Which several motions shall have precedence, in the order in which they stand arranged. 10. A motion to adjourn shall always be in order; that and the motion to lay on the table shall always be decided without debate. 11. Petitions, memorials, and other papers addressed to the Commission, shall be presented by the Chairman or a member in his place, with a brief statement of the contents, and the name of the member presenting the same endorsed thereon. 12. When the Commission shall have reached the general orders of the day, they shall go into committee of the whole upon such orders, or a particular order designated by a vote of the Commission. 13. The rules of the Commission shall be observed in committee of the whole so far as they may be applicable, except that the yeas and nays shall not be called nor the previous question enforced. 14. A journal of the proceedings in committee of the whole shall be kept, as in Commission. 15. In filling up blanks the largest sum and the longest time shall be first put. 16. All orders, resolutions, or motions shall be entered on the journal of the Commission, with the name of the member moving the same. 17. No rule of the Commission shall be suspended, altered, or amended, without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present. 18. Upon the call of the Commission, the names of the members shall be called by the Clerk, and the absentees noted; but no excuse shall be made until the Commission shall be fully called over; then the absentees shall be called over the second time, and, if still absent, excuses are to be heard; and if no excuse be made, the absentees may, by order of those present, if there be five members present, be taken into custody by the door-keeper. 19. The rules of parliamentary practice as comprised in "Jefferson's Manual" shall govern the Commission in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the standing rules and orders of this Commission. 20. The yeas and nays may be called for by any member. 21. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. 22. Every article shall receive three several readings previous to its being passed, and the second and third readings shall be on different days. 23. Every article when read a third time and passed, shall be referred, for arrangement only, to the committee on arrangement and phraseology. 24. No proposition or amendment shall be finally adopted without a vote of two-thirds of the members of the Commission, on which the yeas and nays shall be recorded. 25. There shall be six standing committees, composed of three members each, to whom shall be referred the various articles of the Constitution; to Committee No. 1-Legislative; Boundaries; Seat of Government; and Division of Powers of Government. Committee No. 2-Judicial; Militia; and Miscellaneous. Committee No. 3-Finance and Taxation; Salaries; and Exemptions. Committee No. 4-Corporations; Railroads; and Elections. Committee No. 5-Executive; State Officers; Counties and Townships; Impeachments and Removals from Office. Committee No. 6-Education; Amendments and Revisions; and Schedule; to which committee is added Arrangement and Phraseology and Supplies. Your committee recommend that the Constitution of the State be first referred to the committee of the whole and taken up section by section, as preparatory work. All of which is respectfully submitted. S. L. WITHEY, EDWIN WILLITS, LANSING, Aug. 28, 1873. On motion of Mr. Pond, The report was adopted. ASSISTANT CLERK AND CHAIRMAN'S MESSENGER. On motion of Mr. Withey, The Clerk was authorized to employ an assistant, and the Chairman a Messenger. APPOINTMENTS. The Chairman announced the following appointments: Chairman's Messenger-David S. Barry. Messengers-Frank Rice, George P. Brown. The Clerk appointed: Clerk's Messenger-Frank H. Jenison. STATIONERY. On motion of Mr. Willits, Resolved, That the Clerk of the Commission is hereby authorized and instructed to furnish the Commission with stationery for immediate use. PRINTING THE DAILY JOURNAL. On motion of Mr. Upson, Resolved, That the State Printer be directed to print 800 copies of the Daily Journal of proceedings of this Commission, and to supply five copies to each member and the clerk thereof; also, to send by mail, or otherwise, one copy to every Senator and Representative in the Legislature, every State Officer and member of a State Board, every Senator and Representative in Congress, every Judge of the Supreme, Circuit, and Probate Courts, every County Clerk, every charitable institution, College, University, and incorporated Seminary of learning, and every newspaper in the State of Michigan. On motion of Mr. Pond, Resolved, That the committee on supplies be instructed to procure 100 copies of the present Constitution to be printed, for the use of the Commission, in the form usually adopted in the printing of bills for the Legislature. On motion of Mr. Withey, The Commission resolved itself into committee of the whole, and proceeded, Mr. Withey in the chair, to consider the present State Constitution. IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. The Constitution of 1850 was considered section by section, to the end of Article IV. On motion of Mr. Willits, The committee rose. IN COMMISSION. The Chairman took the chair, and Mr. Withey reported that the committee of the whole had had under consideration the first four articles of the Constitution, had made some progress therein, and asked leave to sit again. On motion of Mr. Willits, The report was adopted. A LECTURE ON NATURAL HISTORY. The Chairman announced the following communication: LANSING, Aug. 28, 1873. President of the Constitutional Convention : I would respectfully request the use of the Senate Chamber this evening, for the purpose of a public lecture on Natural History, by Prof. Beals of the Agricultural College, before the teachers of the Institute now in session in this city. Very respectfully yours, E. V. W. BROKAW, Superintendent City Schools. On motion of Mr. Withey, The request was granted. On motion of Mr. Pond, The Commission took a recess until 2 o'clock. AFTERNOON SESSION. Commission met at two o'clock. Roll called: Quorum present. On motion of Mr. Hatch, The Commission resolved itself into committee of the whole, and proceeded, Mr. Jerome in the chair, to the consideration of the present State Constitution. IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. The reading of the Constitution was resumed at Article V. On motion of Mr. Meddaugh, The reading of Sec. 2, Article VI., was dispensed with. On motion of Mr. Pond, Article VII., on elections, was passed over. On motion of Mr. Pond, The first eight sections of Article X. were passed over. Articles XI. and XII. were passed over. On motion of Mr. Riley, The committee rose. IN COMMISSION. Mr. Jerome reported that the committee of the whole having had under further informal consideration the present Constitution of the State, to and including Article XV., have directed me to report that fact back to the Commission, and ask leave to sit again. Report adopted. On motion of Mr. Hatch, The Commission adjourned until to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. |