Lansing, Wednesday, January 9, 1901. The Senate met pursuant to adjournment and was called to order by the President. Religious exercises were conducted by Rev. Mr. Hunt, of Lansing. The roll of the Senate was called by the Secretary. Present: Senators Atwood, Doherty, Goodell, High, Humphrey, Kelly, Lockerby, Loomis, McMullen, Murfin, Nims, Palmer, Pierson, Robson, Schumaker, Sleeper, Charles Smith, Gad Smith, Sovereign, Weekes, Westover. Absent with leave: Senator Fuller. Absent without leave: Senators Baird, Bangham, Cannon, Earle, Farr, Helme, Holmes, Loeser, Moore, Nichols. On motion of Mr. McMullen, Leave of absence was granted to the absentees from today's session. COMMUNICATIONS FROM STATE OFFICERS. The following communication from Henry B. Baker, Secretary of the State Board of Health, was received, read and ordered spread on the Journal: STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, To the President and Members of the Senate: Gentlemen-For many years Michigan has had so little smallpox that the people have neglected vaccination, and there has come to be a considerable proportion of them not thus protected; and many of the younger physicians have never seen a case of smallpox, therefore do not readily recognize it, especially as the present epidemic is very mild, so mild that not infrequently no physician is employed and the disease is not reported to the health officer, so it is not possible to restrict it. Smallpox has been increasing, until in Michigan it has been reported since October 1 in seventy places. Final reports have been received of the close of fourteen of the outbreaks, in eleven of which the disease was restricted to the first house in which it occurred; but as cold weather comes on smallpox usually tends to increase in prevalence until April or May, so that, considering the unusual difficulty in restricting the disease under its present condition of mildness, the smallpox may continue to increase until it is widespread throughout the State. Because of these conditions, this office has recommended the vaccination of every person who has not had smallpox within a few years, or who has not been successfully vaccinated within the past five years. One vaccination or once having smallpox does not always protect a person during life, therefore among persons at or past middle life a considerable proportion are susceptible to smallpox. In gatherings of persons from every part of the State, and of persons who travel all over the State, the chances of contracting smallpox are greater than among citizens of almost any one place; but successful vaccination is a reliable preventive of smallpox, and if every member and employe of the Legislature is successfully vaccinated there need be no fear of a long interruption of legislation because of an outbreak of smallpox in the halls of the Legislature; and if a case should then come within one of the several rooms occupied by the Legislature it need not interfere with legislation further than by the closing of the infected room for a short time until thorough disinfection shall have taken place. The office of the State Board of Health does not have vaccine virus, but recommends that the vaccination be done under aseptic conditions, in an uninfected room, and by the family physician of the person vaccinated. Mr. Humphrey gave notice that at some future day he would ask leave to introduce a bill entitled A bill to amend section 1 of act No. 292 of the Session Laws of 1877, entitled "An act to amend section 1 of the charter of the village of Wayland," approved March 30, 1877; Also: A bill to amend section 1, chapter 2, of act No. 164, Public Acts of 1881, entitled "An act to revise and consolidate the laws relating to public instructions and primary schools." Mr. Nims gave notice that at some future day he would ask leave to introduce a bill entitled A bill to provide for the completion of two detached buildings for patients at the Eastern Michigan Aslyum, and making appropriations for the same. Mr. Kelly gave notice that at some future day he would ask leave to introduce a bill entitled. A bill to provide for the location, establishment and conduct of a State Normal Manual Training School at Muskegon, in this State, and to make an appropriation for the same; Also: A bill to amend section 8 of act No. 206 of the Session Laws of 1893, entitled "An act to provide for the assessment of property and the levy (and collection) of taxes thereon, and for the collection of taxes heretofore and hereafter levied; making such taxes a lien on the lands taxed, establishing and continuing such lien, providing for the sale and conveyance of lands delinquent for taxes, and for the inspection and disposition of lands bid off to the State and not redeemed or purchased, and to repeal act No. 200 of the Public Acts of 1891, and all other acts and parts of acts in anywise contravening any of the provisions of this act;" Also: A bill to divide the State into twelve congressional districts; A bill to divide the State into thirty-two senatorial districts. Mr. Gad Smith gave notice that at some future day he would ask leave to introduce a bill entitled A bill to authorize the board of trustees of school district No. 1, of the city of Ishpeming, to borrow money for the funding of its floating indebtedness; Also: A bill making an appropriation for the current expenses of the Normal School at Marquette for the six months ending June 30, 1901. Mr. Murfin gave notice that at some future day he would ask leave to introduce a bill entitled A bill to abolish so-called political conventions within the county of Wayne, to provide for, regulate and protect primary elections of political parties within said county, to provide a means for nominating party candidates for offices in said county, and to provide a means of choosing delegates to county conventions called for districts not wholly situated within the said county; Also: A bill to amend section 50 of chapter 2 of act No. 468 of the Local Acts of 1895, entitled "An act to amend and revise chapters 1 and 2 of an act entitled 'An act to provide a charter for the city of Detroit, and to repeat all acts and parts of acts in conflict therewith,'" approved June 7, 1883. Mr. Atwood gave notice that at some future day he would ask leave to introduce a bill entitled A bill providing for the assessment, levy and collection of taxes upon the property of railroad companies. MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS. Mr. Charles Smith offered the following resolution: Resolved, That one member of the Committee on Finance and Ap propriations be instructed and authorized to visit each State institution which requires an appropriation. The resolution was adopted. Mr. Murfin offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Committee on State Prison at Marquette be authorized and directed to investigate the public charges which have recently been made concerning the conduct and management of said prison. The resolution was adopted. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS. Mr. Loomis, previous notice having been given and leave being granted, introduced Senate bill No. 1, entitled A bill to establish the office and to prescribe the powers and duties of State fire marshal. The bill was read a first and second time by its title and, on motion of Mr. Loomis, referred to the Committee on Insurance. Mr. Loomis moved that the Senate take a recess until 2 o'clock p. m. The motion prevailed. AFTER RECESS. 2 o'clock p. m. The Senate was called to order by the President. Senators Baird, Cannon, Earle, Farr, Helme, Holmes, Loeser, Moore and Nichols entered the Senate Chamber and took their seats. APPOINTMENT OF STANDING COMMITTEES. Pursuant to authority granted him by the Senate, the President announced the following standing committees for the session: Agricultural College-Senators Palmer, High, Helme. Agricultural Interests-Senators Goodell, Cannon, Schumaker. Apportionment-Senators Palmer, Moore, Baird, Charles Smith, Loeser. Asylum for Insane at Kalamazoo-Senators Fuller, Kelly, Sleeper. Asylum for Insane at Newberry-Senators Bangham, Baird, Farr. Asylum for Insane at Pontiac-Senators Robson, Schumaker, McMullen. Asylum for Insane, Traverse City-Senators Helme, Gad Smith, Earle. Banks and Corporations-Senators Sleeper, Moore, Charles Smith, Loeser, Kelly. Cities and Villages-Senators Loomis, Murfin, Westover, Gad Smith, Farr. Claims and Public Accounts-Senators Loeser, Westover, Helme. College of Mines-Senators Humphrey, Sleeper, Loeser. Constitutional Amendments-Senators High, Murfin, Lockerby. Counties and Townships-Senators Fuller, Cannon, Nims. Education and Public Schools-Senators Humphrey, Loomis, Bang ham. Elections Senators Nims, Charles Smith, Helme. Executive Business-Senators Atwood, Earle, Charles Smith, Westover, `Moore. Federal Relations-Senators Westover, Robson, Humphrey. Finance and Appropriations-Senators Charles Smith, Doherty, Lockerby, Robson, Farr. Fisheries-Senators Kelly, McMullen, Fuller, Goodell, High. Gaming Interests-Senators Westover, Nichols, Murfin, Weekes, Baird. Geological Survey-Senators Gad Smith, Lockerby, Earle. Industrial Home for Girls-Senators Loeser, Nims, Helme. Judiciary-Senators Nichols, High, Atwood, Gad Smith, Murfin. Mining Interests-Senators Charles Smith, McMullen, Lockerby. Public Buildings-Senators Robson, Goodell, Pierson. Railroads Senators Holmes, Gad Smith, Nichols, Doherty, Baird. Reformatory at Ionia-Senators Gad Smith, Sovereign, Bangham. Religious and Benevolent Societies-Senators Sovereign, Loomis, Humphrey. Roads and Bridges-Senators Earle, Palmer, Nims. Rules and Joint Rules-Senators Doherty, Atwood, Holmes. State Prison at Marquette-Senators Nims, Weekes, Westover. |