SEC. 18. The legislature may at any time alter, amend or repeal this act. SEC. 19. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. Approved March 17, 1847. RESOLUTIONS, [No. 1.] JOINT RESOLUTION authorizing the Governor to employ a Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the governor be, and he is hereby authorized to employ a private secretary during the present session of the legislature, who shall be allowed such compensation as the legislature shall direct, not exceeding three dollars per day. Approved January 11, 1847. [No. 2.] JOINT RESOLUTION in relation to Legislative Manual.¦ Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House shall cause a sufficient number of copies of the Legislative Manual to be printed for the use of the legislature, embracing the same information as those in use during the last session of the legislature; and also a sufficient number for the use of the next legislature, to be deposited in the state library, in charge of the Secretary of State, whose duty it thall be to cause the same to be distri buted among the several members at the next session. Approved January 11, 1847. 189 [No. 3.] JOINT RESOLUTION in relation to the State Prison. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the committee on the prison of the Senate, and the like committee of the House, be a joint committee to examine into and report upon the charges contained in the annual report of the inspectors of the state prison against the agent of the state prison; that said committee have power to send for persons and papers, and to visit or cause to be visited by one or more of their number, the state prison, to procure the necessary information, and that they report thereon with all convenient despatch. Approved January 13, 1847. [No. 4.J JOINT RESOLUTION in relation to the Printing of Bills. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That hereafter the number to be furnished of all bills ordered to be printed by either branch of the legislature shall be two hundred and seventy-five; of which number eighty shall be delivered to the messengers of the Senate, and one hundred and ninety to the messengers of the House of Representatives, who shall distribute three copies thereof to each member, including the President and Secretary of the Senate, and the chief Clerk of the House, and one copy to the Secretary of State, to be by him preserved, and that he shall cause the same to be bound after the adjournment of each legislature, and deposited in his office. Approved, January 13, 1847. [No. 5.] JOINT RESOLUTION relative to certain Salt Spring Lands. Whereas, The Congress of the United States, in the supplementary act to provide for the admission of the state of Michigan into the Union, granted to this state seventy-two sections of land, designated and known as "salt spring lands;" And whereas, It is contrary to the settled policy of this state to lease any of its lands, thereby introducing a system of tenantry, fraught with many evils and with no corresponding benefit; therefore Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That our Senators and Representatives in the Congress of the United States be, and they are hereby requested to urge upon Congress the passage of a law, giving the consent of Congress to the sale of the lands aforesaid, and in such manner as the legislature of this state shall direct. Resolved, That the governor of this state be requested to transmit a copy of the foregoing to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress. Approved January 19, 1847. [No. 6.] JOINT RESOLUTIONS of instruction to the joint Committee on State Prison. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the joint committee of examination of the charges against the agent of the state prison be and they are hereby instructed, when at Jackson, to enquire and report, First, What amount of expenditure is necessary for building purposes during the current year, and for what buildings. Secondly, Whether under a prudent administration of the affairs of the state prison, the subsistence, clothing and care of the prisoners, cannot be paid for with the labor of the prisoners. Thirdly, If any expenditure is necessary, how much, and for what purposes. Resolved further, That the said joint committee be and they are hereby instructed to enquire into the manner in which the government of the prison has been administered; whether any of the officers of the prison have failed or neglected to perform their respective duties, and whether there is sufficient cause for the statement contained in the annual report of the inspectors of the prison, that the present laws and those contained in the new revised statutes, are insufficient for the good government and management of the prison, and require a change. Approved January 26, 1847. [No. 7.] JOINT RESOLUTIONS relative to the Leasing of Mineral Lands by the United States. Whereas, The general government has for several years past granted leases of the unsold mineral lands within this state, and thereby invited explorations and expenditures of labor and capital by our citizens to a large amount in discovering the mineral wealth of the Upper Peninsula ; And whereas, The president of the United States has declared the leases which have been granted to be "without authority of law," leaving the lessees without that protection in the enjoyment of their discoveries which was the inducement prompting such a large and hitherto unproductive outlay of capital; And whereas, The legislature of this state have declared "that all leases of any of the lands aforesaid within this state, by authority of the United States, are contrary to the interests and policy of this state;" therefore, Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That our senators and representatives in congress be and they are hereby requested to urge the immediate passage of a law by congress to provide for such disposition of the mineral lands claimed by the United States within this state, and on such terms as shall comport with the sovereign rights of this state, and secure the just rights of all persons, who, trusting to the faith of the government, have devoted their labor and embarked their capital in exploring the country and developing its mineral wealth. Resolved, That the governor be requested to transmit a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolution to each of our senators and representatives in congress. Approved January 26, 1847. |