid on the table and printed. Agreed to.

The Speaker announced the following message from the Senate:

SENATE CHAMBER, > Lansing, February 7, 1851, S

To the Speaker of the House of Representatives:

SIR-1 am instructed to return herewith,.

A bill to extend the time for the collection of taxes in the township of Niles, in Berrien county,

And to respectfully inform you that the Senate, by a vote of twothirds of all the Senators elect, have concurred therein. Also to transmit herewith,.

A bill to extend the time for the collection. of taxes in the town: ship of St. Clair, in the county of St. Clair, for the year 1850, Which the Senate have passed by a vote of two-thirds of all the Senators elect.

Also,

Joint resolution relative to postage,

Which the Senate have passed, and in both of which the concur rence of the House is respectfully asked.

Very Respectfully,

O. W. MOORE, Secretary of the Senate.

The first named, was ordered enrolled.

The second was read twice, and,

On motion of Mr. Smith,

A suspension of the rules ordered, to put it to a third.reading. It was so read, and passed by the following vote:

The third was read twice, and referred to committee of the whole. And the following communication from the State Treasurer: STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE, Lansing, February 8, 1850. S

HON. JEFFERSON G. THUEBER,

Speaker of the House of Representatives:

I have the honor to transmit herewith the annual report from this. office, required by law, exhibiting the condition of the several funds. of this State at the close of the last fiscal year, Nov. 30, 1850, and the condition of the several banks of this State at the time of my annual examination.

Respectfully yours, &c.,

B. C. WHITTEMORE,

Referred to the committee of ways and means.

State Treasurer.

Mr. J. B. Eaton gave notice that he would on some future day ask leave to introduce a bill relative to the State prison.

The Speaker also announced the following communication:

HON. JEFFERSON G. THURBER,

STATE LAND OFFICE,
Lansing, February 7, 1851.)

Speaker of the House of Representatives:

SIR-In obedince to the requirements of law, I have the honor to transmit to the House of Representatives the annual report required to be made from this office.

Respectfully your ob't serv't,

PORTER KIBBEE,

Commissioner.

Referred to the committee on public lands.

Mr. P. D. Warner moved to take from the table the report of the

select committee on the revision of the rules.

Which motion prevailed.