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The Sergeant-at-Arms announced Mr. Miles at the bar of the House.

On motion of Mr. Brownell,

Mr. Miles was admitted within the bar, rendered an excuse, and took his seat.

Mr. Romeyn moved that all further proceedings under the call be dispensed with;

Which motion did not prevail.

Mr. Miles moved that Mr. Mitchell be excused for the remainder of the day;

Which motion did not prevail.

On motion on Mr. Snell,

All further proceedings under the call were dispensed with. The following report was submitted:

The special committee to whom was referred House joint resolution No. 2, entitled

Joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Michigan, for the purpose of enabling the tax-paying electors of this State to vote aid in the construction of railroads,

With instructions, respectfully report that they have had the same under consideration, and have directed me to report the same back to the House, amended as instructed by the House, so that Sec. 17 reads as follows:

"SEC. 17. The Legislature may provide by law that cities, incorporated villages, and townships may aid by loan or donation in the construction of railroads: Provided, Two-thirds of the qualified electors voting thereon shall so determine, none of whom shall be deemed qualified unless he shall have resided in his ward, village or township for three months previous to the date of such election: And provided further, That such aid, together with all previous unpaid indebtedness incurred in aid of railroads by such city, village or township, shall not exceed three per cent. of the assessed valuation of such municipalities."

And your committee ask to be discharged from the further

consideration of the subject.

C. C. FULLER, Chairman.

Report accepted and committee discharged.

On motion of Mr. Crossman,

The House concurred in the amendments made to the joint resolution by the committee.

The question then being on the passage of the joint resolution, as amended,

It was not passed, two-thirds of all the members elect not voting therefor, by yeas and nays, as follows:

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The House adjourned until to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock

Lansing, Friday, August 5, 1870.

The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was called to

order by the Speaker.

Prayer by Rev. Mr. Allen.

Roll called: quorum present.

Absent without leave: Messrs. Hunt, Mitchell, H. G. Williams and Yawkey.

Mr. Fuller asked and obtained leave of absence for Mr. Mitchell for the day.

Mr. Green asked and obtained indefinite leave of absence for Mr. Hunt, on account of sickness.

Mr. G. G. Briggs asked leave of absence for himself until Tuesday morning;

Mr. Harris objected.

Mr. Westover asked leave of absence for himself until Tuesday morning;

Mr. W. D. Williams objected.

Mr. Barnaby moved that leave of absence be granted to Mr. Westover until Tuesday morning;

Which motion did not prevail.

Mr. Horton moved that leave of absence be granted to Mr. G. G. Briggs until Tuesday morning;

Which motion did not prevail.

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS.

Mr. Mason moved to reconsider the vote by which the House refused to pass House joint resolution No. 2, entitled

Joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Michigan, for the purpose of enabling

the tax-paying electors of this State to vote aid in the con

struction of railroads ;

Which motion prevailed.

On motion of Mr. Huston,

The joint resolution was laid on the table.

Mr. Avery moved to take from the table House joint resolution No. 1, entitled

Joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Michigan for the purpose of making valid the aid heretofore voted to aid in the construction of railroads;

Which motion prevailed.

The joint resolution having been read a third time, and the question being upon its passage,

Mr. Avery offered the following as a substitute therefor: JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Michigan, for the purpose of making valid certain bonds issued to aid in the construction of railroads.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the following amendment to the constitution of the State be and the same is hereby proposed, the same to stand as an additional section of article eighteen, to be known as section sixteen:

SECTION 16. All bonds or other evidences of indebtedness heretofore voted and issued by any county, city, township or village, to aid any railroad company in the construction of its road, in accordance with the provisions of any act or acts of the Legislature of this State, which were fully earned previous to the 27th day of May, 1870, are hereby declared legal and valid. Provided, A majority of the legal voters of such county, city, township or village shall revote such bonds or other evidences of indebtedness at any election held in pursuance of the act under which such indebtedness was contracted.

The aforesaid amendment shall be and is hereby submitted to the people of this State at the next general election to be holden on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in Novem

ber, 1870, as provided in section one, article twenty, of the Constitution; and the Secretary of State is hereby required to give notice of the same to the Sheriffs of the several counties of this State in the same manner that he is now required by law to do in the case of an election of Governor and Lieutenant Governor; and the inspectors of election in the several townships and cities of this State shall prepare a suitable box for the reception of ballots cast for and against such amendment. Each person voting for said amendment shall have written or printed on his ballot the words: "Amendment making valid bonds fully earned-Yes;" and each person voting against it, the words: "Amendment making valid bonds fully earned-No." The ballots in all respects shall be canvassed, and returns be made as in elections of Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

Mr. Huston moved to amend the substitute by striking out in the proviso all after the word "pursuance," and inserting in lieu thereof the words "of the provisions of law;"

Which motion prevailed.

Mr. Westover moved to amend the substitute by striking out "27th day of May, 1870," and inserting the "1st day of November, 1870," in lieu thereof;

Which motion did not prevail.

Mr. Hurlbut moved to amend the substitute by adding to the proviso the following: "And provided further, The collection of any tax shall not be enforced against any individual unless he shall first have voted in favor of such tax;"

Which motion did not prevail.

Mr. Huston moved to amend the substitute by inserting in the proviso after the word "revote," the words "for the payment of;"

Which motion prevailed.

Mr. Owen moved to amend the substitute so that proposed section sixteen should read as follows:

"SECTION 16. The Legislature, at its session in the year 1871, shall provide by law to authorize all municipalities

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